The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-05-02
PETE'S BABETTE.

out. the boat seemed to strike n new
current. Babette caught her breath
sharply, as she felt the strong, resist
less power sweep her from her course.
ana she bent over the oars with set,
close lips and tense muscles, but II 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 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 leaf full upon IL. Instinct
lively Babette had risen at that last aw-
full Instant AS the boat crashed into
the ice with shock that made it leap
and tremble she sprang forward and
gained n footing on the ice foe, q
slight, perllous one, to be sure, but one
that meant safety, for a moment at
least
Already the little boat had disap.
peared in the whirlpool of dashng
waters, and Babettes heart sank as
she looked about her on her new craft
1t was large; It seemed MS large as
Prcsque Isle itself, and at first it ap.
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 pitiless 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
it like a danger signal above her as she
caught a glimpse of the lighthouse on
the west pier. SO near it seemed she
placed her hand to her mouth and
shouted, but her voice sounded like a
reed birds pipe in the noise of the
rushing waters.
She was opposite the town now. She
could see the waves break on the pier
and yet there was no sign of help.
With fearlessness born of despera-
ton she struggled to her feet and
waved the scarf wildly, and suddenly
figure appeared on the lighthouse
ladder. Again she waved and tried to
call. The figure signalled back and
ran along the pier toward town.
1t was Landry Dubois He burst into
the warm back room at old Nine. Por-
teau's breathless and hatless.
1T Is Pete's Babette," he cried to the
crowd of fishermen and sailors, hud-
died about the big wood stove. "She
is on the ice, drifting out to the lake"
In five minutes the news had spread,
and the shore was crowded, while the
strongest boat in the place was
manned. with Landry at the rudder,
and stout arms pulled away to the res
cue of Pete's Babette. And then they
brought her back. half frozen and half
dead, and gave her into Nine. Por-
teau's care. She told her errand in the
warm back room; told how Pete lay
dying without food or medicine, and
how, unless help was sent, there would
be no light shining from Pesque Isle
that night.
"The light shall shine" promised
Landry. and the waves that had
laughed at Babette's little boat bowed
before the masterful stroke of ten pair
of st. Michers strongest arms, as they
bore Babette and provisions and med
icine back to Presque Isle.
"Thous hast saved his life, little
one" said Landry, when they stood in
the kitchen where Mere M'rle still
prayed. But Babette only smiled and
nodded her head, and she went ON to
the lighthouse
The winter twilight was falling
swiftly, and the wind had gone down,
like one tired with its mad play. For
to the west she could see n boat strug-
Cling slowly up the straits, It's lights
cleaning now and then like Jewels.
She lit the lamp with fingers that
trembled, and the broad path of light
streamed out over the point. Babette's
birds could fly In safety tonight. and
below, Landry Dubois held aloft a red
scarf and told its story. even as 1t is
told to-day around the islands OF the
Straits, the story OF Pete's Babette.--
New York Eypninp Sun