The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-09-28

tone Of gentle exultation: "there is not q
creature ever comes to RoUen, they say, but
he comes here''
"Well, if you look out for strangers you
will soon sec plenty OF me-" Frank said
spontaneously for shall be here every
day, dare say, for the next two or three
weeks"
% saw monsieur the first day he came,
she answered with a smile; "he came and
stood looking up there" pointing with her
finger to the church, front, "till | thought
he was counting all the figures on it,
He gave laugh, and then colored little;
young as he was, he blushed for q moment
at the thought that when he did not know
it woman had been watching him.
"Well, was not counting the figures cx-
actly," he said; but do you know what
have been doing these last two days?
am painter, he said, with youthful dig
nifty.
"Ah. SOP And the bright brown eyes
looked up into his face, rot awe struck, but
a little curious and wondering.
81 viii show you my picture presently,
when have got on q little further with it,
and then you shall tell me if you think l
have made it like. Now when you sit here
all day. hour after hour he said, inquir-
ingly, "do you ever think much about the
church,"
"Monsieur!" she said, and the brown
eyes opened wider.
6. / mean. do you look at it much and try
to find out what the figures on it mean? Do
you ever think about the people who built
| it,"
Monsieur, the church is very old; they
are all dead"
"All dead l should think they were,'
he answered, quickly. "But what is to
prevent you from thinking of them, though
they are dead? You know they were alive
once. Now one Of them must have cut these
little twisted shafts here once; have you
never wondered who he was, or what be-
came of him."
She shook her head placidly.
"What would be the use? ! could not
find OUT she said
"No, you could not find cut but you
might try to fancy them all at work here,
might you not and how they came, just as
you come, day after day, ali these hundreds
Of years ago, and set up stone after stone,
Bnd carved figure after figure. Think how
they must have watched their work and
grown happy at the sight of it. just think
of them all here. with their hammers strik-
lug tho ctOuC, anu lllt HuISt VI CNSIS oloN
in the air, all Of them talking in language
that would be almost like strange tongue
to us now. You know it all ,cas so; why
can't you think of it"
sit may be easy for monsieur to think Of
the Dead" she answered, simply, :" but for
me do not find it easy, unless it may be Of
the blessed saints" and she crossed herself,
"but then we know that they lived: while
as for those Others she said and.
slightly struggling her shoulders, broke off
her sentence with dubious smile.
He had nearly burst into an answer about
the saints that was more impetuous than
reverent; but happily he checked himself
in time, and instead Of speaking stood look
ing for a moment in silence over the great,
dark, glorious church front, and wondering
at what she had said. Out from the gray,
| solemn stones there seemed thousand
voices that spoke to him; how could it be.
ne thought, that this girl had passed her
life under the shelter OF its sha low, and yet
that to her every stone Of it was dumb
"Then you don't care for it % he said
abruptly, at last, turning to her again.
may, monsieur is mistaken she an
swered. "See, it is like home to me here ;
! when it is hot summer I sit here in the cool
/ shade: when winter comes shelter yself
! there within the porch. It is like good
friend to me; other things change, but it
never changes. When / am glad 20 in
and kneel down and thank the blessed Vir-
gin, and when am sad l 60 there too, and
say my prayers. No, monsieur is wrong !;
care for it,"
She raised her face with sudden smile as
she paused, and, eager to believe that all the
world cared for what he loved, eager for a
universal sympathy with his own enthusi-
asm, he looked with pleased contentment
into the girls clear, honest eyes, and
swell, am glad you like it," he said
heartily. - thought you could not have
lived here so many years and have cared
nothing for it. You have lived in Rouen all
your life, do you say how long time is
that ?"
- am twenty she said.
"Are you? Why you are older than
am, then And what is your name?''
"Christine, monsieur" she answered.
Some one passing into the church hat
stopped beside her basket, and was begin
ming to look over it's little stack Of images
and beads. She had to turn round to attend
to him, and then before his purchase wa
made, another customer came Frank lin
gered and looked on for a few minutes
then he said, Goodbye" and the boy anc
girl smiled to one another, and parted will
friendly nod.
He went home, and there was something
pleasant to him in the thought which
crossed him once or twice during the re
mainder of the day that in the morning h
should see Christina again. Several times
her face rose brightly up before him, will
| its contented, honest smile, and sent a kline
of warmth into his heart; for, fair anC
, dear to him as was this old Rouen, yet h,
| moved as stranger in it, and no other lip
, than those of hers had given either greet
ing or kindly word to him. And so, whel
he went to his post again the next day, an(
she, who had been watching for him, a
/ once when he appeared nodded and smilet
to him across the square, instead Of station
ing himself in his accustomed place an
beginning his work, as he mad meant to do
, he walked straight to her in sudden i'm
, pulse of gratitude for her CHEEKY little tokel
of welcome, and, like thorough English
man. put out his hand to her.
"You are the only creature that | know
in Rouen!" he exclaimed, "except m,
landlady, and she is quite old. As cam
, along just now, was wondering whethe
i you would be here before me-"
"Ah, monsieur" she said, laughing, :"
, have been here for hours. Look there. it i
ten o'clock. Do you think begin my da,
so late as at ten o'clock"
"Is it really ten Then must be quic
and begin my work, too. BY the way,
wonder-oh, may call you Christine p h
asked, abruptly.
"Certainly, monsieur; it is my name"
"Thank you. Well, | was going to say