Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-08-07

lOuSerS. Sne II tne bunSulue OL u
whole house."
But after q while clouds doomed O.
the horizon Of Babette's happy Life
Pierre frequently left her alone 70
many hours In the evenings, pleading
that he had to attend meetings Of th
factory workmen. And OCCASIONAL,
notes and pieces Of paper, with strang
looking marks and words on them
were left for him, when he would leav'
his wife Immediately the evening mea
was finished.
"Why should all these secret mes
sages be left for Pierre? 1t Is mys
FERROUS, isn't It, my treasurer" she salt
ore day, speaking to her baby boy, Al
she always did whenever anything pei
picked her.
1t was late-past midnight-whel
Pierre returned, shamefaced as b,
crept softly into the room.
"Pierre, my love-" Babette began
"Plerre, how late you are! How lonl
the evening has been without you! YOU
used to be happy and contented II
staying with me before you had those
horrid meetings to attend. O, tell me
why you leave me so much and wha,
the many mysterious notes you get are
about" And, weepll she threw hel
arms around his neck and laid bel
head on his breast.
"Babette! you foolish little glrlw he
cried, fondly strokng her glossy, gol.
den 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 lea
que |, too, belong to it, and the notes
you think so mysterious are simply ia
summon me to special meetings, which
nre held occasionally. That is why
have to leave you so often and stay
late. for there Is much writing to be
done"
'Why don't you give 1t up and cease
TO he a memberY' Babette asked.
"You innocent child; how little you
know about such things. OF course
must 90 every time, and it Is not pos
sible for me to leave the league; no one
ever does"
But what Is the object, and what
do yoi do at the meetings?'
"rhe league is established for every
one to have their rights-the poor as
well as the rich. TO level class dis
tinctions and make all men equal. To
relieve distress and poverty by making
the rich give up their money and work,
70 that all shall share alike-not make
10000 men poor slaves to let one be.
come rich. Soon we will rise In our
might and crush everything beneath
US, for we have had enough of this
miserable existence"
But Pierre, what cause have you
veto complain? We are happy and
comfortable; every one is good to US;
We have each other and our little Paul,
80 why not be content and refuse to
NEEDLE with such dangerous SUBJ
jects"
"That isn't the thing; 1t Is the prin-
clple," Pierre returned. LOOK at those
poor Deblanders at the top Of the
house. 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 Deblanders, PlerreT
"You don't understand" Pierre net.
ulantly replied. I'VE Anarchists
what! Anarchlsts! cried Babette,
shrinking back In terror.
ut Is best that you should know all, y
Pierre replied. Eyes, l am an Anar-
chlst. But don't let the fact be known,
Babette, unless you wish me to be ar.
rested"
That was the turning point in b.
bette's life; from then she began ia
change. The roses left her cheeks, and
all the brightness and sunshine depart.
ed 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 became more and more involved
80 that retractIon was impossible, but
he still managed to retain his situation
At the factory.
And so years passed on. Finding hev
son had a great love for music, Ba.
bette often took him to the grand ca.
thedral Of Notre Dame, where be
would sit for hours listening to the
voices Of the singers and the deer
tones Of the organ, QulverIng with ex.
element and pleasure at Its thunder.
ings aud whispers.
The festival Of the Annunclation wa,
destined to be a momentous day fol
Babette. The service at Notre Dame
was to be unusually grand, and litus
Paul was there In bis accustomed
place. His mother was sitting alonl
u her room when sharp-lookIns mau