Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-31
THE LOCKET MAN.

toinette's thinly clad sawdust body. "I'm
so lonesome - she said appealingly. But
Marie A%ntoinette's classical china face re-
manned stolidly indifferent. Gan we
cant have any supper till mademoisello
gets those vests done. We didn't have
much for dinner" she added reflective
ly. Mile. Cecilia, sewing by the window,
smiled braveiy at the childish face above
the faded brown pinafore. Then she look
ed at the pile of heavy vests on the chair
beside her and sighed:
"Not yet, cherie," she said. "Have pa
thence. Well have a good supper after l
get the money for them-perhaps some
sweet crackers, too"
Babette nodded gayly. She closed her
door again and went back to her seat on
the top stair.
"We mustn't bother mademolselle when
she's so busy, an besides it hurts her to
talk" she carefully explained to Marie
Antoinette.
Ali yes! Babette remembered how
mademoiselle used to sing in church and
at concerts and earn such a lot of money
| till she lost her voice. IAN she spent all
her money an they didn't make her voice
we'll again, an now there's a big doctor
come an she's not got any money to go al
get cured" Babette's unchildlike eyes
grew big and solemn. San she don't tel
us bout the 'locket man any more. He's
a nice man. When he was a little boy he
lived right next door to ~mademoiselle way
off in the country"
Babette grew tired of the stiffness and
the darkness. She wondered If it was toe
cold to go out and beg some money fol
mademoiselle. She opened the door agar
and looked coaxingly into Mile. Cecilia'f
tired eyes.
"We're going up to the corner, me ant
Marie, to see the birds" she said.
"All right, cherie, ruiz along. DOM
go any farther and come back SOON"
Out upon the streets boys were playing
marbles, their dirty hands blue with the
cold, and the first hand organ Of the sea
son was grinding out a wheezy dance.
After awhile Babette noticed that tht
afternoon had faded into dusk. Mademoi
selle would worry if she didn't go soon.
A big tear splashed down the little darl
face and she wiped it away with Mari
A%ntoinette's sprigged calico skirt.
Suddenly some one touched her on TIL
shoulder.
Babette looked up into the brown eye
bent upon her. She noticed the pointe'
beard and curly hair and a light came in
to her eyes.
"Why," she said, otis the locket man! !
The locket man smiled family.
"Who's the 'locket man?'" he said.
"Why, it's you-Richard, you know, il
the locket - in mademoiselle's lccket
You're the little boy she used to tell IL,
and Marie bout. We're 'dopted, me al
Marie"
"What are you begging this way for
Mademoiselle must earn a good deal o
money singing" he said harshly.
Babotte looked up into his face.
ooh! but she sews vests now, an W,
don't have nice things any more, an sh'
cries lots of nights. She's lost her voice
you know"
Lost her voice-Cecilia?'
Babette nodded YEARLY.
can she raid out all her money an the,
couldn't make her well again, an we COM
to Poverty flats, an there's a doctor nov
who'll cure her, only all her money! gon
An Pm so hungry"
Babettc's tired little voice broke. II
looked down at her.
"Come," he said, "take me home witt
you'll
Eyes" he said confidently, eth be al
right now"
Mile. Cecilia, sewing by the little win
dow that looked out over blackened roof
and tall ohimneys, cried a little to hersel
that afternoon. She wondered what wa
going to become of her and Babette.
If she only hadn't Babette! But she ha
taken the waif in days of prosperity. TIL
little one was such q loyal soul, and be
sides she was French, and the poorhous
was a lonely place for the orphan. Perhap
il would be better If she had let the chill
go. There one was sure of something t
eat and a place to sleep at least, and sh
was sure of nothing any more.
She thought of the dear old days whe
her father was alive, teaching French i
the country academy - when Richar
Hemingway lived just across the garden
What good times they had together-unt!
her father died. Everything wa ditferen
after that. She had inherited Legran
pride and independence. She would be n
mans portionless bride.
She did not tell Richard that-she kne,
he would mai listen. She had slipped quiet
ly away to the city with her little stock {
money, and a friend of her fathers ha
helped her on to success. In the height {
her prosperity, after she had taken BIZ
bette, she read of Richards departure t
a western state in the interest of a mimi
concern, and for awhile her heart had fai.
ed her. What If he should never come bac
or something should happen that he woul
never know 1t was for him she was sing
ing and working-for him, and not fC
famep
Then she lost her voice, and she knew
was the end of all her dreams. She tough
bravely, but little by little her none
drifted away and her voice did not com
back.
The door opened and some one steppe
into the room.
She held her work nearer the window
Daylight was giving place to dusk. Shat
ows lurked in the low ceiled corner
Where could Babette bep
"I'm glad you've come back, cherie,
said mademoiselle, not looking up.
Cecilia, dear heart, don't send II
awayl"
"Dick, oh, Dickr'
Then she forgot her lost voice, her POI
= erty, her independence, and went into h
arms like q child. And from the threshol
she heard Babette saying In her happ.
tired voice:
cts the 'locket man'-it's Richar,
Are you glad, Observation-Disclosures
Herald