Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-11

of the northern cities. He was a handsome
man, q traveller, man Of taste, intellect and
money, for he was a junior partner in the
firm, which was a 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, without kith or kin.
Sitting alone one morning, with the roar
Of the March winds in his ears, his thoughts
were running back to the days of his boy
hood, to his mothers humble home. How
vivid the past seemed, and how dear and
sacred, despite its privations 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 sob
bling at Mr.. Fontenay's mansion. And lit
tie Pansie the remembrance of her sweet
face as he saw il through the snow wreaths,
haunted him constantly. In all the fifteen
years never for one hour had he forgotten
her. But she was gone-lost to him forever.
His reverie was broken by the entrance Of
customer, lady closely clothed and yelled.
She approached the counter with jewel
case in her hand.
Would you buy these ?" she asked, sim
ply, in a clear, sweet voice, that stirred the
young mans heart, as no other woman's voice
had power TO do.
He took the casket, opened II, and spread
out its contents. A watch, an elegant and
costly diamond ring, two rubies and an en-
erald necklace. Ross Dunbar barely sup
pressed cry of surprise as his eyes fell upon
it. He turned it 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."
"You wish to sell them all ?" 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
emeralds toward her.
{" dislike to part with this" she said f.;
" it was my fathers gift-and-and-bu
no matter, take them all | must have the
money"
In her eagerness she had thrown aside
her veil, revealing 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
"They are very fine gems,' he said, after a
moment, and am willing to give you a
fair price-suppose we say one thousand
dollars-will that do ?"
The girl flashed a dazzling glance of sur
prise from beneath her heavy veil.
Z" So much as that ?" she said, TREMENDOUSLY.
you are very kind, sir. Oh, you cannot
know how much this money will help me-"
The young man made polite reply, and
proceeded to put aside the jewels and drew
check for the money. The March winds
were clustering without, and the girl shiv-
cred and drew her wrapper closer as she
started out.
Won't you let me run down to the bank
for you ?" said the jeweler, snatching up his
hat "You can play shop lady the while;
it won't be but a minute or two"
"But I'm troubling you So"
Not bit; Just take the warm seat,
please; you'll not be likely to have any Gus
TONER'S" And seating her beside the desk,
he took the check and hurried out.
Pansie Fontenay threw back her veil and
leaned her head upon her hands, puzzled,
reflective look upon her sweet sad face.
"When have l seen this face ?" she asked
herself over and over again. cit is so fa-
miliar; who in the world can it be 7"
His return broke in upon her meditation,
and after receiving the money she hurried
away to her humble lodgings.
The following afternoon was even more
clustering and stormy the wind roared
and the sleet tinkled against the windows of
the little room in which Pansie and her
father sat. Severe misfortunes and re-
verses had reduced them to poverty, and the
old man being an invalid all the care fell
upon Pansie's shoulders. She sat down
with her father, reading aloud from a
new book which she had bought for him
with some of the money received for her
Jewels. Her sweet face was wan and sad
and her future stretched before her, sad
hopeless and gloomy.
There is ring at the door, and servant
brought up package for Miss Fontenay.
An exquisite bunch of pansies, fragrant and
golden-hearted, done up in tissue paper, and
attached to them a card, bearing the simple
words A" Ross Dunbar has not forgotten lit
tie Pansie.'
Pansie sat amazed for a moment, and
then a rich bloom darted into her white
cheeks.
"Oh, father" she said, know him l
know him Oh, we have found Ross at last"
An instant later Ross was in the room
clasping her huttering hands. in his, and
into her blue eyes looked with glance
that brought the rosy bloom into her face.
And few weeks later, when the clustering
winds were over, and the golden-hearted
pansies blooned on the garden borders, lit
tie Pansie became Ross Dunbar's bride, and
for her bridal gift he gave her back her
string OF emeralds.