The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-06

his services to tradesman, or mercan-
tile person, to assist in warehouse or
Office. But, alasl when he looked into
the paper, and saw how many applica-
tons of similar kind preceded and
succeeded his own, he felt his spirits
sink sadly down while day followed day,
and week followed week, without the
slightest prospect of any sort of employ
ment whatever.
The few pounds Salvatore had brought
with him from London were already ex-
pended, and his gold watch had been
confided to the strict care of the pawn
broker, to carry on the war with nature
and appearance. This loan, also, was
fast ebbing away for although the lodg-
ing was no more than 6s per week, and
poor Salvatore nearly starved himself
pretending to dine out, when he merely
stole down to the beach to throw pebbles
into the sea, it is amazing how rapidly
money vanishes when one is reduced to
narrow means, with no hope of better
ing our condition.
At length Salvatore had nothing left
but his mothers ring, with which he
was unwilling to part. 1t was the last
vestige of his dissipated means.
She had worn it on her finger; drawn
it from thence-that pale, thin finger, to
bestow it on him, with her last blessing
in her dying moments. He. could not
endure to part with it-no, he would
starve first! And he did starvel Poor
Salvadorel
The landlady, as she came in occa-
sionally, as if by way of excuse, asking
him if he rang the bell. looked, as he
apprehensively observed, with sympathy
aside at his pale and sunken cheek; and
then said, though somewhat timidly,
with woman's kindness, "Are you i'll,
sir? Is there anything I can get your"
Salvatore interrupted her with a
forced laugh. Don't distress your
SELF" he said, con my account; / never
was better. I have an excellent appe-
tite;" and, taking up his hat, Il am 60
ing out to supper" Then, putting on a
brisk air, he passed her lightly by, and
proceeded down the steps into the
street.
1t was night. The gas was already
Lit on the Marine Parade, and, if Sal
vadore had been a chameleon, he
might, indeed, have gone out to sup on
air!
As he walked abstractedly-or, rather,
distractedly-along, musing and med
itating on his landlady's inquiries re-
specting his health, he put on them a
somewhat ungenerous construction.
"She is afraid I should be ill at her
house, and unable to pay" he said
eternally. "And she is right. The day
after tomorrow is Saturday again-al
ways Saturday; and I have not even a
shilling toward the weeks lodging. /
must do somethiog-I know not what
1 must go, I know not whittier!
Dear mother" he continued, gazing
fxedly before him, as if in the pres
ence of the object he addressed, II
must either dispose of your ring or
perish! I must either obtain money
on this dear pledge, or lie down in the
street and die" At this moment he
came suddenly opposite the shop of a
rich jeweler; the glare of light spark
ling in his eyes reused him from his
dreamy reverie; and, seeing the blaze
of jewelry, it seemed to inspire him
with new courage. The idea strucl
him that, instead of disposing of the
ring, or depositing it at a pownbroker's,
he would go in, tell his whole story to
the affluent merchant within, whose
name ne saw in gilt letters over the
door was Altenbury, and ask for the
loan of a sovereign on the ring, till he
could honestly redeem it.
With this scarce-formed resolution
in his mind, he was fairly in the
center of the splendid shop be-
fore a second-perhaps, more irreso-
lute-thought had crossed his impulsive
resolution.
There was no one but himself in the
place. He looked almost tremblingly
around for the proprietor or his assist
ant. At length quite young girl
glided in from an inner room, and tim
idly inquired his business.
"Mr. Altenbury!" was all his reply.
MY father is not Within" was the
soft and gentle answer. "He is gone
over the way on business, and will not
be back in less than half an hour. The
men are at supper. Can 1 deliver any
message? Or will you wait tor, per-
haps call in again ?"
The beautiful and soft voice of the
speaker thrilled through the heart of
Salvatore like the accent of some de-
scending angel. For moment after she
had ceased her inquiries he listened on, as
if he hoped that the music which fell
SO deliciously and soothingly on his
troubled heart would be continued.
But, as she remained silent, he lifted up
his eyes, and gazed at her more fully.
She was almost child, with blue
eyes, resembling rather the deeper color
of the sapphire; and dark, auburn hair,
which, clustering round her white, pol
ished brow, gave to the innocent express
sion of her face resemblance to those
lovely cherubim which we see painted
by the old Italian masters on the gor-
geous affairs of the continental cathe-
drals.
"Thank you,' he stammered. II
merely wished to know the value of
this ring" And, almost unmindful of
what he was to say, he drew his mothers
ring from his finger, and handed it to
her across the counter.
"That is easily DONE" she said "Stay
a moment. Sit down, and / will in