The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-24
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial A0brrtisrr.
SATURDAY. MAY "a.
THE Raj

c6stIy, being = handsome party dress. The twi-
light closed in rapidly, with 4 binding fall Of
snow, and the windows ratified in the easements.
Still the pale-faced woman struggled on.
Mother" piPed a slender voice from beneath
the window, shall you get that fine dress done?
Oh, mother, | am getting so hungry, If l could
only have q cup Of tea and q bit OF sausage"
The mother worked on steadily for a few mo-
mcnts, pausing only to brush a tear from her
white cheek, then arose and shook out tie glitter
ing robe.
ts'Tis done at last, Flora che said; "now
mothers girl can have some supper, only be pa
tient 4 little longer, Flora. Ross, Rosa, where
are you, my boy?'
Amanly little fellow came out from the bed
room beyond
''The fine dress is done, Ross, " said his mother,
'and you must run home with it as fast as you
can. Miss Oracle will be out of patience, | know.
Tell her that | could not finish 1t one moment
sooner, and ask her TO give you the money. We
must have it tonight. And you can step into
Mr.. Rays and buy some coal, and We must have
some bread, and tea, and a mite of butter, and
you may get a sausage, Ross, for poor little sick
Flora"
LII get 'em all, mother" he said, "and he
back in no time. You shall have a big sausage,
little sic, - he added, turning toward the cot.
The little girl nodded her curly head and her
great, wistful eyes sparkled with keen delight.
And you shall have half of it, Ross she
piped, in her slender, bird-like voice.
"Hadn't you better put on your thick jacket,
my bOy?'' continued the mother, IS the wind cuts
like a knife"
"Pshaw, mother, I don't mind the wind - and
away he went, down the stairs and in the storm.
Miss Oracle FOntenary was in a perfect furore
of impaticnce and anger. Her dear five hundred
friends were assembled in the halls below, and
her handsome dress had not come home yet.
What did the begger woman mean by disappoint-
ing her? Il that moment there was a ring at the
door and 4 voice in the hall said:
please tell Miss Oracle my mother could not
finish it sooner, and she wants the money to-
night"
The servant took up the handsome dress and
the message.
"Il never give her another stitch of work, for
| ought to have had it three hours ago. cried
the angry beauty. "Here, Fanchon, come and
dress me at ouce; there's not a moment to lose!
No, | can't pay tonight, L haven't time. He
must call Tomorrow"
"But we've no fire and nothing to eat, and
sister is SICK" called the boy, pushing up the
grand stairway.
"Shut that door, Fanchon!' commanded Miss
Oracle; and the door was closed in his face.
From her perch at the parlor window, little
Pansie watched the whole scene, her violet eyes
distended with childish amazement. "PoOr lit
tie boy - she said; SISTER Oracle ought 10 pay
him. 1t must be dreadful to have no fire and
nothing TO eat"
She stood for a moment, balancing herself ON
the tip of her dainty foot, her rosebud face grave
and reflective. Then n sudden thought flooded
her blue eyes with sunshine, and taking some
thing from the table, she started down the stairs.
The servant had just closed the street door, but
she huttered past him like a humming-bird and
opened 1t. On the steps sat Ross. brave little fell
low that he WIS, sobbing as if his heart would
break.
What is the matter, little boy?' questioned
Pansie.
Ross looked up, hnlE-believing that it was the
face of an angel looking down upon him through
the whirling snowlakes.
"Ob, l cannot go home without the money.
Poor mother worked 80 hard, and poor sister
Flora is sick and so hungry he sobbed pitt
fully.
Pausie's eyes g~listened like stars.
"Here," she said, "do you take this and buy
her lots of nice things. Ills worth a great deal.
Papa bought it for my birthday present, but do
you take it in welcome"
She extended her tiny hand and something like
a shower of sparks tinkled to the boys feet. He
caught it up i'll amaze-a necklace of emeralds,
lustrous, cleaning things, set in tawny, Indian
gold.
"No, no. he cried, running up to where she
stood, 81 can't take this; take it back"
But Pansie shook her curly head.
"You shall take it," she commanded, imperi-
Ously. i've lots of jewelry and fine things.
eat"
She closed the door with a Lang, and Ross stood
irresolute in the stormy night. Should he ring
the bell and return the jewelry to Pansie's father,
OF should he do as she bid him? He thought of
his mother and Door, hungry little Flora, watch
ing ~wistfully for his return. He could not go
back and see them starYe. With a sudden feel
ing of desperation, he put the jewels in his bosom
and dashed down the street.
The gas was blazing brilliantly in a fashionable
jewelry establishment, and the bland proprietor
. looked down inquIringly on little Ross, as he
timidly approached the blazing counter.
Would you like to buy this, sir?"
There was a tremor in the boys voice as he
asked the question, and the hand that held up the
emerald necklace shook visibly. The lapidary
took the gems, examined them aud looked closely
at the child.
"See here" he said presently, his voice stern
and commanding, 81 want to know how you
came by this"
The boys clear eye fell, he blushed and tam
mered, evidently embarrassed. The jeweler put
aside the emeraIds, and taking hold of the lads
arm led him into n small ante-room.
"You are q thief, SIR he said, SO that necklace
belongs to Mr.. Centenary. He bought it of me
not a month ago. You stole 1t. You are a
thief"
The little fellow Strengthened himself up and
his eyes fairly blazed.
II am not a thief" be retorted. al did not
steal that necklace; q kind little girl gave it to
me. l know it was wrong to take it, but-but-
my mother and sister are starving!'
The jeweler hesitated.
"You do not look like a thief, but I will send
for Mr.. FonteDary, that will settle the matter at
once"
He dispatched a messenger accordingly, and
Ross sat down in the corner and sobbed bitterly
as he heard the driving winds, and thought of his
mother and poor little Flora. In half an hour
Mr.. Fortenary came, bringing his little daughter
Pansie with him. The little creature darted in
like a cumming bird, her cheeks ablaze, her eyes
flashing like lightning.
"He didn't steal my emeralds!'' she cried, al
gave them to him to sell and buy bread for his
sister"
Ross sprang to his feet, struggling hard to keep
back his tears. He put out his little hand, which
Pansie instantly clasped in both her chubby
palms.
81 am not a thief, sir he said, at last, ad-
dressing Mr. Fontenary; q never stole anything
in my life. l knew it was wrong to take the