River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-05-06

4 Instantly Claspeu III nef CluDDy palms
81 am not a thief. sir" he SAID a
last, addressing Mr.. Fortenay; 81 neyel
stole anything in my life. know i
was wrong to take the necklace-but-
but. sir, my little sister was starving.
The merchant drew his hands across
his eyes.
you're a manly little fellow" ht
said, patting the lads head, "and d.
not in the least blame you, but viii
take Pansie's emeralds, and she vii
give you something more available
Here Pansie, give this to your LITTLE
friend"
He put a gold piece into Pansiet
hands, which she rendered to Ross
with the Injunction that he should rur
straight home and buy lots OF goodies
not slow to obey.
81 think we will not lose sight of the
poor little fellow" continued Mr.
Fortenay, as Ross disappeared in the
stormy darkness. "Shall we pet? Let,
see what we can do to help him. He's
a promising young lad and an homes
one, I'm sure. Mr.. Lenox you're ii
need of an errand boy; why not try
him? Wish you would"
The ieweler consented, to Pansie's
great delight, and on the following day
P.oss was duly installed as an erranc
boy in the fashionable establishment
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning, a young man sat be-
| hind the counter of thriving iewelry
| establishment in one of the Northern
cities. He was a handsome man, q
traveller man of taste, intellect and
money, for he was junior partner in
the firm, which was q 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 sith or kin in the wide world
Sitting alone one morning with the
roar OF March winds in his ears his
thoughts. were running back to the
days of his boy-hood, 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 wnen
he sat sobblng on the steps of Mr.. Fonte-
nays mansion. And little Pansie; the
remembrance of her sweet face, as he
saw it through the snow wreaths,
haunted him constantly. In all the
fifteen years never for one hour had he
forgotten her. But she was gone-lost
to him forever.
His reverie was broken by the en-
trance of q customer, lady closely
clothed and yelled. She approached
the counter with jewel case in her
hand.
Would you buy these ?" 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 casket, opened it, and
spread out its contents. A watch an
elegant and costly diamond ring, two
rubies and an emerald necklace. Ross
Dunbar barely suppressed cry of sur
prise as his eyes fell upon it. He turned
it over with eager, trembling fngers and
there on the clasp was the name that
had lived in his heart for so many years.
Little Pansie."
"You wish to sell them all?' he asked,
striving to steady bis voice and the wild
thrObblng of his heart.
The lady hesitated an instant and then
she put out her slender hand and drew
the eme. aids toward her.
81 dislike to part with this" she said;
sit was my fathers gift-and-and-but
no matter, take them all; must have
the money"
In eagerness she had thrown aside
her veil, revealing lily face, lit by lus-
trous, sapphire eyes. Ross Dunbar
stood silent moment, every nerve in
his manly form thrilling with supreme
delight. He had found her at last, the
idol of his life.
"They are very fine gems" he said,
after a moment, "and l am willing to
give you fair price-suppose we say
one thousand dollars-will that do?"
The girl flashed dazzling glance of
surprise from beneath her heavy veil.
$50 much as thar she said tremu-
lousy. "You are very kind, sir. Oh,
you cannot know how much this money
will help me-"
The young man made polite reply
and proceeded to put aside the jewels
and draw a check for the money. The
March winds were still clustering with
out, and the girl shivered and drew her
wrapper close as she started out.
won't you let me run down to the
bank for your said the jeweler, catch
ing up his hat. "You can play shop la
day the whiie:it won't be but very few
minutes"
"But am troubling you So"
mot bit; Just take this warm seat,
please, you'll not be likely to have any
customers. And seating her beside the
desk, he took the check and hurried
out.
Pansio Fontenay threw back her veil
and leaned her head upon her hands, a
puzzled, reflective look upon her sweet
sad face.
"When have l seen this face?" she
asked herself over and over again. at
s so familiar; who in the world can it
be?" His return broke in upon ner
meditation, and after receiving her
money she hurried away tJ her humble
! lodgings.
/ The following afternoon was even
more clustering and stormy; the wind
roared and the sleet tinkled against the
windows of the little room in which
Pansie aud her father sat. Severe mis-
fortunes and reverse had reduced them
10 poverty, and the old man being an
invalid, all the care fell upon Pansie's
shoulders. She sat down with her
father reading aloud from a new book
which she had bought for him with
some of the money received for her
! Jewels. Her sweet face was wan and
sad, and her future stretched before her
sad, hopeless and gloomy.
There is a ring at the door, and SER
want brought up package for Miss
Fonten~y. An exquisite bunch of pan
sizes, fragrant and golden hearted, done
up in tissue paper, and attached to them
a card. bearing the simple words
Ross Dunbar has not forgotten little
| Pansie."
Pansie sat amazed for moment, and
then a rich bloom darted into her while
cheeks.
"Oh, father" she said. 81 knew him
Il knew him! On, we have found Ross
at last"
An instant later Ross was in the
room, cIasping her huttering hands in
his, and into her blue eyes looked with
a glance that brought the rosy bloom
to her face. And few weeks later
/ Union tho hIusterino winds were over