The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-01-13

that has befallen her, and how her
mother was taken to her rest, and as
she names the day of her death, Yves
shudders and trembles, for he remem-
bers too well it was in the night be-
fore that day that he heard the bell
toll for departed souls, and answered
the song Of the betrothed from his
window.
Liszen sees his agitation; she thinks
his grief for her mother has caused it.
and she asks no questions. Her sad
ness and fears are over. Tears are on
her face, but she smiles through them
Yves has come back to her-her
Yves whom she has so longed to see.
and whose love she has never doubted
My poor Yves, | have forgotten
she says tenderly. and then she draws
herself away from him and rises; all
this time you are hungry and tired.
Sit still by the hearth, and l will
bring you food"
She sets before him black rye bread
and buttermilk. It is all she has to
offer; and Yves, accustomed to whole
some English living, thinks it is no
wonder Liszen looks pale and wan if
she lives on such food as this. r3d
1t adds to his Joy that he can take
her away forever from her hard work
and harder fare.
He goes up to her, and puts his
arm tenderly round the pale girl. ''a
''Liszen," he says, I'VE must not
heed the year of mourning. l have to
go back at once to my employment,
and you will go with me, dear little
one. as my wife," i;
There is no shyness about Yves
now. He speaks in firm, mastery
tone, though his eyes rest lovingly on
Liszen.
He feels strange change in HIM
self, as if his soul had been away from
his body all these months, and had
now suddenly returned. 1t seems to
him that he must be father, mother,
and husband too to Liszen.
He kisses her. a
"You do not answer, little dove"
he says. Surely we need not wait
any longer for our happiness" +" i
She looks up at him with a sweet |
seriousness, and puts both her small,
brown hands in his.
at shall be as you wish, Yves" she
says simply; "henceforth you only
have the right to guide my life"
But even then it seemed to Liszen a
great calamity to leave her native
country for foreign land; still her
life is SO bound up in Yves, that she
feels her home must be wherever he
wills to dwell
TLey go together next day to the
ehurchyard, and kneel together hand
in hand beside the grave of the widow
Perrik, marked, like SO many Others,
by black wooden cross, on which Is
painted In white shower of tears.
"Adieu, mother" Yves says. IF | !
take your child away from you, it is
because | seek to give her health and
happiness. We will meet yon, mother
lear, on the shores of the departed,
when the bell sounds to call our souls
away"
But Liszen cannot bring herself to
say adieu. She only weeps silently;
and when at last she rises from her
knees, it seems as if she is wrenchlng
her heart away from the fibres that
cling to the soil of Brittany.
A few days pass, and then they
stand in the parish church before the
altar, and the old cure who baptized
Yves, and prepared them both for
their first communion, blesses their
1t is very quiet wedding. Mad
anne Kergrist, the employer for whom
Liszen has worked all these years be-
side her canary, goes to church with
The motherless girl, and Yves finds an
Did comrade, once fellow-workman
at Roic's, to go with him. Then,
when the ceremony is over, Madame
kergrist gives a wedding dinner at
her house to the young couple and a
few friends. But there is no bolster
,us Joy, nor is there any Of the lavish
hospitality which generally forms
part of Breton wedding.
Gifts, too, are wanting, for the
young pair have lost many friends by
Heath or by removal, and Yves rs so
anxious to secure new means Of liv-
ing, that he would not delay his mar
rage so as to give time for the custo-
mary announcements Of it. He looks
very happy on his wedding-day. There
is perhaps trihe more Of seriousness
than might have been expected in so
young a~bridegroom, for Yves Is not
yet four-and-twenty years old; but
then the lookers-on say to one anoth-
er he is taking double charge on
in marrying a friendless Or
phan, and one whose health has never
been strong. No wonder he should
sometimes look serious in the midst of
his joy.
Liszen's face is full Of serene peace.
She left her griefs on her mothers
grave when she and Yves knelt beside
it. The old life is over for her, and
to-day she has begun the new one.
Henceforth she is a part of Yves; all
her life must be devoted to his happi-
ness, his comfort, to please him; and
as these thoughts fill her heart,
her pale cheeks flush, her eyes glow
with tender light, and Madame Ker-
grist, who sits on the bridegroom
right hand, exclaims,-
"You were in the right to hasten
your marriage, Monsieur Duroc See,
it has given new life to our Liszcn;
she is no longer Liszen la pale.
Yves looks fondly at his bride.
You may be sure she shall be we'll
cared for" he says tenderly. She
needs long rest after her weary spell!
of work and sorrow"
When the meal is over, Yves draws
his wife away from the guests.
Little one he says, 1--WE have not
yet visited the bay Let us go and
look at the old place once more"
Their friends propose to accompany
them. but Yves. shaking his head