ord

216

BOBETTE.

BOBETTE,

By Mary M. Epmunps.

—

     
 
 

| TLLESPIE’S TOWER is a

gloomy old building standing
guard, apparently, over the scattered
houses of a fishing hamlet which lies below,
close in under the shelter of the cliffs. At low tide
there is a long flat stretch of sand before it, and the
broad ocean beyond. Only the lover of wild bleak
pasture lands, straight cliffs, and a cold, restless sea,
could find any attraction in the view; yet there are
those who love its very grayness and unbounded
breath.

The house is more like fortress than dwelling, with

massive walls and narrow slit-like windows; but
there is one grand outlook from the landing of the
staircase, and this was evidently appreciated, as the
dark polished cherry of the window-seat bore many
scratches from long buttoned aprons and small hob-
nailed ‘shoes,

At this moment a child was slowly climbing the stair-
case. toward her favorite nook. The window was just
broad enough for her to sit with her little feet straight
out before her, and to place her doll bolt upright with
her back against the wall. They sat there face to
face, the large wax doll dressed in baby clothes, and —
wrapped in a white capuchin, or long cape, and peaked
hood, which stood up very erect on her head; the
child as motionless as her companion, her hands
clasped over her white apron, and only the hem of
her short black dress showing below. Her dark hair
was drawn back with a round comb and hung down
her back in heavy braids. Her eyes too were dark
and very clear, and were resting thoughtfully on the
tossing sea. A stiff gale was blowing from off shore,
and as the tide crept in the waves were caught and
buffeted about and almost driven back over the
sands. There was a great white ship in the offing,
its masts and sails in strange foreshortened angles as
it beat up against the wind. It seemed more like
some phantom than anything earthly and filled with
life.

The beach below was deserted; the fishing boats
were out in spite of the storm, the babies all safe at
home with their mothers, and the children at school
—and Bobette sat on alone and idle, and gazed at
the white wing-like sails and the sea.

Presently she sighed and turned her head. The
hall below, too, looked dark and solitary ; there was
not a sound in the house. She glanced at the doll sit-
ting opposite her; the blue eyes gazed back at her
blankly; there was no sympathy in the waxen face.

Bobette’s eyes wandered back to the ocean, and
she gave a long, deep sigh. Her eyelashes rose and
fell more and more slowly, and even rested for an
instant now and then on her cheek; but she roused
herself presently, rearranged dolly’s curls and peaked