The suburban citizen., 1901-05-04
PETE'S BABETTE.

! Pete Whel the waves were as high as
now, and she loved the excitement of
it all. The low, fiat shore of Presque
Isle vanished entirely behind the wall
of waters. but she could catch
glimpse Of the dear old lighthouse and
its round top above the tallest wave.
and the sight strengthened and nerved
her for the fiye-mlle journey to ST.
Michel.
Suddenly when scarcely half a mile
out. the boat seemed to strike a new
current Babette caught her breath
sharply, as she felt the strong, resist
less power sweep her from her course,
and she bent over the oars with set,
close lips and tense muscles, but it was
useless. The deep, swelling rush Of
waters carried her northward, straight
on to the middle Of the channel Of the
Straits The wind had come UP again,
and ragged over the lakes like a wild
beast. Then, without warning, there
rose before her the jagged, cruel line
of the ice foe, and the next moment
the waves had thrown the boat as If 1t
had been a leaf full upon 1t. Instinct
lively Babette had risen at that last aw-
full instant. AS the boat crashed into
the ice with a shock that made 1t leap
and tremble, she sprang forward and
gained a footing on the ice foe, a
slight perllous one, to be sure, but one
that meant safety, for q moment at
least.
Already the little boat had disap-
peared in the whirlpool Of dashing
waters. and Babette's heart sank as
she looked about her on her new craft.
1t was large; it seemed as large as
Presque Isle itself, and at first it APP
peared stationary But when she
reached its centre she could feel the
slow. steady motion as it swept on to-
ward Lake Huron.
And now came the division OF the
channel, and Babette's heart almost
} stopped its frightened beating as she
, thought of what would happen If the
foe drifted north of Algonac' Island
and out on the great pltiless waters Of
the lake.
With hushed breath she waited, The
- foe was heaving so that she could
hardly retain her place. but at last the
pine crests of Algonac showed on her
left. and she knew she would pass st.
Michel. with fingers stiffened by the
cold she united the red scarf from
about her head and let the wind blow
2 it like a danger signal above her as she
p caught a glimpse OF the lighthouse on
l the west pier. SO near it seemed she
e I.laced her hand to her mouth and
= shouted, but her voice sounded like q
G reed birds pipe in the noise of the
I rushing waters.
e SHE was opposite the town now. She
could see the waves break on the per
t and yet there was no sign OF help
< with n feariessness born Of despera
i tion she struggled to her feet and
= waved The scarf wildly, and suddenly
n figure appeared on the lighthouse
& ladder. Again she waved and tried tC
call. The figure signalled back ant
l. ran along the pier toward town.
It 1t was Landry Dubois He bust int(
o the warm back room at old Nine. Por
d teau's breathless and hatless.
r. 1T is Pete's Babette," he cried to tn,
$, crowd Of fishermen and sailors, hud
e died about the big wood sto-1. Ssh,
IS is on the ice, drifting out to tie lake"
y In five minutes the news had spread
II and the shore was crowded while tn
G. strongest boat in the place wN
N manned, with Landry at the ruddeI
and stout arms pulled away to the res
ID cue Of Pete's Babette. And then the,
brought her back, half frozen and hal
1t dead, and gave her into Nine. POI
Sc teau's care She told her errund in tn
ID warm back room; told how Pete In
dying without food or medicine an
I'd how, unless help was sent, there woul
Ok be no light shining from Pesque Isl
le that night.
"The light shall shine" promise
re Landry, and the waves that ha
8. laughed at Babettes little boat bowo
III before the masterful stroke Of ten pa
re Of st. Michel's strongest arms, as the
re bore Babette and provisions and meC
ne iclne back to Pressure Isle.
On "Thous hast saved his life, littI
u one" said Landry, when they stood
the kitchen where Mere M'rle sti
j. prayed. But Babette only smiled an
IL nodded her head, and she went on
cd the lighthouse.
re The winter twilight was fallin
X. swiftly, and the wind had gone dow
as like one tired with its mad play. B'
to the west she could see boat stru
Its Cling slowly up the straits, It's ligh
IL cleaning now and then like jewel
ed She lit the lamp with fingers thu
H. trembled and the broad path Of ligl
I'd. streamed out over the point. Babette
nd birds could fly in safety tonight, NJ
re below, Landry Dubois held aloft a rC
ng scarf and told its story, even as it
'ct told to-day around the islands OF Il
re- Straits, the story of Pete's Babette.
Irf New York Evening Sun.
ed
l,o L. rFN ahn