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

moment: "what pleasant smile she
has y aud then he thought no more Of
her till the next morning, when he came
back to resume his work, aud found her
in her place again.
Thrt day he took note of how pictur.
esque the quaint old Normandy dress
looked on her, the great high uap 50
scrupulously starched and white, the
short petticoat so bright in hue. A
trim, neat figure; too, rounded and light,
and firm; a young, bright face, not beau
tiful, but pleasant as sunlight to look up.
on. He should like to make a sketch
some morning of her, he thought, and
that day when his work was done he
went up to where she sat, and entered
into talk with her. lie had frank,
fearless, boyish habit of talking to every
kind of person who came a,ross him,
man or woman, gentle or simple. For
years already, ever since he had thought
of becoming a painter, he had been ac-
customed to rcam about the country, at
taching himself sometimes in all simple
faith to strange enough companions,
falling into odd adventures, running oc
casionally some lisks, and yet always, By
some good guidance or instinct, escap.
ing s:atheless from all bringing his
fresh, honest, trusting nature. that, think
ing no harm itself, suspectine no harm
in others, undimmed and unsadde ned
out of every trial. He went up to the
girl and asked,
"Do you come here with your basket
every day."
They had already exchanged little
nod of recognition.
Yes, monsieur, every day." she ans
werel.
We'll; and don't you get very tired
Of t?" he said.
Tired of it?" she repeated with a
smile that showed two rows of even
snowy teeth 40 10, monsieur; know
everybody who passes here, and amusc
myself with watching for them. There
are hundreds who come every day, win
ter and summer, as regular as the clock
there. Then l see all the strangers, !"
she exclaimed, in a tone of gentle exul.
tation "thele is not creature ever
comes to Rouen, they say, but he comes
here.
We'll, if you look out for strangers
you will soon see plenty of me-, Frank
said, goodhumoredly; " for shall be
here every day, | dare say, for the next
two or three weeks"
II saw monsieur tie first day he
cane," she answered, with a smile /;
: he came and stood looking up there, 3"
pointing with her finger 20 the church
front, till | thought he was counting
all the figures GU it.. "
He gave laugh and then colored a
little =; young as he was, he blushed for
moment at the thought that when he
did not know it q woman had been watch
ing him.
"Well, was not counting the fig,
ures exactly" he said but do you
know what l have been doing these last
two days? I have been drawing the
church making picture of it. | am
a painter" he said, with youthful dig
nifty.
" "Ah SOP" And the bright brown
eyes looked up into his face, not awe
struck, but little curious and wander.
ing.
I will show you my picture present
ly, when | have got on little further
with it, and then you shall tell me il
you think | have made it like. Now
when you sit here all day, hour after
hour" he said, inquiringly, I" do you
ever think much about the church 2"
Monsieur! " she said, and the brown
eyes opened wider.
81 mean, do you look at it much anC
try to find out what the figures on i
mean? Do you ever think about tn,
people who built it!"
She looked at him with halfpity
ing smile, and said:
Monsieur, the church is very old
they are all dead.
All dead l should think the.
were," he answered, quickly. Blu
what is to prevent you from thinking q
them, though they are dead? Yo
know they were alive once. Now on
| of them mnst haya cut these little tWis