The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-10-19

You are the only creature that |
know in Rouen!" he exclaimed, "ez.
ccpt my landlady, and she is quite old.
AS I came along just now, l was wonder.
ing whether you would be here before
me.
All, monsieur, she said, laughing,
" l have been here for hours. Look
there, it is ten o'clock. Do you think
| begin my day so late as ten o'clock ?"
Is it really ten? Then [ must be
quick and begin my work, too. By
the way, wonder-O, may l call you
Christine ?" he asked, abruptly.
Certainly, monsieur; it is my name"
Thank you. Well, l was going to
say, wonder, Christine, if you would
let me make sketch of you ?"
"Of NE ?" and the girl blushed with
sudden haif-shy pleasure.
think l could do it, il wouldn't
mind sitting to me. don't catch like
nesses always very we'll, but l think l
should succeed with yours. May l try ?"
"But monsieur, could ind so many
prettier girls"
40, I don't want prettior girls; l
would rather have you, he interrupted
her bluntly. /" you will let me do it,
then, wont you? When may begin ?
If l were to come early to. .morrow-say
at eight o'clock-wouid you be here
then? Would that suit you ?"
ANY hour that suited monsieur" ,
Every well. then eight o'clock to
morrow morning. And now I must 90
to my picture. He turned half away,
and then looked suddenly back. "IIave
you father and mother, Christine ?"
he said.
No father, monsieur, but l have
good mother. She makes up all my ro-
sarles for me. l buy the beeds and take
them to her, and she strings them-so.
She makes these crosses, too. She is
very feeble but she does all that for me-"
And then you come and sell them,
Christine?" he said, quickly. DO
you know, l have a mother, too, aud |
work for her. We are not very rich,
and I make drawi sgs aud sell them. "
God bless you, then, monsieur,
she answered, ferveutly "you will never
be sorry for doing that. "
He was touched by her genuine tone
Of sympathy.
No, know l shall not. l would
rather help her than do anything else in
in the world, and the color rose up to
his cheek
She smiled, looking in his face as he
spoke. After a moments silence she
said, simply and earnestly
1t is sometimes hard for me to earn
living, harder than l hope it will ever
be to you, monsieur; but | would rath-
er be just poor girl as l am, aud have
my mother with me, than be the great
est lady in Rouen without her. And
then she glanced up with sunny look
that cleared away the tears which had
risen for moment to her eyes, and
But even me-the world does not treat
very badly" " she said, cheerfully. 1t
is little hard to me now and then,
and when it is, l go in there and
pray to the dear Virgin, and before long
the sunshine comes back again. 1t new
er stays long away, There are many
good people in the world, monsieur, to
keep the poor from starving.
She had a swee: voice, lower and soft.
er than Frenchwoman's voices often are.
The face, too, had sweetness iu it. He
saw that now, though he had only motto
ed its bright, pleasant honesty before.
"But | am keeping you from your
picture" she said smilingly, after mo-
ments silence.
That was true; SO with few moro
words he turned away and, stationing
himself i'll his place, began to work 1t
was a calm, gray summer day, windless
and sunless, yet with a softeued bright
ness in it that shone through the thin
clouds. He sat and worked, and, as the
sketch went on Ind bit by bit he seized
and made a possession for himself OF the
loveliress before him, in the very j Y
and boyish lightness of his heart, he
could have sung aloud. He had work
ed so we'll yet upon no other day; al
life seemed full of gladness to him, and
his life especially, his glorious painter.
lite. SO great AM noble. He had nc