The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-13
Babette.

! but puddle and crow with delight all MS
waking hours
Really. 1 don't know what we should
do without her nowi" the concierge would
exclaim TO the other dodgers. she is the
sunshine Of the whole house"
But after a while clouds doomed on the
| horizon Of Babettes happy life. Pierre
frequently left her alone for many hours
/ in the evenings, pleading that ne had 10
attend meetings of the factory work
men. And occasionally notes and pieces
OF paper, with strange looking marks and
words on them, were left for him, when
/ ne would leave mis- wife imme diately the
| evening meal was finished.
/ why should all these secret messages
/ be left for Pierre? 1t is mysterious. isn't
/ it, my treasurer" she said one day, speak
| ing to her baby boy, as she always did
| whenever aything perplexed her.
| Il was late-past midnight-when Pierre
! returned, looking shame-faced as he crept
/ softly into the room.
| softly into the room.
Pierre. my love-" Babette began.
| Pierre. how late you are! How long the
evening has been without you! You used
/ to be happy and cOntented in staying
with me before you had those horrid
| leave me so much and what the many
| mysterious notes you get are about. " And,
weeping, she threw her arms around MS
neck and laid her head on his breast.
''Ba'bette! you foolish little girl!' he
cried, fonday stroking her glossy, golden
hair. How can you doubt my love! SIT
down with me and listen. Most of the
men at our factory are members Of The
Sons of Freedom League l, too, be-
long TO it, and the notes you think SO
mysterious are simply TO summon NE to
special meetings, which are held occa-
sionally. That is why 1 hace TO leave
you SO often and stay late, for there is
much writing to be done
''Why don't you give it up and cease TO
be a member" Babette asked.
You innocent child; how little you
know about such things OF course l must
go every time and it is not possible for
me to leave the league; no one ever
does"
But what is the object, and what do
you do al the meetings."
THE league is established for every one
TO have their rights-the poor as we'll az
the rich. To level class distinctions and
make all men equal To relieve distress
and poverty by making the rich give up
their money and work, so that all shall
share alike-not make 10000 men poor
slaves to let one become rich. Soon we
will rise in our might and crush every
thing beneath us, for we have had enough
of this miserable existence"
But, Pierre, what cause have you
veto complain? We are happy and COM
Portable; every one is good to us; we
have each other and our little Paul, so
why not be content and refuse to NEEDLE
with such dangerous SUBJECTS?
That isn't the thing; It is the princi-
pie" Pierre returned. Look at those poor
Ddblanders at the top Of the house l
maintain that the rich ought to be made
to share their money with the poor
would you care to share your money
comforts and happiness with the Deb
landers, PIERCE
You don't understand" Pierre petu-
lantly replied. I'VE Anarchists
WHAT Anarchists cried Babette,
shrinking back in terror.
1T is best that you should know all"
Pierre replied. Yes. I am an Anarchist.
But don't let the fact be known, unless
you wish me to be arrested
That was the turning point in Babette's
life; from then she began TO change. The
roses left her checks, and all the bright
ness and sunshine departed from her life,
leaving her a sad, lonely woman.
All attempts to wean her husband from
the lawless gang he called brothers
proved futile. AS time went on he be-
came more and more involved, so that
managed to retain his situation at the
factory.
And 50 years passed on. Finding her
son had a 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 sing
ers and the deep tones of the organ, quiv-
ering with excitement and pleasure at
its thunderings and whispers.
Of AunnuCi3tiOQ was
destined to be a momentous day for Bah
elite. The service at Notre Dame was to
be unusually grand, and little Paul was
there In his accustomed place. His moth
er was sitting alone in her room when a
sharp-looking man, accompanied by TWO
gendarmes. entered and inquired:
us Pierre Fontaine here?"
mo. He is at his office in Messieurs
Desjardines' factory"
THAT he isn't We are just come from
there on warrant for his arrest on
charge of embezzling 5000"
WHAT You dare accuse my Pierre,
my husband, with theft."
Excuse me- madam, but did not
know you were his wife. Alas, It is only
too true this charge. Your husband has
not been 10 the office for over a week
and it is through another clerk being ap-
pointed in his place that the fraud was
discovered, for the firm trusted him
fulv."
I'VE must wait here until he returns"
With moan Of anguish the unhappy
woman sank into chair. Suddenly she
arose again and cried:
My boyi My innocent little Paul! He
must never know OF MS fathers shame
and disgrace must go and find him.
gentlemen. and take him where he Will
not see my husband removed 10 the
prison" and, hastily putting OF hat and
shawl. She left the house.
IrstincJively she made her way 70 The
cathedral. seeing and hearing nothing
until a well-known voice said: Bah
ettei" and her husband stood before her.
Pierre. 0, Pierre" she cried. the gen
6armes are a. home waiting 10 arrest you.
They accuse You of steafir.g 900 francs.
But you are not guilty, Pierre; say you
are u0t,"
.Guiitv"' ne sneered Guilty, Il course
not. What gUut is there in taking ~hat
ought ID be mine? ] took the money right
enough, and was q fool not TO nave taken
more. I must wait Few moments and
see that MY work IS effective
Work, What work. asked Baoette,
q vague terror al 1er heart
WHY. YOU see that placer said Pierre.
motoring toward the noble cathedral and
looking around % make sure ne was not
overheard. 1T IS flied WIKI the Hl-sru.e-s
oE the land and The rich and great for
q festival service IS going CT I have put
a dynamite bomb 81 ne main Pillar.
which Is being repai-ed-the one nsxt the
pulpit. Il a minute o. two Il VII ex-
r,11de and 0.ow the whole building 20
pieces Al. = IS
PEND. Noas-eri wretch Bsoe-ts
cried ferce'y clGtcaing MS arm Do you