The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-17
THE EN- ERALDS.

One wintry afternoon in January away
MP in the bleak attic of a wretched tene.
ment house, pale. sad-eyed woman sat
sewing. The garment on which she was
engaged was very rich dress. The twi-
light closed in rapidly, with binding
fall of snow, bitter, wailing blast that
made the windows rattle in the case
ment. Still the pale-faced woman
stitched on.
Mother" piped q sweet voice from
the cot beneath the window, will you
get the fine dress done? Oh, mother,
I'm so hungry" If I only had some tea
and bit of sausage"
She worked on steadily for q time,
pausing only to brush tear from her
white cheek then arose and shook out the
glimmering robe. ..
" IT'S done at last" she said. "Now
mothers little girl can have her supper;
only be patient little longer, Flora.
Ross, come, my boy"
A manly little fellow came out from
the bedroom beyond.
"The fine dress is done, Ross, and you
must run home with it as fast as you
can. Miss Oracle will be out of pa
tience, know. Tell her l couldn't fin
ish it a moment sooner, and ask her to
give you the money. We must have it
tonight. And you can stop at Mr..
Ray s as you come back and buy some
coal; and we must have some bread and
tea, and mite of butter, and you must
get sausage, Ross, for poor little
Flora"
"Ill get them all, mother" he said,
"and be back in time. You shall have
big saugage, little Sis" turning toward
the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head, and
her great wistful eyes sparkled with de-
light. ;,
"And you shall have half of it, Ross"
she piped, in her splendid bird voice.
Hadn't you better put on your thick
jacket, my boy?" continued the mother.
1.-THE wind cuts like knife"
"Pshaw! little mother, 1 don't mind
the wind" and away he went down the
creaking stairs and out into the storm.
Miss Oracle Fontenay was in perfect
furore of impotence and anger. Her
dear five hundred friends we're assem-
bled in the halls below, and her hand
some dress had not come home. What
did that beggar woman mean by disap-
pointing her?"
At that moment there was ring at the
door and voice in the hall.
please tell Miss Grace my mother
could not finish it sooner; she wants the
money tonight"
The servant took the handsome dress
nd message. l..
I'm never give her another stitch ct
work." cried the angry beauty. II
ought to have had it three hours ago.
Here, Fanchon, dress me at once-there's
not minute to lose. No, l can't pay to-
night; haven't time. He must call to-
morrow"
"But we've no fire and nothing to eat,
and my little sister is sick" called the
boy, pushing up the grand stairway.
'Shut the door, Fanchon." commanded
Miss Oracle. And the door was shut in
his face.
From the porch at the parlor window
Pansie watched the whole scene, her vic.
let eyes distended with childish amaze
ment.
poor little boy" she said, as Ross
disappeared down the stairway; "sister
Oracle ought to pay him. 1t must be
dreadful to have no fire and nothing to
eat"
She stood for moment balancing her
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rosebud face grave and reflective; then
sudden thought flooded her blue eyes
with sunshine, and snatching something
from the table and darted down stairs.
The servant had just closed the street
door. but she huttered past him like
humming bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little fell
low that he was, his face in his hands,
sobbing as if his heart would break.
whats the matter little boy? ques-
toned Pansie.
Ross looked up, half believing that it
was the face of al angel looking down
upon him through the whirling snows
"Oh, 1 cannot 60 home without the
money" he sobbed; "poor mother
worked hard. and Flora is sick and so
hungry"
Here" she said, edo take this, little
boy, and buy her lots of nice things
It's worth good deal; papa bought it
for my birthday present, but do you take
it and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands, and
something like shower of tears fell at
the boys feet. He caught it up in
amazement-necklace of emeralds, lus-
trous, cleaning things, set in tawny In
dian gold.
mo, no." he cried, running up to
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