The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-09-06

take it back"
But Pansie shook her curly hea'
| "You shall take it." she command
Jed imperiously. "I've lots of jewe
ry and fine things-run home no
and buy your sister something mic
to eat" S
She closed the door with a bans
and Ross stood irresolute in th
stormy gloom. Should he ring tn
bell and return the jewels to Pansie'
father, or should he do as she ha
bid him? He thought of his moth
er and poor hungry little Flor
watching wistfully for his return
He could not go back and see then
starVe. With a sudden feeling an,
desperation he thrust the glitterin,
necklace in his bosom, and dashet
down the snowy street.
The gas light blazed brilliantly i
a fashionable jewelry establishment
and its bland proprietor looked dow.
Iinquiringly on little Ross, as he az
Iproached the glittering counter.
"Would you like to buy this, sir?
There was a tremor in the boy
voice as he asked the question, an,
the hand that held up the emeral'
necklace visibly. The labidary too
the gems, examined them closely 70
moment, and then shot a sharl
glance at the child.
"See here" he said, presently, hi
voice stern and commanding, Z"
want to know how you came b.
this?"
The boys clear eyes fell, h,
blushed and stammered, evidently
embarrassed. The jeweler pu
aside the emeralds, and taking tht
lads arm, led him into a small ante
room.
"You're a thief, sir" he said
"That necklace belongs to Mr.. Fon
tenay-he bought it of me not one
month ago. You stole it. You ara
a thiefp'
The little fellow Strengthened him
self, and his brown eyes blazed.
81 am not a thief" he retorted
II didn't steal that necklace kind
little girl gave it to me, and 1 know
it was wrong to take it, but-but-
my mother and sister are starving
The jeweler hesitated.
"You don't look like q thief" he
said. "but l will send for Mr.. Fen-
tenay; that will settle the matter at
once"
He dispatched a messenger accord
ingly, and Ross sat down in one
corner, and sobbed bitterly, as he
heard the driving winds, and thought
of his mother and poor little Flora
In half an hour Mr.. Fontenay came
bringing his daughter, little Pansie
with him. The little creature dart
ed in like a humming- bird, he1
cheeks ablaze, her eyes flashing
lightning.
'He didn't steal my emeralds ?
she cried. "I gave 'em to him tC
sell 'em and buy bread for his little
sister"
Ross sprang to his feet, strug
Cling hard to keep back his tears
He put out his little brown hand
which Pansie instantly clasped il
both her chubby palms.
81 am not thief, sir" he said a
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay; {"
never stole anything in my life.
know it was wrong to take the neck
lace, but-but-sir, my little siste
is sick and sheis starving"
The merchant drew his hand
across his eyes.
"You're manly little fellow" b,
said, patting the lads head, "and
do not in the least blame you, bu
we'll take back Pansie's emerald
and she shall give you something
more available. Here, Pansie, Civ,
this to your little friend"
He put gold piece into Pansie'
hands, which she rendered to Ross
with the injunction that he shoul,
run straight home and buy lots 0
goodies for his sister; a command b
was not slow to obey.
Il think we'll not lose sight of tn
little fellow" continued Mr.. Fon
tenay, as Ross disappeared in th
stormy darkness, "shall we pet?
Let see what we can do to help hin
He's a prominent young lad, an
an honest one Pm sure. Mr.. Ler
OK, you're in need of an errand boy
why not try him2 1 wish 20
would"
The jeweler consented, to Pansie'
great delight, and on the followin
day Ross was duly established as e.
rand boy in the fashionable estat
llishment.
Fifteen years after, one blusterin
March morning, a yonng man So
behind the counter of a thriving Jew
elry establishment in one of th
Northern cities. He was a hanC
some man, a scholar and a travele
a man of taste, intellect and none,
for he was junior partner in the firm
which was a prosperous one. Bu
despite all this good fortune, Ros
Dunbar was not happy. His motl
er and little Flora had gone to the
long home, and he was utterly alonr
without kith or kin in the wid
world.
Sitting alonethat morning, with th
roar of the March winds in his ear
his thoughts we're running back
the days of his boyhood, to h
mothers humble home. How yivi
the past seemed, and how dear an
sacred, despite its priyations an
sorrow. His eyes grew dim and h
heart swelled. All were gone ov,
the wide waters of time and chang
A tender smile softened his sa
face as he recalled that stormy nigl
@hen he sat sObbing on the steps {
Fontenay's mansion, and little Par
sic, taking pity on him, dropped ht
string of emeralds. Darling httl
Pansie, the remembrance Of he
Isweet face, as he saw it through tn
snow .wreaths that night, haunte
him constantly. In all the fftee
years, never for one hour had he fol
gotten her. But she was gone; los
to him forever.
His revery was broken by the Ell
trance of a customer, a lady closel
o1oelxad and veiled, She apDrOache