The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-06-01
BABETTE
BY JANE GORDON


DABETTE lived in a little old
- house with q matched roof; out
upon this roof looked her bedroom
window, tiny window, swinging on
its hinge. Below, in the garden with
stone-laid paths, roses and sunfiowers,
| and blue and pink and yellow flowers
all bloomed riotously together.
Babette hummed gayly as she tied
her white ruffied apron and smoothed
her waving dark hair and breathed in
the fresh fragrance of the country
side. She was very happy in the SIM
plicity of her life, with grandfather
below, waiting for his breakfast and
ready with his timid, grateful morning
kiss.
Babette had long been an orphan
and her grandfather was all her kin.
But there was Gene. No one else in
all the world like Gene, with his beau
tiful dark eyes, his lovely, laughing
lips-the tall slender length of him.
Every morning when she passed
down to the garden, Babette would
listen for the musical sound of Genes
yodeling. Gene drove a stout cart to
town with vegetables and fruits fresh
from the garden where he toiled, that
he might make a second home for
Babette-a home where she and he
might begin life together. Grand
father would still live on at the little
cottage, with old Nance to help him !;
for Gene was jealous lover, and
would share his wife with no needy
relative.
Upon a certain morning Babette
watched for Gene; his merry song
came to her vibrant with new joyous
ness. With the discernment of love,
Babette listened, her heart beating
more rapidly, in instructive fear.
Genes arms closed about her as he
eyes glowing. Beloved" he began
breathlessly, 81 have for you wonder
full news. Listen: That man who has
for days driven around the hills
stopped this morning at my door, Far
away he makes great pictures of peo-
theater screen. Wonderful are these
pictures, Babette. had hoped to take
you to the big town where you might
see them. But this is the news The
man would have me for a subject A
shepherd, who guards his sheep on the
hills. And the money-if am sue
cessful," Genes triumphant laugh
rang out. "Dear one, it would more
than build the new. home would
carry us both far away to see the
world we have not known"
But, Gene" she said, troubled, "you
would have to go far away, alone
for very long time, perhaps. And T.
should be here"
SO, after a time, he went away.
Babette still sang about her tasks. The
pink of her cheeks was a paler PINK
and her eyes often wore a misty cloud.
But she wrote to Gene cheerfully, let
tiers rejoicing in the success he so
proudly wrote of. Then, Genes letters
ceased. He was very busy, she knew.
One silent year passed; then two.
The lady who stayed among the hills
because her lungs were weak showed
to Babette papers which came to her
regularly from the far away great
cities and in the papers were beautiful
pictures Of Gene-Gene, in his acting
parts.
When grandfather died, because as
Babette explained. "his years were so
many" the invalid lady came down
from the inn In the hills to be the
girls companion in her loneliness.
And in time, one of the city papers
showed a fine picture Of Gene-with
that of a beautiful young woman whom
he was going to marry. A lovely,
lovely young woman who acted with
him, the paper said. How" Babette
asked the invalid lady, "could Gene
quite remember me, with her near
by?" Then, suddenly, she gave sharp
cry. Following the news of the popu-
lar actors engagement was the stun
ming news of an automobile accident,
In which he was the unfortunate vic
tim. The black headlines seemed to
scream at Babette:
Eugene Le'Bray, crippled In auto
accident. Face also cut and bruised.
Hurried to general hospital. His
fiancee, Dulcie Dale, uninjured. Mirac-
ulous escape" Babette read no further.
"Is it very far to that city where it
Is always summer?" she asked her
new friend "Well, no matter how far,
l must go now-at once. There will
be enough money to take me, maybe
to care for Gene, too, when they will
let me bring him back home. For you
see, with his dear face all cut and
sewed, they will no longer hire him
for his beauty. And if he is crippled,
too, the lovely lady who must travel
here and there to act her parts will
not be able to give him proper care.
Think" added Babette with shrewd
intuition, shat perhaps she, too, will
not want Gene any more. But if her
love is true-then see-she shall come
for him when have nursed his pain
away, here in the hills Of his old
home"
Gene lay on cot across the stone
path of Babette's garden. Months had
passed and he was strong enough to
stand without the help Of his cane.
But there was twisted red line where
his lips had curled SO smilingly-his
dark eyes were very grave and tender.
"Babette," he said brokenly-his thin
hand went out to her-'it is not just
that should come back to you thus,
N urock IF what wac hIlt I loft Won
grieved you. OF madness it seems to
me now, always l must have loved
you, Babette."
zone loves always" the girl replied.
"rhen YOU were but acting parts. This