Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-26
CHAPTER TX.

haps she was regretting the moments
impulse that had prompted her to ac-
eept name ess young painter. Babette
too. seemingly had a weight on her mind
Shs crept about her work, laying out
M 81 Maliing'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 it, memory
for moment asserted itself and brought
before her a picture of a pretty black
eyed urchin tossing from side to side in
his small cot and crying out her name
increasingly as he refused the cooling
drink offered by a hand he did not love.
Tie maid sobbed-sobbed audibly.
Miss Mailing raised her eyes from
their contemplation Of the carpet and
looked in dignifed 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, BabetteY Pray don't let me
have any weeping and walirg If there
Is one thing that exasperates me more
than another, it is a crying woman"
Pardon, mademoselle: 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 a little stephrother, the only
being in the world who is related to me,
and | have here a letter telling me he
Is very i'll, and that he asks for me night
and daylight and day" The poor girls
voice broke for a moment; but she rallied
and went on. IF mademosele could
spare me for just enough time to get to
Boulogne and back to see the poor little
fellowv
"And what am l to do in the mean
timefY 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. l could not posi-
bly, do without you. Pray do not say an
other word about il, and please leave off
crying"
Babette moved away to the far end
OF the room, wiped her eyes, and stood
Tor an instant quite still, REFRESHING the
sobs that shook her frame.
III my little Pierre dies without see
Ing me | will never forgive you-neyerl
1 will watch for chance of doing Won
great harm; and it will come If | am
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 usual |
cup OF tea. Thinking everybody must
20 DOWNSTAIRS, she stopped at Jacks easel |
hnc looked at Pauline's picture.
80 you think the world is made for
your pleasuref You are too high lady I
TO trouble yourself with your servants |
hnairsi but perhaps they will trouble
themselves with yours madame! | have
seen you finch and shrivel up strangely
sometimes People don't shrivel up for
nothing, unless they have a fear of some
thing; and If they have secret fear,
there must be something bad to cause
IT, III my little darling dies without the
comfort of kissing his Babette once. it
VIII be your fault; and all my life long
VIII watch, watch, watch, to try to
repay your cruelty to me and himr'-
ana she looked as if she meant it.
JACK, who had stopped until the last
moment finishing his rather difficult let
Ter to Ethel in his own room, was struck
oy the intense hatred in the woman's
race as he opened the door. wondered for
the moment what could have caused it
wished the next that he could call il nm
at VIII and use her as model for a tiend
and the next moment forgot all abont II
Throwing his letter ON the hall tahle
he hurried into the drawing room 70
make his peace for being late.
Babette had her quiet cup of tea with
sirs' Ierkins, and, with a plentiful she'd
nau charge OF little Pierre, to say that
now 'D9'
rhe letter was full Of loving MESA yes
lnd promises, and the poor girls heart
Ielt very heavy as she put it into the
gag. She had taken it into the hail her
'et. There was another letter living
mere ready stamped for the post: she
ook 1t up carelessly, recognized it by the
ed seal as the one Jack had had in his
land when he passed her in the gallery.
ma stood transfxed with surprise as she
cad the address.
Inc address of that pretty demoisele
nat l followed home from the museum
y her ordersl Why. there is somethiny
n this! Why, If she wants the address
4 lady who is known to Monsieur
lornton, does she not ask him, instead
y setting me to follow her like Do
eemanf l shall have that to find outr'
Baoette, want YOU" Mrs. Perkins
aiied from the door that shut off the
ervants' quarters
Something in the voice, some subtle
ouch Of sympathy, struck Babette's
uick ear. She turned so sharply that
irs. Perkins had not time to conceal I
ne black bordered letter she held In her
and. With heart rending cry, Babette y
'arted forward and snatched the letter
'om her. b
she was quick, impetuous, unreason- a
8 and unreasonable creature; she ala :
d stop to consider that she could nor
I'VE reached the child aran II na.lI-