The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-06-05
pended few shiIlings in an advertise

ment in the local newspaper, Offering
his services to tradesman, or mercan-
tile person, to assist in warehouse Or
Office. But, alas! when he looked into
the paper, and saw how many applica
tons Of q 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
nrent whatever.
Thefeg7 pounds Salvatore had brought
with him from London were already ex-
pended, and his gold watch had been
confded 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. It 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 frst And he did starve! 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 a woman's kindness, Are you Ill,
sir? Is there anything I can get you? ?"
Salvatore interrupted her with a
forced laugh. Don't distress your
SELF" he said, "on my account; I 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.
It was night. The gas was already
lit on the Marine Parade, and, if Sal
vadore had been 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 i'll 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 have not even a
shilling toward the weeks lodging. I
mast do sonaethi1ag---I know not what!
I must go, I know not whither
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 struck
him that, instead of disposing of the
ring, or depositing it at pownbroker's,
he would go in, tell his whole story to
the aff1uent 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 sanctioned resolution
in his mind, he was fairly in the
center of the splendid shop be-
fore 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 a young girl
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 I deliver any
message? Or will you wait?-or, 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 a 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-
Ill r IL