The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-12-30
CHAPTER TX.

For some reason Pauline Mailing was
m A very irritable state of mind. Per-
hans she was regretting the moments
impulse that had prompted her to ac-
cent nameless young painter. Babette,
loo, seemingly had weight on her mind
She crept about her work, laying out
Miss Malling's elegant evening toilet
With a subdued air very different from
her usual noiseless activity. Babette was
doing her best to get through her duties,
when, as i'll luck would have 1t, memory
for moment asserted itself and brought
before her a picture of pretty black
eved urchin tossing from side to side in
Ills small cot and crying out her name
increasingly as he refused the cooling
drink offered by a hand he did not love.
The maid sobbed-sobbed audibly.
Miss Mailing raised her eyes from
their contemplation Of the carpet and
looked in digni6ed surprise at the young
Frenchwcman. Noting for the first time
The signs of tears on her face, Miss
Mailing felt angry.
"What in heavens name is the matter
with you, Babette? Pray don't let me
have any weeping and wailing. If there
Il one thing that exasperates me more
than another, it is a crying woman"
pardon, mademoiselle; the grief over
came me in spite Of myself. did not
intend to speak; but, as you have noticed
my sorrow, will make bold to tell you
that have little stepbrother, the only
being in the world who Is related to me,
and I have here letter telling me he
Il very Ill, and that he asks for me night
and day-night and day." The poor girls
voice broke for a moment; but she rallied
and went on. "If mademoiselle could
spare me for just enough time to get ia
Boulogne and back to see the poor little
fellow"
"And what am 1 to do in the mean,
tme?W Pauline asked icily. "Of course
you can go If you like; but you need not
come back. l am surprised you should
ask me such an insane thing when you
know the house will be full Of people the
day after tomorrow. | could not posi-.
bly, do without you. Pray do not say an.
other word about it, and please leave of
crying"
Babette moved away to the far enc
for an instant quite still, depressing the
sobs that shook her frame.
IF my little Pierre dies without see
Ing me l will never forgive you-never
will watch for a chance Of doing yor
a great harm; and it will come If l an
patient" the girl thought.
After dressing Miss Mailing and max
ing the dressing room tidy, Babette pass
ed through the picture gallery on her way
to Mrs. Perkins sanctum for her usua
cup Of tea. Thinking everybody mus
be downstairs, she stopped at Jacks ease
and looked at Pauline's picture.
$50 you think the world Is made fol
your pleasure? You are too high a lady
10 trouble yourself with your servants
affairs; but perhaps they will trouble
themselves with yours, madame! I'hav'
seen you finch and shrivel up strangely
sometimes. People don't shrivel up fO
nothing, unless they have fear of some
thing; and If they have a secret fear
there must be something bad to cause
1t. II my little darling dies without thu
comfort Of kissing his Babette once, i
will be your fault; and all my life lont
will watch, watch, watch, to try tt
repay your cruelty to me and him!'-
and she looked as If she meant 1t.
Jack, who had stopped until the las
moment finishing his rather difficult let
ter to Ethel In his own room, was strucl
oy the intense hatred in the woman
FACE as he opened the door, wondered fo
the moment what could have caused it
wished the next that he could call it VI
ut will and use her as a model for fend
and the next moment forgot all about it
Throwing his letter on the hall table
ne hurried into the drawing room t
make his peace for being late.
babette had her quiet cup of tea will
AIRS. Perkins, and, with a plentiful shed
Wng OF tears, wrote to the woman whC
aaa charge of little Pierre, to say tina
Sns could not come to her darling jus
now.
= The letter was full of loving messages
ana promises, and the poor girls hear
selt very heavy as she put 1t into thu
nag. She had taken it into the hall her
SER There was another letter lying
tnere ready stamped for the post; sh'
took 1t up carelessly, recognized it by thu
seo seal as the one Jack had had In hi
Hand when he passed her in the gallery
ana stood transixed with surprise as she
sead the address.
The address Of that pretty demoisell'
mat followed home from the museum
Sy her orders! Why, there is something
N this! Why, if she wants the address
" lady who is known to Monsieur
Dornton, does she not ask him, instead
" setting me to follow her like a pc
wemanT l shall have that to find outv
babette, want you," Mrs. Perkins
Saled from the door that shut of thu
servants quarters.
something in the voice, some subtle
ouch of sympathy, struck Babette1
quick ear. She turned so sharply tina
MFs. Perkins had not time to concea
sne black bordered letter she held In he
Asno. With heart rending cry, Babett'
started forward and snatched the lettel
from her.
one was a quick, impetuous, unreason
ns and unreasonable creature; she die
Iot stop to consider that she could no
IuVe reached the child even If Pauline
Naa given her instant consent. She re
Iemoered only that her mistress hat
Ueen cruel to her In the time Of hel
trouble; and she registered a VOW that, L
mere was any secret in Pauline Mall
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