Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-08-14
and its bland proprietor looked
down inquirlugly on little Ross as he

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approached 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 shook visibly' The laplda
: ry took the jems, examined thea
closely for a moment, and then sho
a sharp glance at the child.
"See here,' he said presently, hi
voice stern and commanding, II wan
to know how you came by this?
The boys clear eyes fell, he blush
ed and stammered, evidently embar
rassed. The jeweler put aside tn;
emeralds, and taking the lads arm
led him into a small ante-room.
"You are thief, sir" he said
"That necklace belongs to Mr.. Fou-
tenny-he bought it of me not one
month ago. You stole it. You are
a thief.
The little fellow Strengthened him
self and his brown eyes blazod.
81 am no thief he retorted. "a
kind little girl gave it to me, and 1
know it was wrong to take 1t, but
but my mother and sister are starV-
ing"
The jeweler hesitatcd.
You don't look like a thief" he
said, "but | will send for Mr.. Fon-
tcnay, that will settle the matter at
once"
He dispatched messenger accord
ingly and Ross sat down in one cor
ner, 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 bis daughter, little Pansic,
with him. The little creature dart
ed like a humming bird, her checks
ablaze, her eyes flashed like fire.
"He didn't steal ny emcralds " she
cried. IL gave 'em to him to sell 'cm
and buy bread for his little sister,
Ross spraug to his feet struggling
hard to keep back his tears. lie put
out his little brown hand which Pan
sic instantly clasped in her cubby
palms.
Il am not a thief, sir he said at
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay; 81
never stole anything in my life. |
know it was wrong to take the neck
lace-but-but, sir my little sister is
starving"
The merchant drew his hand across
his eyes.
you're a manly little fellow he
said, patting the lads head, "and do
not in the least blame you, but will
take Pausie's emeralds, and she shall
give you something more available
Here, Pansie, give this to your little
friend
He put a gold piece into PaDsic's
hands, which she rendered to Ross,
with the injunction that be should
run straight home and buy lots Of
goodies for his sister-a command he
was not slow to obey.
IL thiak we will not lose sight Of
the little fellow" contloued Mr.. Fon
tenay, as Ross disappeared in the
stormy darkness, "stlil we, pe'2
Lett see what we eau do to help
him? He's a promising young lad
and an honest one, I'm sure. Mr..
Leunox, you are in need Of an errand
boy, why not try him? wish you
would
The ie7eler consented, to Pansic's
great delight, and on the following
day Ross was duly installed as an
errand boy in the fashionable estab-
lishmont
Fifteen gears after, one clustering
March morning, a young man sat
behind the counter OF a thriving jew
elry establishment in one OF the
Northern cities. lie was hand
some man, a scholar and traveller, a
man of taste, intellect and money,
for be was Junior partner in the firm,
which was a prosperous one. But
despite all this good fortune, Ross
Dunbar was not happy. His mother
and his little Flora had gone to their
long homc, and he was utterly alone,
without kith OF kin in the wide
world.
Sitting alone one morning With the
roar Of the March wind in his ears
his thoughts were running back to
the days of his boyhood, to his moth
er's humble home. How vivid the
past seemed and how dear aud sa-
cred despite lis privatious and sor-
row. His eyes grew dim and has
heart sweled All were gone over
the widewaters of time and change.
4 tender smile sohened his sad
face as he recalled that stormy night
when he sat sU5bing On the steps of
Mr. Fontenays mansion and little
Pansie, the remembrance Of her
sweet face, as be saw it through the
snow wrelths that night, haunted
him certainly. IN all the fifteen
years never for orc hour bad be for
gotten her. But she vas gone; lost
to him forever.
His reyery was broken by the en-
trance of customer, a lady closely
cloaked aud yelled. Sae approached
the counter with a jewel cisc in heE
hand.
Would you buy these?' she asked
simply, in clear sweet voice, thai
stirred the young mans heart as nc
other woman's voice bad power t(
do.
He took the casket and Enclosed i
and spread Quits contents. A watch
elegant and costly, a diamond ring
two rrbies and an emerald necklace