The Placer herald., 1872-08-31
THE EMERALDS.

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house, pale sad-eyed woman sat sewing.
very rich and costly, being a handsome party
| dress. The twilight closed in rapidly with
a binding fall of snow and a bitter wailing
blast, that made the windows rattle in their
easements. Still the pale-faced woman
stitched on.
Mother" piped slender voice from the
cot beneath the window. "shall you get the
fine dress done? Oh mother, I'm SO hungry,
if l could only have some tea and bit Of
sausage"
The mother worked on steadily for a few
moments, pausing only to brush tear from
her white cheek, and then she arose and
shook out the glittering robe.
"'Ts done at last" she said; "and now
mothers poor little girl can have her supper,
only be patient little longer, Flora. Ross,
Ross, where are you, my boy?'
A manly little fellow came out of the little
bedroom beyond.
"The fine dress is done, Ross" said his
mother, "and you must run home with it as
fast as ever you can. Miss Garcia will be out
Of patience, know. Tell her couldn't finish
it one moment sooner, and ask her to give
you the money. We must have it tonight.
And you can stop in at Mr.. Rays as you
come back and buy some coal, and we must
have some bread and tea, and mite of but
ter, and you must get a sausage, Ross, for
poor little Flora.
"Tll get them all, mother and be back in
no time You shall have a BIC sausage.
little sis" he added, turning towards the cot.
The little girl nodded her curly head and
her great, wistful eyes sparkled with delight.
.And you shall have half of it, Ross, -
she piped, in her slender, bird ike voice.
Hadn't you better put on your heavy
jacket, my boy?' continued the mother,
"the wind cuts like knife
"Pshaw, little mother, | don't mind the
wind" And away he went, down the
creaking flight Of stairs and out into the
storm.
In her splendid mansion on Fifth Avenue.
Miss Garcia Fontenay was in "A perfect furore
of impatience and anger. Her dear five
hundred friends were assembling in the halls
below, and her handsome dress had not come
home What did that beggar woman mean
by disappointing her? AT that moment there
was ring at the door, and voice in the
hall said
"Please tell Miss Garcia that my mother
could not finish it sooner, and she wants the
money tonight.
The servant took up the handsome dress
and the message.
"Ill never give her another stitch Of
work, b" cried the angry beauty; 81 ought to
have had it three hours ago. Here, Fanchon,
come and dress me ut once, there is hot Il
moment to loose No, can't pay tonight,
haven't time He must call tomorrow.
'But we've no fire and nothing to eat,
md my little sister is sick, called tie boy,
pushing up the grand stairway.
"Shut that door, Fanchon!' commanded
Miss Garcia And the door was closed in
his face.
From her perch in the parlor window,
little Pansie watched the whole scene, her
violet eyes dstended with childish amaze
ment
"Poor little boy" she said, as Ross dis
appeared down the stairway, sister Garcia
ought to pay him. 1t must be dreadful to
have no fire and nothing to eat.p
She stood for moment balancing herself
on the tip of one dainty foot, her rosebud
face grave and refective--thcn a sudden
thought flooded her blue eyes with sunshine,
and snatching up something from the table,
she darted down stairs. The servant had
Just closed the street door, but she huttered
past him like humming bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little fellow
that he was, his face in his hands, sobbing
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as if his heart would break.
"What's the matter, little boy?" ques-
toned Pansie.
ooh, cannot 60 hore without the mon
ey," he sobbed; poor mother worked so
bard and little Flora is sick and so hungry.
Pansies eyes gstened like stars. Here, .
she said, "do you take this, little boy, and
buy lots of nice things. 'lis worth Il great
deal; papa bought it for my birthday pres
ent, but do you take it and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands. and
something like shower of falling stars
tinkled at the boys feet. lie canght it up
in a maze-neckace of emcralds, lustrouS
cleaning things set in tawny Indian gold.
"No, nop be cried, running up TO where
she stood; l can't take this, take it back. "
But Panse shook her curly head. "You
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shall take it," she commanded imperiously
"Tve lots of jewclry and fine things-run
home now and buy your sister something to
eat"
She closed the door with bang, and Ross
stood irresolute in the stormy gloom. Should
he ring the bell and return the jewels to
Pansie father, or should he do as she bid
him? He thought of his mother and poor,
hungry little Flora watching wis.fully for his
return. He could not 60 back and see them
starve. With sudden feeling of desperation,
he thrust the glittering necklace into his
bosom and dashed down the snowy street.
The gas light blazed brilliantly in fash,
ionable jeweIry establishment, and its bland
proprietor looked down inquringly on little
Ross as he approached the gtterng counter.
| ssVr.,,l1 81, lilo IN huy this sil?'