The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-12-16
% the parlor behind the shop.

UdCh eyes IOllON6u Her, dIlu lis
mouth gaped with wonder
thought he knew every pretty face in
the city, and in those days beauty was
rarity in Bristol-but he had never
seen Eileen Smith till now. Yves
scarcely noticed the girl; his eyes fixed
keenly on the man from whom, if he
was Mr.. Smith, he hoped to get en-
ployment.
''What is your pleasure?" the tall
man spoke to Yves, who stood hat III
hand; he looked appealingly at the
sailor Jack hitched up his trousers,
and jerked his thumb over his shoul-
der at Yves.
BLESS yer eyes, master, faint no
mortal use talkin' to him like that,
he's got no English All he can say
is he wants Sniff. Be you Mr. Smith,
the clockmaker? I suppose he's got
passport Of some kind; but he's all
astray in his words, poor lubber."
Yves's eyes had glanced rapidly
from one to the other; he gathered in
some Of Jacks meaning.
Monsieur Sniff" he spoke to
Jack, but he pointed to the clock
maker, and then he began to search in
his pockets. Presently he brought
out a letter and handed it to Mr.
Smith; then turning to the sailor he
thanked him with effusion for the
great kindness he had shown him.
'Avast! there, enough of that gam
monr' Jack stood with his legs
planted wide apart, his sailcloth-cov-
cred hat pushed to the back of his
head, laughing, while he pushed Yves
away with one broad, tanned hand.
Poor chap! you're not the sort to
come so far away from home. You've
got heart look on you already.
Amt he, Master Smith,"
Mr.. Smith had put on his specta-
cles and had begun to read the letter.
He started at Jacks question, and
looked at Yves. The earnest, beseech-
ing eyes that met his confirmed the
interest he already felt in the stranger.
He turned to Jack and smiled.
'Be asy about him. he said, in &
strong Irish accent; hes brought
very respectable credentials from the
first clockmaker in Lyons, and I'll see
that he gets employment eth er here
or elsewhere -
That's right, my hearty, you're
trump! we'll clap palms on that, said
the sailor; and he shook Mr.. Smiths
hand. Now seeing mounseer's
aboard, I'll sheer off to my mate, who's
most tired Of waitin' for me, I'll bet
pound" Then slapping Yves,
whose eyes had grown round with sur
prise, on the shoulder, he nodded and
went away. "Sacre bleur' he shouted,
as he rolled out Of the shop, what a
thing it is to be a mounseer, and not
to understand decent language!
Poor chap! he can't help it though y
Mr.. Smith finished his letter. and
then he pointed to a chair. Yves
bowed and seated himself.
You cannot speak English?' said
the clockmaker.
Yves smiled, and shook his head
"Nou, sair."
Bad luck to it! And ! don't speak
French Mr.. Smith took off his
spectacles, wiped them, and put them
on again. And Eileen's no hand at
it neither-not SO much as | am. !"
He went on in curious mixture Of
French and English. Il make out
from this, he touched the letter to
point his meaning, and looked hard at
the mystefed Breton, who only now
and then understood a word, that
you are seeking work, and that from
various circumstances you have been
constantly thrown out of work just
when you thought yourself settled?'
He looked at the letter again, it was
written both in English and in
French. Poor fellow!' Mr.. Smith 5
face softened as. he looked at Yves,
who nodded, smiled, and said, "Oui,
oui, monsieur" at intervals. You
seem to have had hard struggle
This gentleman says if he had not
given up business he would gladly
have employed you, as he is sure you
are a good workman; but trade is so
bad in Lyons and all over France, that
he don't like to advise you to settle
there. Where do you come from
now?' he said quickly, seeing that the
date Of the letter was not recent.
Yves only shook his head. "Oui,
oui, monsieur" he said, pointing to
the letter; and Smith drummed on the
table in utter bewilderment. He was
a reserved man, unwilling to take any
one into his confidence, or he might
soon have found an Interpreter; but
on the other hand he was an Irish