The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1906-01-27
CHATTER TX.


haps she was regretting the moments
impulse that had prompted her to ac-
cept a nameless young painter. Babette,
too, seemingly had a weight on her mind.
She erept about her work. laying out
Miss Malling's elegant evening toilet
with a subdued air very different from
her usual n0iseless activity. Babette was
doing her best TO get through her duties,
when, as i'll luck would have it, memory
for a 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 be refused the cooling
drink offered by hand he did not love.
The maid sobbed-sobbed audibly.
Miss Mailing raised her eyes from
their contemplation of the carpet and
looked ia dignifed surprise at the young
Frenehwcman. 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. Baberte2 Pray don't let me
have any weeping and wailing. II there
Is 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 l have here q letter telling me be
Is very i'll. and that he asks for me night
end daylight and day The poor girls
voice broke for a ROment; but she rallied
aad went on. If mademOisells could
- 81 agRF Fas
BOulOgns and back to see the poor little
fellow
And what am | to do in the mean
timeYT' Pauline asked icily. "Of course
you can 90 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 fun Of people the
day after tomorrow. l 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 end
Of the room, wiped her eyes, and stood
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-neyer.
will watch for a chance Of doing you
a 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
be downstairs, she stopped at Jacks ease
and looked AT Pauine's picture.
SO you think the world IS made for
II = a
to trouble yourself with your servants
affairs; but perhaps they will trouble
themselves with yours, madame. | have
seen you finch and shr.vel up strangely
sometimes. People doat shrivel up for
nothing, unless they have a fear Of some
thing; and if they have a secret fear,
there must be something bad to cause
it. If nay little darling dies without the
comfort Of kissing his Babetts once, It
will be ysur fault; and all my life long
/ will watch, watch, watch, 10 try to
repay your cruelty to me and him.
and she looked as if she meant it.
JACK, who had stopped until the last
moment finishing his rather difhcult let
ter to Ethel in his own room, was struck
By the intense hatred in the woman 5
face as he opened the door, wondered for
wished the next that he could call it up
at win and use her as a model for a 6eud,
aHd the next moment forgot all about it.
Throwing his letter on the hall table,
he hurried into the drawing room 70
make his peace for being late.
Babette had her quiet cup Of tea with
Mrs Perkins, and. with a plentiful shed,
ding Of tears, wrote to the woman who
had charge Of little Pierre, to say that
she could not come 70 her darling jus,
now.
The letter was full Of loving MESA yes
and promises. and the poor girI's heart
felt very heavy as she put it ints the
bag. She had taken it into the hail her.
self. There was aa9tAer letter lying
there ready stamped for the post; she
took it up sarelessly, recognized it By the
red seal as the one Jack had had in his
hand when he passed her in the gallery
and stood trans6Hed with surprise as she
read the address.
The address Of that pretty demolsells
that | followed home from the museum
BY her orders! Why. there is something
in this! Why, II she wants the address
of a lady who Ia known to Monsieur
DOrnton, does she not ask him, insteac
VI aSlAluk me 10 AoAloN ner ike q Do
licemani l shall have that TO find out =
"Babette. l want you" Mrs. Perkins
called from the door that shut of tn,
servants quarters.
Something In the voice. some subtl,
touch Of sympathy. struck Babetts'
quick ear. She turned 50 sharply tina
Mrs. Perkins had not time to eoncea
the black boFdered letter she held In he
hand. With a heart rending cry, Babett
started forward and snRtched the lette
from her.
She was a quick. impetuous, unreason
ing and unreasonable creature; she di
not stop 70 consider that she could no
have reached the child even II Paulin
had given her instant consent. She r.
membered only that her mistress ha
been cruel to her in the time Of he
trouble; and she registered a vow that,
there was any secret in Pauline Nal
inE's past life, she would hunt It out an