San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-01-12
THE EMERALDS.


One wintery afternoon in January,
away up in the bleak attic of wretched
tenement house, pale, sad-eyed woman
sat sewing. The garment upon which
she was engaged was very rich dress.
The twilight closed in rapidly, with a
binding fall of snow, bitter, wailing
blast that made the windows rattle III
the easements. Still the pale-faced
woman stitched on.
Mother" piped sweet voice from
the cot beneath the window, will you
get the fine dress done? Oh, mother,
I am so hungry! If I only had some
tea and bit of sausage"
She worked on steadily for time,
pausing only to brush tear from her
white cheek, then arose and shook out
the glimmering robe.
""His 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
patience, know. Tell her I couldn't
finish it one moment sooner, and ask
her to give you the money. We must
have it tonight. And you can stop at
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 a sausage, Ross, for
poor little Flora"
"I'll get them all, mother" he said,
sand be back in time. You shall have
big sausage, little sis, turning toward
the cot.
The girl nodded her curly head and
her great wistful eyes sparkled with
delight.
"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.
"The wind cuts like knife"
"Pshaw little mother, I 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 were assem-
bled in the halls below, and her hand
some dress had not come home. "What
did that begger woman mean by disap-
pointing herr"
At that moment there was ring at
the door and voice in the hall.
"Please tell Miss Oracle my mother
could not finish it sooner; she wants
the money tonight j."
The servant took the handsome dress
and message.
"I'll never give her another stitch of
work." cried the angry beauty. Il
ought to have had it three hours ago.
Here-Fanchon, dress me at once
there's not a minute to lose. No, l
can't pay tonight, haven't time. He
must call tomorrow.
"But we've no fire, and nothing to
eat, and my little sister is SICK" called
the boy, pushing up the grand stair
way.
aShut the door, Fanchon!' command
ed Miss Oracle. And the door was shut
in his face.
From the porch at the parlor window
Papsie watched the whole scene, her
violet eyes distended with childish
amaZement.
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 a moment balancing
herself on the tip of one dainty foot,
her rosebud face grave and reflective;
then sudden thought flooded her blue
ewes with sunshine, and snatching some
thing from the table she darted down
stairs. The servant had just closed the
street door, but she huttered past him
like humming bird and opened 1t.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little
fellow 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
II was the face Of an angel looking |
down upon him through the vhirling
snow.
sOh, / can't 90 home without the
money" he sObbed; poor mother
worked hard, aud Flora is sick and so
hungry.