Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-12-10


II think We shall not lose sight Of tho
little fellow continued M FonteDay,
as Ross disappeared in tho stormy dark
nsss "6hsll We, pot 7 Lot = $50 what
we can do to help him. He " . very
promising Young lad, and an honest one,
! ON sure. Mr.. Lennox, you are in
need Of an errsnd boy; why not try
him ! IwiSh yon would"
Tho joweler consented, to Pansie's
great delight, and on the following day
Ross was duly installed as errand boy in
the fashionable establishment.
Fifteen years after, one clustering
March morning, o young lnsn sat behind
the counter Of thriving jewelry estab-
lishment in one Of the Northern cities.
He was Is handsome man, Q traveller, u
man Of taste, intellect, and money, for
he was junior partner in tho firm,
which was prosperous one. But, de-
spite his good fortune, Ross Dunbar
was not happy. His mother and little
Flora had gone to their long home, and
he was utterly alone in the world, with
out kith or kin.
Sitting alone one morning, with tho
roar ofthe 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, do
spite its privation 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-
tenay's mansion. And little pansie;
the remembrance Of her sweet face, Us
he saw it through the snow wreaths
haunted him constantly. In all the flf-
teen years never for one hour had he for
gotten her. But she was gone---lost to
him forever.
His reverie was broken by the en-
trance Of q customer--a lady closely
clothed and yelled. She approached
the counter with jewel case in her
hand.
"Would you bny these ?" she asked,
simply, in clear 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
rnbies and an emerald necklace. Ross
Dunbar barely suppressed cry Of sur
prise as bis eyes fell upon it. He turned
it over with eager, trembling fingers,
and there on the clasp vas the name
that had lived in his heart for so many
years little Pansie.n
"You wish 10 sell them all ~ he asked,
striving to steady his voice in the wild
throbbing Of his heart.
The lady hesitated an instant, and
then she put ont her slender hand and
drew the enaeralds toward her.
II dislike to part with this" she said.
ut was my fathers gift-and-aud-
but no matter, take them all. I must
have the money"
In her eagerness she had thrown aside
her veil, revealing q lily face, lit by
lustrous 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.
"rhey are very fine gems" he said,
after amoment, land am willing to
give you q fair price Suppose we say
one thousand dollars will that do 7"
The girl flashed a dazzling glance of
surprise from beneath her heavy veil.
"Somucb as that7' size said tremu-
lousy. ''You are very kind, sir. Oh,
you cannot know how zach this money
Will help me
The young man naade reply, and
proceeded to put aside the jewels and
draw a check for the money. The March
winds were clustering without and the
girl shivered and drew her wrapper
closer rs she started out,
"Won' you let me run down to the
bank for you p said the jeweler, CATCH
ing up his hat. "You can play shop Ia
dy the while; it won't be but minute
or two"
But I'm troubling you SOP
s.Not bit. just take the 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.
Pansy Fontenay threw back her veil
and leaned her head upon her hands, a