The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-03-17

One Wintry afternoon In January
away mp In the bleak attic ofa Wsetch-
ed Demonstrations, . pale. aAd-eyed
woman cot sewing. The garment upon
which she WAS engaged was very rich
dress. The twilight closed In rapidly,
with binding fall Of snow, bitter,
wailing blast. that made the windows
rattle In the casements- Still the pale
faced woman stitched on.
Mother" piped . sweet voice from
the cot beneath the window, shall
you get the fine dress done? Oh, my
mother, I'm % hungry. III only had
some tea and Q bit Of sausage"
She worked on steadily for few mo-
meuts, paused only to brush . tear
from her white cheek, then arose and
shook out the glimnefing robe.
"'Tis done at last, |" she said, Now
mothers little girl can have her sup
Flora. Ross, Rosa. where are you, my
boy?"
A manly little fellow came out from
the little bedroom beyond.
The fine dress In done, Ross, said
his mother, land you must run home
with II IA fast ~ you can. Miss Garcia
will be out Of patience, know. Tell
her I couldn't finish il one moment
sooner, and ask her To give you the
money. We must have ii tonight.
And you can stop In nj Mr.. Rays, as
you come back, and buy some coal |;
and we must have some bread and tea,
and mite of butter, and you must get
q sausage, Ross, for poor little Flora"
I'm get them all, mother" he said.
and be back in time. You shall HAYES
big sausage, little sis, I" he added, turn
ing toward the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head, and
her great, wistful eyes sparkled with
delight.
"And you shall have half ofit, Ross. "
she piped, in her splendid bird voice.
Hadn't you better put on yOur thick
jacket, my boy ?" continued his moth
er. 1.-THE winds cuts like q knife"
Pshaw, little mother, don't mind
the wind" And away he went down
the creaking stairs and out into the
storm. Miss Garcia Fontenay was in
. perfect furore of Impotence and an
ger. Her dear five hundred friends
were assembled in the halls below and
her handsome dress had not come
home. What did the bcggar woman
mean by disappointing her?
At that moment there was ring at
the door and n voice in the hall.
Please tell Miss Garcia my mother
could not finish it sooner. She wants
the money tonight"
Theservant took the handsome dress
and message.
I'm never give her another stitch
of work." cried the angry beauty Il
ought to have had 1t three hours ago.
Here, Fanchon, dress me Mt once
there's not q minute to lose. No, /
can not pay tonight haven't time.
He must call tomorrow"
But we've no fire and nothing to
eat, and my little sister Is sick" cried
the little boy, pushing up the grand
stairway.
"Shut the door, Fanchon!" COM
manded Miss Garcia; and the door
was closed i'm his face.
From the porch ut the parlOr win
dow Pansie watched the whole scene.
her violet eyes distended with childish
amazement.
Poor little boy" she said, as Ross
disappeared down the stairway sis
ter Garcia ought to pay him. 1t must
be dreadful to have no fire and nothing
to eat"
She stood for n moment, balancing
herself on the tip of one dainty foot,
her rosebud face grave and reflective;
then q sudden thought flooded her blue
eyes with sunshine, and snatching
something from the table, she darted
down stairs. The servant had just
closed the street door, but she fiuttered
past him like humming bird, and
opened il.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little
fellow that he was, his face in his
hands, sObbing as If his heart would
break.
What's 'the matter, little boy?"
questioned Pansie.
Ross looked up, half believing that
il was the face of an angel looking
down upon him through the -whirling
"Oh, I can not go home without the
money!" he sObbed. Poor mother
worked hard, and Flora is sick and go
hungry"
Here" she said, do take this, lit
tie boy, and buy her lots of nice things.
IT'S worth a great deal; papa bought
it for my birthday present, but do you
take il, and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands,
and something like a shower of stars
sprinkled to the boys feet. He caught
II up in amazement-a necklace Of EN-
eralds, lustrous, cleaning things, set
in tawny Indian gold.
No, no." he cried, running up to
where he stood, ~ can't take this
necklace. Take II back"
"You shall take il" she commanded
imperiOusly. ~ have lots of jewelry
and fine things. Run home now and
buy your sister something to eat"
She closed the door with a bang, and
Ross stood irresOlute I'm the stormy
gloom. Should he ring the bell and re-
turn the jewels to Pansie's father, or
should he do as she had bid him? He
thought of his mother and poor little
Flora watching wlstfully for his return.
He could not go back and see them
starve. With q sudden feeling of des-
peratiOn he thrust the glitterlng neck
lace in his pocket and dashed down
the snowy street.
The gas light blazed brilliantly in
fashionable establishment and Its bland
looked down inquiringly on
little Ross as he approached the glitter
ing counter.
Would you like to buy this, sir?"
There was a tremor in the boys
voice as he asked the question, and the
hand that held the emerald necklace
shook visibly. The lapidary took the
gems, examining them closely for
and then shot q sharp glance
ut the child.
"See here" he said presently, his
voice stern and commanding. IL
want to know how you came by this"
The boys clear eyes fell he flushed
and stammered, evidently embarrass-
I'd. The jeweler put aside the emer-
lids, and taking the lads arm led him
INTO a small ante-room.
"You are o thief" he said. "That
necklace belongs to Mr.. Fontenay.
He bought II Of me not a month ago.
You stole it; you are thief"
The little fellow Strengthened him |
elf, and his brown eyes blaxed. 81
I'M no thief" he retOrted. 80 A kind |
little girl gave it to me, and know 1t |
vas wrong to take it, but-but my |
mother and sister are starving"
The jeweler hesitated.
You don't look like a thief" he
aid. "but I will send for Mr.. Fonte-
lay. That will settle the matter at
nee"
He dispatched a messenger accord
ngiy, and Ross sat down in q corner
md sObbed bitterly IA he heard the