The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-12-23

ing made little progress, as her father
disliked chattering when he was al
work; then he would be absent fol
hours, and Yves would learn several
fresh words during the interval 1t
never seemed to occur to Mr.. Smith
that it was strange to leave his daugh-
ter alone with man of whom he
knew so little as he did of the young
Breton; but he felt thorough conf
dence in Yves, and liked him more
and more.
Little by little, Yves began to un-
derstand Eileen's French. Her sweet
looks grew sweeter as she saw him
brighten under them, and the pains
required ON each side to gather the
others meaning, whether by gesture
or by words. had drawn her into very
close and familiar acquaintance with
the young Breton.
Ever since the day when she had
taught him to call her Eileen, Yves
had felt more at his ease with the
bright, loving girl. 1t was soothing
to feel that he had a friend, and more
than once when he met Eileen's brown
eyes full Of tender interest, he thought
he would tell her about Liszen, and
how she was waiting for him in the
far-off Breton home. More than once
he tried to begin, and then he checked
himself.
No" he shook his head. II must
wait till the English words come more
easily. [ could never make Eileen
comprehend it all, and [ want her to
feel like sister to Liszen.'
Eileen's thoughts had become CEN
tered in Yves. The rest of her life
seemed dream to her. All that was
worth living for was comprised in
those hours when she and Yves were
alone in the shop. They were often
very silent hours, for Yves was a good
and conscientious workman, and he
had taught Eileen that conversation
interfered with work, and that now he
could make himself better understood
in English he must not give up so
much time to her kind efforts at
teaching.
Eileen pouted at first, but not for
long Yves's will was law to her
now, and she always brought a much
thumbed French dictionary to her
desk, and studied it by way of occupa-
ton.
She was thinking too much Of Yves
to learn rapidly. but the customers
who came in and out, remarked on
Miss Smiths studious turn, and
thought she was far too pretty to pore
over musty old books. 1t was re-
marked too that she had grown dull
and prim, and had no longer the lively
answers and saucy smiles which had
made her so attractive few months
ago.
Bridget noticed the quiet that had
come to her Young mistress. and her
forgetful dreaminess about house mat
ters. For Eileen had been proud of
her household ways, and had seen
personally to many duties which she
now left entirely to Bridget.
She had noticed how Yves had
checked his own attempts at conf
dence, and her heart had futtered
with such troubled hopes and fears
that the poor child had learned her
own secret.
Did Yves love her, she asked her
self, and was he trying to get courage
to tell her so? Eileen felt that she
sid not give him courage; she SEEM
ed to shrink from him now, and yet
he was dearer to her than ever
One night when she went to bed,
and thought over the events of the
day, it seemed to her that Yves had
looked at her with more affection than
she had ever seen in his eyes before.
Eileen" he said, and then he sighed
and stopped.
Eileen had felt herself flush and
then grow cold: she waited, but Yves
had bent over his work, and seemed
completely absorbed by it. If he had
been looking at her she could not have
spoken, but she felt less shy now that
his eyes were turned away from her
do you want me, Yves?" she said
in a constrained voice.
He was thinking Of Liszen, and he
knew at once that Eileen's thoughts
were not in sympathy with his. He
shook his head without raising it,
mo, sank you" he saidi mot to-
day-anozer time"
Now that the girl was alone, she
asked herself over and over again the
meaning Of his words. She sighed,
and then a bright smile rippled over
her face till she looked her old sunny
self again.
Looks mean lAole than words do,
they come straight from the heart.