The Van Buren press., 1873-01-14


sat sobbing on the steps of Fontsnary''
mansion-and little Psnsie, taking pity
on him, dropped her string Of emsrald'
Darling little Pansis, the remembrance OF
her sweet face, as he saw it through the
snow wreaths that niga. haunted him
constantly. In the long, long fifteen
years, never for one hour had he forgot
ten her. But she was gone, lost to him
forever.
His rsvsrie was broken by the entrance
of a customer, a lady, closely cloaked
and veiled. She approached the counter
with q jewslry case in her hand.
"Would you like to buy these, sir 2
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 caskst an6 unclossd 1t
and spread out its contents. A watch
elegant and costly, diamond ring, one
or two rubiss and an emerald necklace
Ross Dunbar barely suppressed = cry ol
surprise a. his eye fell upon it. Hsturn,
it over with eager trembling fingers, and
there OH the clasp was the name that had
lived in HE heart 90 many long years
Little Pansie.
"You wish to sell them all ?" he ask
cd, striving to steady his voice and the
throbbing Of his heart.
The lady hssitatsd an instant, then she
put cut her slender hand and drew taa
smsralds toward her.
81 dislike to part with these, she
said, cit WAS my fathers gift-and-and
but no matter, take them all, must
have the money"
Ross Dunbar stood silent a minute, ey
cry nerve in his manly frame thrilling
with delight. He had found her at lsst
the one idol Of his heart.
They are very fine gems, he said
after q moment, "and | am willing to
give you a fair paics-suppOse We say
one thousand dollars, will that do ?"
80 much as that, sir? p she said
tremulonsly. You are very kind. sir
Oh, you cannot know how much it will
help me!
The young man made a polite reply
and proceeded 20 put aside the jewels
and draw q cheek fer the money. The
March winds wers still clustering with.
out, and the girl saversd and drew Eer
wraps closer about her as she started
olt.
won't you let me run down TO the
bank for your said the jewelsr, catch
ing up his hat. "You eau play shop la.
dy the while, it won't be but minute OF
two"
"But am troubling you sof she
faltersd.
mot a bit. just take this warn, seat
please, you'll not be likely to have any
customers, and seating her beside hi,
desk, he took the check and hurried out
Pansie Fontcpary threw back her vel
and leaned her head upon hor hand, q
puzzled reflective look upon her swee,
face.
"Where have I seen his face ?" she
asked herself over and over again. "It
is so familiar, who can it be? 2" His re
turn broke in upon her msditations, and
receiving her money, she hurried away
to her humble lodgings.
The following afternoon was even
more clustering; the wind ronrsd and
the slest beat agsin.t the windows Of the
little room in which Pansis and her faith
er sat. Severe misfortune and raverses
had reduced them to poverty, and the old
man being an invalid, all the care fell up.
on Pansie's slender shoulders. She sat
busy with her sewing, while her father
read aloud from 3 new book which she
had purchased with some Of the money
received TOR her jewels. Hor pure sweet
face was sad and wan, and her future
stretched before her, sad and hopeless
and gloomy.
There was knock at the door, and a
boy handed her q package for Miss Fon.
tsnary An exquisite bunch OF pansies,
fragrant and golden hearted, done up In
tissue paper, and attached to them card
bearing the simple words: ROSS Dun.
bar has not forgotten little Pansis "
"Oh father! !" she cried, knew him
Il knew him. Oh! We have found
Ross at last---at last +"
An instant later Ross was in the room,
claspiag her 1uttsring hands In his, and
looking into her eyes with glance tina,
brought the rosy bushes to her checks
And few weeks after, when the blus.
tering winds we're over, and the blue
birds sang in the hedges, and the golden
hearted pansies were in bloom on the
garden borders, little Pansio became
Ross Dunbars bride, and for her bridal
gif. hc give her back her string of emsr
aids.