The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-03-18
THE MISSING SAPPHIRE
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Dlhck BlnBerDtenuE just let me take
your basket, ma'am, and I'll pack 'em
in deal better than you could. Yes,
as was saying, there he lies, clean
out of his head and raving, and no.
body to take care of him but me. And
you may guess how much time / get.
ma'nm, what with the shop and the
six children, and Feathertop's old
mother to look after"
"But why on earth," said the Gus
toner who had ordered tea biscuit,
bread and black gingerbread, "don't
you send the poor fellow to some hos
pital?'
"Just what the doctor advised his
own SELF" said Mrs. Feathertop.
"But, la the minute one mentions
the word hospital, you'd think he
would go out of his head, poor soul
No, no, moi he says, over and over
again, and he holds on to the side of
the bedpost until ono must have a
heart of iron to try and get him away.
And the worst of it is, he's just been
turned out of his place"
Turned out of his place |" repeated
Mrs. Rooney, while Miss Price, the
pale little seamstress who rented the
top back room of Mrs. Feathertop,
end kept herself on infinitesimal NOR
sells of bread and meat which she
picked up nobody knew where, paused
to listen, on her way through the
shop.
she was getting good wages in a
manufacturing jewelers." said the
bakers wife, evidently enjoying her
small audience, "and Mr.. Goldilove
set store by him, for he's way of
working that he'd learned in foreign
parts, and they tell me it's quite an
art to set them precious stones in the
gold so as they'll stand firm and show
off their colors to advantage. And
there was particular choice jewel
sent there to be set as wedding pres.
ent for some young lady-a sapphire,
they say it's called-and it was gin
into his charge. And from that day
to this ma'am and Miss Price, there
hasn't nothin' ever been heard of that
sapphire. If it had been any one
else, Mr.. Goldilove would have had
him arrested; but this John Judson
had always borne so good a character,
and was such an out-and;Qut respect
able man, as he hadn't the heart to do
it. But he discharged him, of course
who wouldn't? And here the poor
fellow is, out of a place, with no ref
erence, and, SO far as know, without
penny in his pocket. And what
we're to do, don't know. for it's
downright sure as can't spare the
time to give him his drops and look
after him as a sick man should be
looked after"
elias he no friends ?" said Mrs.
Rooney.
''Bless your heart, no !" said the
bakers wife. ''He is O stranger in
the country. And poor folks, mind
you, ma'am, don't pick up friends
here and there and everywhere, like
the milllonaires We read about"
just here Miss Price stepped for
ward, with her little splint basket on
her arm.
"Mrs. Feathertop." said she diff
IDENTIFY, 81 am quite alone in the
world, with no ties to keep me busy,
II you don't object, I'll take my sew-
ing down into Mr.. Judson's room and
take care of him days, if Mr..
Feathertop won't mind the might
charge"
'I'm sure, Miss Price, it would be I
deed of Christian charity" said Mrs
Feathertop.
And as she afterwards said to Mrs
Rooney:
"It wasn't as, if Miss Price wer,
young and pretty. She's forty, !
she's day." said the bakers wife
Sand she's had smallpox. as you ma.
see for yourself, Mrs. Rooney, ma'am
and her hair is red and her eyelashe
IS white, and often think, ma'am, @
what Feathertop said, when first sh
engaged our top-story back, Peggy,
says Festhertop. says he. we've 60
the humbliest woman in New York 70
our tenant"
But Mary Price, il she was neiths
youns nor beautiful, possssssd u
rare eiiribstss q : sisk-nusss-tl