Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-05-10

stood irresolute in the stormy gloom =
Should he ring the bell, and return the jew
els to Pansie's father, or. should be do as she
had bid him :? He thought of his mother
and poor hungry little Flora watching visit
and see them starve With sudden feeling Of
desperation, he thrust the glttering neck
lace in his bosom, ami dashed rapidly down
the snowy street.
The gaslights blazed brilliantly in fash.
ionable jewelry establishment, and its bland
proprietor looked down inquiringly on little
Ross, as he approached the glittering coun.
ter
Would you like to buy this sir p
There was trenor in the boys voice as
be asked the question, and the hand that
held up the emerald necklace shook visibly
The lapidary took the gems, examined them
closely for moment, and then shot a sharp
glance at the child. H.. r..ee,.'-.T
''see here, sir" he said, presently, his
voice stern and commanding, ri want to
know how you came by this r. ee' a9 &C.
The boys clear eyes fell, he flushed and
stammered, evidently embarrassed. The
jeweller put aside the emeralds, and taking
the lads arm, led him into small ante
room. t
'.You are thief, sir p be said "That
necklace belongs to Mr. Fontenay; he
bought it of me not one month ago. You
stole it You are theft .eA
The little fellow straig htened himself and
his brown eyes blazed. a 81.
II am not thief, sir p he retorted. Il
didn't steal that neck lace-a kind little girl
gave it to me, and know it was wrong to
take it, but-but-my mother and sister
are starving" g...... tege sdT
The jeweller hesitated. i. s-..s
:'You don't look like thief" be said !;
''but I will send for Mr.. Fontenay that
will settle the matter at once"
He dispatched a messenger accordingly,
and Ross sat down in one corner, and sob
bed bitterly, as he heard the driving winds
and thought Of bis mother, and poor hungry
little Flora. In half an hour, Mr.. Fonte-
nay came bringing bis daughter, little Pan
sic, with him. The little creature darted
in like humming-bird, her cheeks ablaze,
her blue eyes flashing lightning
'''He didn't steal my emeralds p SIZE
cried II gave 'em to him, told him to
sell 'em and buy bread for his little sister,.
| Ross rose to his feet. struggling hard to
keep back his tears He put out his little
brown hand. which Pansie instantly clasped
in both her chubby palms "e''''
80 I'm not q thief, sir" he said, at last,
addressing Mr. Fontenay. Il never stole
in my life. know it was wrong to take the
necklace, but-but-sir, my little sister is
sick. and she's starving" nv z2sa.
The merchant drew bis hand across his
eyes t,.... ..-..-.7 -f--s, :.
"You're manly little fellow" he said,
Rattlng the lads head, .tand do not in the
least blame you; but WE'LL take back Pan
sizes emeralds, and she shall give you some
thing more available. Here, Pansie, give
this to your little friend . -. q. 5o
He put gold piece into Pansie's hand,
which she rendered to Ross, with the in
junction that he should run straight home,
and buy lots O nice things for his sick sis
ter; command he was not slow to obey
."I think we'll not lose sight of the little
fellow" continued Mr.. Fontenay, as Ross
disappeared in the stormy darkness, shall
we pet ? Lets see what can we do to help
him !? he's promising lad, and an honest
one, I'm sure. Mr.. Lenox, your ip need
of an errand boy, why not try him wish
you would"
The jeweller consented, to Pansie's great
delight, and on the following day Ross was
duly established as errand boy in the fash.
ionable establishment
Fifteen years after, one clustering March
morning, young man sat behind the coun-
ter of thriving jewelry establishment in one
Of the nothern cities. He was handsome
man, scholar, and a traveller, man of
taste, intellect and money, for he was junior
partner in the fra, which was prosperous
one. But despite all this good fortune,
Ross Dunbar was not happy. His mother
and little Flora had gone to their long
home, and he was utterly alone, without
kith or kin in the wide world
Sitting alone that morning, with the roar
of the March winds in his ears, his thoughts
went running back to the days of bis child
hood-to his mothers humble home How
vivid the past seemed and how dear and
sacred, despite its privations and sorrows
His eyes grew dim, and his heart sweled
All were gone over the river of death over
the wide waters of time and change.
A tender smile softened his sad face as
he recalled that stormy night, when he sat
sobbing on the steps of Mr. Fontenay's man
sion, and little Pansie taking pity on him,
dropped him her stringof emeralds OAR
ling little Pansie, the remembrance of her
sweet face, as he saw it through the snow
wreaths that night, haunting him constant
ly. In all the fifteen long years, never for
one hour had he forgotten her But she
was gone; lost to hin, forever
His reverie was broken by the. entrance
of a customer, a lady closely yelled aud
oloaked She approached the counter, with
jewel.case in her hand ..5,.s
s'Would you buy these, sir p she asked,
simply, in clear, sweet voice, that stirred
the young mans heart as no other woman s
voice had power to do.
He took the casket and Enclosed it, and
spread out its contents. A watch, exquis-
tie and costly, diamond ring, one or two
rubies, and an emerald necklace. Ross
Dunbar barely suppressed q cry of surprise
as his eyes fell upon it. He turned it over
with eager trembling fingers, and there on
the tawny clasp was the name, the sweet
dear name that had lived in his heart for so
many long years: Little Pansie."
"You wish to sell them all ?" he asked
striving to steady bis voice, and the wild
tbrobbing of his heart.
The lady hesitated an instant, then she
put out slender hand aud drew the emer.