The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-21

e'oJ hNAS'
"But you will oh, say you will-give
up this evil companionship?
II cannot! / dare not! | will not!"
That was the turning point IL
Babette's life; from then she began 10
change. The roses left her cheeks, and
ell the brightness and sunshine de-
parted from her life, leaving her a sad,
lonesome woman. Her friends noticed
the alteration and commented upon II,
but to all remarks and inquiries she
main tained gentle reserve, never once
complaining or repining.
All attempts to wean her husband
from the lawless gang he called broth
ers" proved futile. AS time went on he
became more ard more involved, So
that retraction was impossible; but he
still managed t. retain his situation
at the factory, for which Babette as
sured herself she ought to be very
thaukful-the want of few francs was
never felt in her little home.
And so years passed on. Finding her
son had great love for music, Babette
often took him to the grand cathedral
OF Notre Dame, where he would sit for
hours listening TO the voices OF the
singers and the deep tones OF the
organ, quivering with excitement and
pleasure at its thunderings and whis-
pers. Eabette's home was near the ca
thedral and when Paul grew bigger
his mother would often miss HIM,
But this caused her no anxiety or
alarm; she could always be sure OF
finding him in mis- favorite spot, listen
ing TO the solemn music.
The festival of the Annunciation was
destined to be a momentous day for
Babette. The service at Notre Dame
was to be unusually grand. and little
Paul was there in his accustomed place.
His mother war sitting alone in her
room when a knock came at the door,
and without waiting for it to be an
swered, a sharp-looking man accom-
panied by two gendarms entered. and
inquired:
Does Pierre Fontainc live here?"
He does"
rs he within?"
NO. He is at his office in~Messieurs
Desjardines' factory"
THAT he isn't. Don't Try to fool Us,
woman. We are just come from there
with a warrant for his arrest on q
charge of embezzling 10000 francs.
Babette leaped to her feet-her eyes
blazing with fury and indignation
crying: What. You dare accuse my
Pierre, my husband. of theft! You lie.
Begone, miserable little serpent"
The men fell back covering before
this outburst of wrath, and the spokes-
mar said, with far less brusqueness
and more respect: Excuse me,
madam, but l did not know you were
his wife. Alas, it is only too true, this
charge Your husband has not been
to the Office for over a week, and il is
through another clerk being appointed
in his place that the fraud was dis
covered, for the firm trusted him fully.
1t is our painful duty to arrest him;
also TO search these rooms. Do you
know where he is likely to be found ?"
NO." was the reply, in vacuous
tone.
Then we must wait here until he re-
turns"
With a moan of anguish the unhappy
woman sank into chair. Suddenly she
arose again and cried: "My boy! My
innocent little PAUL. He must never
know of his fathers shame and dis
grace. l must 60 and find him.
messleurs, and take him where he will
not see my husband removed to the
prison." and hastily putting ou hat
and shawl she left the house.
Instinctively she made her way to
the cathedral. seeing and hearing moth
ing until a well-known voice said
"Babette!" and her husband stood be-
fore her.
pierre, oh, Pierre" she cried, 1.-THE
gendarmes are at home. waiting to ar
rest you. They accuse you Of stealing
10000 francs. But you ore not guilty
Pierre; say you are not!"
"Guilty!" he sneered Guilty! oi
course not. What guilt Is there in TAX
ing what ought to be mire? ! took the
money right enough, and was foo
not TO have taken more"
'Oh, to think you have come to this,
she said. in dazed tone, more sorrow
than anger in her voice. Then, remem
herinu her husbands danger she We
hemently cried: Don't go home, oil
you will be taken to prison. Fly
Pierrel Leave Paris-leave France