The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-03-25
worked hard, and Flora is sick and SC

for my birthday present, but do you
take It and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands. and
something like shower of stars fell al
the boys feet. lie caught itup in amaze
"a necklace of emeralds. lustrous,
cleaning things, set in tawny, Indian
gold.
mo, no." he cried, running up to
where she stood. IL cannot take this
necklace-take 1t back"
You shall take it," she continued,
imperiously. 81 have lots of jewelry
and fine things-run home now and buy
your sister something TO eat"
She closed the door with o bang, and
Ross stood irresolute in the stormy
gloom. Should he ring the bell and re-
turn the jewels to Pansie's father, OF
should he do as she bade him ? He
thought of his mother and poor little
Flora watching wistfully for his return.
lie could not go back and see them
starve. With a sudden feeling of des-
peration he thrust the glittering neck
lace in his pocket and dashed down the
street.
The gaslight blazed brilliantly In a
fashionable jewelry establishment, and
its bland proprietor looked down in
luiringly on little Ross as he approached
the glittering counter.
Would you like to buy this, sirP"
There was tremor in the boys voice
as he asked the questi on, and the hand
that held the emerald necklace shook
visibly. The lapiCary took the gems.
examining them closely for a moment,
and then shot a sharp glance at the
child.
"See here" he said, presently, his
voice stern and commanding, l want
to know how you came by thisp"
The boys clear eyes fell; he blushed
and stammered, evidently embarrassed.
The jeweler put aside the emoralds, and
taking the lads arm led him into
small ante. room.
"You are thief, sir. "he said "That
necklace belongs to Mr.. Fontenay-he
bought it of me not Il month ago. You
stole it; you are thief"
The little fellow Strengthened himself,
and his brown eyes blazed. II am no
thief" he retorted. "a little girl gave
it to me, and / know it was wrong to
take it, but-but my mother and sister
are starving"
The jeweler hesitated.
"You don't look like a thief" he said;
but l will send for Mr.. Fontenay
that will settle the matter at once"
He dispatched a messenger accord
ingly and Ross sat down in corner and
sobbed bitterly rs he heard the driving
winds and thought of his mother and
poor little Flora. In half an hour Mr..
Fontenay came, bringing his little
daughter Pansie with him. The little
creature darted toward Ross like hum
ming-bird, her cheeks ablaze, her eyes
flashing like lightning.
He didn steal my emeralds!" she
cried, Il gave 'em to him to sell 'em,
and buy bread for his little sister,"
Ross sprarg to his feet, struggling
hard to keep back his tears. He put out
his little brown hand, which Pansie in
stantly clasped in her chubby palms.
81 am not thief, SIR" he said at
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay; "Inever
stole anything in my life. l know it
was wrong to take the necklace-but-
but, sir, my little sister is starving"
The merchant drew his hands across
his eyes.
You're manly little fellow" he
said, patting the lads head, "and do not
in the least blame you, but l will take
Pansie's emeralds, and she shall give
you something more available. Here,
Pnsie, give this to your little friend"
Heputa gold piece into Pansie's hands,
which she rendered to Ross, with the in
junction that he should run straight
home and buy lots of goodies for his Sis
ter-a command he was not slow to
obey.
81 think we shall not lose sight of the
little fellow" continued Mr.. Fontenay,
as Ross disappeared in the stormy dark
ness. "Shall we, petP Let's see what
we can do to help him. He's q promis-
ing young lad and an honest one, I'm
sure. Mr.. Lenox, you're in need of an
errand boy; why not try himP l wish
you would"
The jeweler consented, to Pansie's
great delight, and on the following day
Ross was duly installed as an errand boy
in the fashionable establishment.
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning, young man sat behind
the counter of a thriving jewelry estab-
ment in one of the Northern cities. lie
was handsome man, a traveller, a man
If taste, intellect and money, for lie was
Junior partner in the firm, which was
prosperous one. But despite all his
good fortune, Ross Dunbar was not
happy. His mother and his little Flora
had gone to their long home, and he was
utterly alone, without kith or kin in the
wide world.
Sitting alone one morning with the
roar of the March winds in his ears
his thoughts were running back to the
days of his boyhood, to his mothers
humble home. How vivid the past
seemed, and how dear and sacred, de-
spite its privations and sorrows. His
eyes grew dim and his heart swelled.
All were gone over the wide waters OF
time and change.
A tender smile softened his sad face
as he recalled the stormy night when he
sat sobbing on the steps of Mr.. Fon-
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