The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-02-22
THE LOCKET MAN

ILL AVOAAX uAlN
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| Babette thrust hatpin into Marie An
! toinette's thinly clad sawdust body. I'm
| SO lonesome" she said, appealingly. But
| Marie Antoinette's classical china face re-
manned stolidly Indifferent. AN we can't
| have any supper till mademoiselle gets
| those vests done. We didn't have much
| for dinner" she added, reflectively
| Mile. Cecilia, sewing at the window, smiled
bravely at the childish face above the
! faded brown pinafore. Then she looked
! 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
I 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.
| I'VE mustn't bother mademoisele when
! she's SO busy, an besides it hurts her to
! talk she carefully explained to Marie
Antonette.
| All, yes! Babette remembered how mad
! emoiselle used to sing in church and at
| concerts, and earn such lot of money
| till she lost her voice.
That's after she 'dOpted YOU and me.
| We're waits, you know. Marie
| Marie Antoinette listened with resigna-
| ton.
AN she spent all her money, an they
| didn't make her voice we'll again, an now
/ there's big doctor come an she's not got
| any money to go an get cured" Ba-
bettes unchild-like eyes grew big and SOL
| emn. "An she don't tell us bout the
! 1ocket man any more. He's nice man.
! When he was a little boy he lived hight
| next door to mademoiselle way out in
I the country
| She rocked her knees and sang part of a
lullaby to Marie Antoinette, but Marie
Antoinette wasn't sleepy.
| Babette grew tired of the stiffness and
| the darkness. She wondered if 1t was too
, cold to go out. She opened the door again
and looked coaxingly INTO Mile. Cecilia $
| tired eyes.
We're going up to the corner, me and
| Marie. to see the BIRDS" she said.
Mademoiselle nodded.
"All right, cherie, run along. Don't go
any further, and come back soon.''
Out upon the streets boys were playing
| marbles, their dirty hands blue with cold.
and the first hand organ of the season was
/ grinding out a wheezy dance.
Babette listened a moment then, tuck
! ing Marie Antoinette securely under one
| arm, went on up the street and stationed
| herself coDtentedly before the windows of
! bird store.
People smiled at the odd little figure.
! N1OhiiN oe'N0 u ISW pSlliiicS, HlOIc pdSSou
! Babette took courage. Now it was a
| quaint Easter CAROL now a lullaby, now
| an uneven chant. She began to grow tired,
and Marie Antoinette hung head downward
I in a detected fashion
! She was growing hungry, too, and the
| afternoon faded into dusk Mademoiselle
| would worry If she didn't go soon but
| there was so little money in the cup.
big tear splashed down the little dark
| face, and she wiped it away with Marie
| Amt ffO'c Id
| Suddenly some one touched her on the
! shoulder.
! Babette looked up into the brown eyes
! bent upon her. She noticed the pointed
beard and curly hair, and bright light
came into her eyes.
Why" she said, ITS the locket manv'
/ The locket man smiled family.
! Who is the lOcket MANI" he asked.
why, it is you-it is Richard, you know.
In the locket-in mademoiselle's locket
You the little boy she used to tell me
and Marie bout We're 'dopted me and
Marie
What are you begging this way for?
Mademoiselle must earn a good deal OF
money singing" he said harshly.
Babette looked up into his face.
20! But she sews vests now, an we don't
! have nice things any more, an she cries
| lots of nights. She's lost her voice, YOU
| know
| Lost her voice-Cecilia?"
! Babette nodded YEARLY
| An she paid out all her money and they
| couldn't make her we'll again, an we come
to Poverty flats, an there's doctor now
who'll cure her. only all her moneys gone
| an I'm so hungry"
| Babettes tired little voice broke He look
| ed down at her.
| Come he said, land take me home with
| you! Yes he added, confidently it'll be
| all right now
1
Mile Cecilia. sewing by the little Win
dow that looked out over blackened roofs
and tall chimneys cried a little TO herself
| that afternoon. She wondered what was
going to become OF her and Babette.
| If she only hadn't Babette! But she had
| taken the waif In days Of prosperity; the
/ little one was such loyal soul, and. be-
| sides, she was French, and the poorho1se
| was a lonely place for the orphan. Perhaps
it would he better if she had let the child
| go. There she was sure of something to
! eat and place to sleep, at least, and
she was sure Of nothing any more
! She thought Of the dear old DAYS when
| her father was alive, teaching French in
| the country academy-when Richard Hem
| ingway lived just across the garden. What
| good times they had together-until her
father died. Everything was different after
that. She had the inherited Legrand pride
| and independence. She would be no mans
| portionless bride.
| She did not tell Richard that-she knew
he would not listen. She had slipped quiet
| ly away to the city with her little stock
| of money and friend of her fathers had
! helped her on to success. In the height
| of her prosperity, after she had taken Bah
cite, she read of Richards departure to a
| Western state in the interest Of mining
| concern, and for a while her heart had
| failed her. What if he should never come
| back, or something should happen that he
would never know it was for him she was
singing and working-for him, and not for
| fame?
Then she lost her voice, and she knew
| it was the end Of all her Dreams She
| fought bravely, but little by little her
money drifted away and her voice did not
come back.
The door opened and someone stepped
! into the room.
| She held her work nearer the window.
| Daylight was giving place to dusk. Shad-
| could Babette be?
| I'm glad you've come back cherie," said
| mademoiselle, not looking up.
| "Cecelia, dear heart, don't send me
| away!'
"Dick, Oh. Dick!'
| Then she lost her voice, her poverty her
! independence, and went into his arms like
child. And from the threshold she heard
| Babette saying in her happy, tired voice:
| Its the 1ocket man'-it's Richard. Are
| you glad, e?"-Baltimore Her-
| aid.
Tourist Rates South.
| The MOnon Route are now selling tick
| efS RI Florida CDho ond all Co,fb n