The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-12-09
{ ESTABLISHED IN
I MARCH, 1S47.

man; and the sorrow is" he added,
with a gasp that choked sob, "that
[ must go away from here to find en-
ployment."
The widow Perrik did not answer;
she was a practical, shrewd woman,
and she saw at once that Yves had
spoken truly. His master, Mathurin
Roic, was the only clockmaker in the
town; if he then could not give Yves
work, journey must be made to seek
it.
A deep, shuddering sob startled
Madame Perrik, and made Yves turn
round from the hearth and look to-
wards the table. Liszen had laid her
head down on her clasped hands. and
her frame shook convulsively.
Yves forgot his trouble in his long
ing to comfort her. He went up to
her and put his arm around her, and
he rested his head on hers.
do not cry, little dove" he said;
1T makes my trouble heavier when l
see yours, Liszen."
She raised her head, and he kissed
her cheek, pink again now, as she felt
how close he was. He put her head
on his shoulder and sat down beside
her, with his arms around her, calling
her many tender names, and trying all
he could to soothe her grief; and Lis
zen nestled her little head closely
against him, and left off crying for a
while, and then Yves's voice began to
falter, and trembling shook his
sturdy shoulders.
II can't leave her." he said vehe-
mently, ''she would die of 1.-THE
sweet, soft bird. Oh, Liszen, Liszen!
how can [ live without you?"
Liszen's heart swelled till it seemed
to choke her, and then she burst into
tears, and throwing both arms round
Yves, she sobbed on his bosom.
Madame Perrik sighed as she watch
ed them. Poor children, what had
they done that sorrow should thus
early come into their lives? And yet
what was it? Only sorrow for time,
with a perhaps brighter future than
Yves could have attained by staying
on with Roic; and Liszen was so deli
cate, so utterly unfit for work, that
the good mothers heart gave bound
of relief at the thought. But she left
them in peace awhile.
''They are so happy" she said to
herself. ''If Yves goes away who can
tell what may happen before they
meet again?"
But Liszen's sobs would not be
checked, and Yves too was sobbing,
though he tried to hide his grief by
burying his face on the girls fair head,
for her cap had slipped aside and her
loosened hair showed in ruffled profu-
sion.
Come, come. my children" Mad
anne Perrik said, 'crying will not bring
work, and you, Liszen, will not be
able to do your sewing if you make
your eyes sore. Let US think what is
to be done,"
They started apart, they had quite
forgotten her presence. Never before
had either shown love so openly.
Liszen's hands sought her cap and
replaced it with an admonitory pat to
the loosened braids. Yves sat upright,
looking sulky and ashamed.
'You are very fond Of one another,
eh?" said Madame Perrik, as if the
fact were but just made known to her.
You know it, mother" Yves spoke
reproachfully. you know that Lis
zen is more to me than anything in
the world; but for her and for you,
this trouble would be a light one,
though ii is hard to leave the old
place itself" .....-...
''Ta. ia, what is that? Others have
had to do that" Madame Perrik felt
aggrieved, for had she not had to leave
her beloved home and all the sur
roundings of her youth for this little
out-of-the-way town on the north
coast? "Cheer up, my lad; the soon
er you go the sooner you will come
back and marry Liszen. Is that not
SOP"
Yves's face grew brighter. 1t SEEM
ed to him that matters were not so
bad when they We're handled in this
practical fashion.
"You know that is what we hope
for" he said; and he took Liszen by
the hand, and led her up to her mother.
Give us your blessing" he said; and
he knelt down before the widow with
Liszen.
His earnest face was full of hope,
and his eyes frightened as Madame
Perrik laid her bony hand on his head
and prayed for blessing on his work,
and on his efforts to seek it.
Then she got up and fumbled in a
dark corner near the hearth, sort Of
cupboard. She found there small
black bottle and mug. and she pour
ed some brandy out for Yves.
"You must drink to your safe re-
turn, my SON." she said Then when
he had set down the mug, she just
touched it with her lips. I'VE must
fix time for your return, Yves, and
then Liszen will have something to
look forward to while she sits sewing
beside her bird" For Liszen made
gowns and petticoats for peasant
women, and always sewed beside the
window where her canary sang.
Yes, we will fix time said Yves
manfully. 'Shall | come back in two
years to you, little one?" He put his
hand on her shoulder.
Liszen looked up. There was a
grave, sweet smile on her face; her
eyes were full of trusting love. Il
would wait for you if you stayed away
from me ten years, Yves. | would al
ways wait"
He stopped down and kissed her,
but Madame Perrik spoke.
1.-TWO years is not long enough.
You may have to go from place to
place before you find employment,
and then you may not at first be able
to save much. Take three years, my
boy, and at tie end of that time Lis
! j i Il 1 L / L