Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-01

llS Dlduu pIOpIltlOI lOpheu uOWn III
quiringly on little Ross az he approached
the glittering counter.
would you like TO bay this, sir?'
There was a tremot in the boys
voice as he asked the Question, and the
hand that held the en- ierald necklace
shook visibly. The laIidary took the
gems. examining then closely for a
moment, and then shot sharp glance
at the child.
''See here" he said, presently, his
voice stern and commanding. 81 want
to know how you came by this"
The boys clear eyes fell; he blushed
and stammered, evidently embarrassed.
The jeweler put aside the emeralds
and, taking the lads arm, led him into
n small ante-IOOm.
"YOu are a thief, SIR he said. "That
necklace belongs TO Mr.. Fontenay-he
bought it Of me not a month ago. You
stole IL; you are a thief"
The little fellow Strengthened himself,
and his brown eyes blazed. 81 am no
thief" he retorted. "a little girl gave
II 10 me. and l knew it was wrong TO
take it, but-but my mother and sister
are starving"
y on don't look like a thief" he said I;
"but will send for Mr.. Fontenay; that
will settle the matter at once"
He dispatched a messenger according
ly. and Ross sat down i'm a corner and
sObbed bitterly as he heard the driving
wind and thought of his mother and
poor little Flora. In an half hour Mr..
FOntenay came bringing his little
daughter Pansie with him. The little
creature darted towards Ross like a
humming bird, her cheeks ablaze, her
eyes flashing like lightning.
"lIe didn't steal my emeraldsr she
cried, 81 gave 'em TO him to sell 'em,
and buy bread for his little sister"
Ross sprang TO his feet, struggling
hard to keep back his tears. He put
out his little brown hand, which Pan
sic instantly clasped in her chubby
palms.
81 am not a thief. sir" he said at
last addressing Mr.. Fontenay; 81 never
stole anything in my life. know it
was wrong to take the necklace-but
but, sir. my little sister is starv-
ing"
The merchant drew his hand across
his eyes. you're a manly little fel.
low" he said, patting the little lads
head, "and do not i'm the least blame
you, but | will take Pansie's emerald's
and she shall give something more
available. Here, Pansie, give this to
vOur little friend"
lie put n gold piece into Pansie's
hands. which she rendered to Ross
with the injunction that he should run
straight home and buy lots of goodies
for his sister--a command he was not
slow 90 obey.
81 think we shall not lose sight of
the little fellow, continued Mr.. FOnte-
nay, rs Ross disappeared in the stormy
darkness. "Shall we. pet? Let's see
what we can do to help him. He's a
promising young lad. and an honest
one. I'm sure. Mr.. Lenox, you're in
need of an errand boy; why not try
him2 | wish you would"
The jewelar consented, TO Pansies
great delight, and on the following
day Ross was duly installed rs an errand
boy in the fashionable establishment.
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning young man sat be-
hind the counter Of thriving jewelry
establishment in one of the northern
cities. He was handsome man, a
treveller. man of taste. intellect, and
money, for he was junior partner i'm
the firm, which was a prosperous one.
But, despite his good fortune, Ross
Dunbar was not happy. Ills mother
and his little Flora had gone 10 their
| long home and he was utterly alone
In the world, without kith or kin.
Sitting alone one morning. with the
roar of the March wind 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, des-
pite its privations and sorrowsl 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.. FOntenay's mansion. And little
Pansie; the remembrance Of her sweet
face. as he saw it through the snow
wreaths. haunted him constantly. In
the fifteen years never for one hour
had he forgotten her. But she was
gOne-lOst to him forever.
His revere was broken by the en-
/ trance of n customer. a lady closely
clothed and veiled. She approached
the counter with jewel case in her
hand.
Would you buy theseg' 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 1t, and
spread out its contents. A watch, an
elegant and costly diamond ring, two
rubies and an emerald necklace. Ross
Dunbar barely suppressed a cry of sur
prise rs his eyes fell upon it. He
turned il over with eager, trembling
fingers, and there on the clasp was the
name that had lived in his heart for so
many years, "Little Pansie."
"Hou wish TO sell them ALP" he
asked, striving to steady his voice and
the wild throbbing of his heart.
The lady hesitated an instant and
then she put out her slender hand and
drew the emerald's toward her.
IL dislike TO part with this" she
said; lit was my fathers gift-and-
hut No fnottar toEo fbar, oil 7 ,,,v.t
have the money"
In her eagerness she had thrown
aside her veil revealinga a lily face, lit by
lustrous sapphire eyes. Ross Dunbar
stood silent moment, every nerve of
his manly form thrilling with supreme
delight. He had found her Mt last, the
idol of his life.
"These are some very fine gems" he
said, after a moment, and / am willing
IN rive Won n fair price-suDnOse we