Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-05-10

ment house, pale sad-eyed woman sal
sewing The garment upon which she was
engaged was very rich and costly, bens O
handsome party dress. The twilight closed
In rapidly, with binding fall of snow,
and bitter wailng blast that made the
windows rattle in their easements. Still
the sad faced woman stitched on.
Mother" piped slender voice from the
beneath the window, "shall you get the
fine dress done2 o mother I'm so hungry,
If I could only have some tea, and bit Of
sausage"
The mother worked steadily on for few
moments, pansing only to brush a tear
from her white cheek, then she arose, and
shook out the glittering robe.
"Tis done at last" she said, "now
mothers poor little girl can have her sup
per, only be patient a little longer, Flora.
Ross, Ross, where are you my boy7"
A manly little fellow came out from the
little bedroom beyond.
"Tho fine dress is done, Ross" said his
mother, "and you must run home with IL
as fast as ever you can. Miss Garcia will
be out of patience, I know. Tell her
couldn't finish 1t one moment sooner, and
ask her to give you the money. We must
have 1t 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 butter, and you must get
a saugage, Ross, for poor little Flora"
"I'll get 'em all mother" lie said, land
be back in no time. You shall have big
sausage, little sis" he added, turning to-
wards the cot.
The little girl nodded her curly head,
and her great wistful eyes sparklcd with
delight.
"And you shall have half of it, Ross"
she pped, in her slender bird voice.
Hadn't you better put on your thick
jacket my boy?" continued his 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 in the
storm.
In her splendid mansion on Fifth Ave-
nue., Miss Garcia Fontenay was in a perfect
furor 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
and voice in the hall.
"Please tell Miss Garcia my mother
could not finish IL sooner, and she wants
the money tonight
The servant took up the handsome dress
and message.
"I'll never give her another stitch of
wor@," cried the angry beauty; ought to
have had it three hours ago. Here Fanchon,
come and dress me at once, there's not a
moment to lose! No, can't pay tonight,
| haven't time. He must call tomorrow"
"But we've no fire and nothing to eat.
and my little sister is Sick" called the boy,
pushing up the grand stairway.
"Shut that door. Fanchon T. commanded
Miss Gnrcia. And the door was closed in
his fare.
From her perch at the parlor window,
little Bansc watched the whole scene, her
violet eyes distended with childish amaze
ment. "Poor little boy" she said, AS Ross
disappeared down the stairway, "sister
Garcia ought to pay him. 1t must be
dreadful to have no fire and nothing to eat.
She stood for moment balancing her
self on the tip of one dainty foot, her rose
bud face grave and affective; then a sud-
den thought flooded her blue eyes with
sunshine, and snatching something from
the table, she darted down stairs. The SER
want had Just closed the street door, but she
nuttered past him like hummng bird,
and opened ii. On the steps sat Ross,
brave little fellow that he was, his face in
break.
"What's the matter, little boy?" ques-
toned Pansie.
Ross looked up, half believing that the
face of an angel looked down upon him
through the whirling snowilakes.
80, can't go home without the money"
he sobbed "poor mother worked hard,
and little Flora is sick, and so hungry"
Pansie's eyes glittered like stars.
"Here," she said, "do you take this, lit
tie boy, and buy her lots o. nice things.
Tis worth great deal; ; papa bought it for
my birthday present, but do you take 1t
and welcome
She extended her dimpled hands, and
something like shower of falling stars
tink led to The boys feet. He caught il up
in maze-a necklace of emeralds, lus-
trous, cleaning things set in tawny Indian
gold.
"No, nor he cried, running up TO where
she stood I can't take this take it back"
But Pansie shook her curly head.
"You shall take itr she commanded,
imporiously. "I've lots o. jewels and fine
things-run home now, and buy your sis
ter something nice 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's father, or should he do as
she had bid him? He thought of his moth
er, and poor hungry little Flora watching
wistiully for his return. He could not go
back aud see them starve. With sudden
feeling of desperation, he thrust the glitter
ing necklace in his bosom, and dashed rap
idly down the snowy street.
The gaslights blazed brilliantly in fash
ionable jewelry establishment, and its
bland proprietor looked inquiringly on lit
tie Ross, as he approached the glitterinG
counter.
"would you like to buy this, slr9'
There was tremor in the boys voice as
he asked the question, and the hand that
held up the emerald necklace shook visi-
bly,. The lapidary took the gems, exam
ed them closely for moment, and then
shot q sharp glance at the child.
"See here, sir" he said, presently, his
voice stern and commanding. "I want to
know how you came by th'sr"
The boys clear eyes fell, he blushed and
stammered, evidently embarrassed. TIL,
jeweller put aside the emeralds, and tax
ing the lads arm, led him into a small an
te.room.
"You are a thief, sr!" he said "Tha
necklace belongs to Mr.. Fontenay; h,