Year: 1873

the little fellow continued Mr..
Fontenay, as Ross disappeared in


the stormy darkness. ''shall we, pet?


He's promising young lad and an


honest one, I'm sure, Mr.. Lennox,
you're in need of an errand boy,


why not try him? l wish you


would"


The jeweler consented, to Pansie's $
great delight, and on the following
day Ross was duly installed as an
errand boy, in the fashionable estaR
lishment.


Fifteen years after, one buster
ing March morning, young man
sat behind the counter of a thriving
jewelry establishment in one of the
Northern cities. He was a hand
some man. scholar and traveller. a
man of taste. intellect and money,
for he was junior partner in the firm,
which was prosperous one. But
despite all his good fortune, Ross
Dunbar was not happy. His moth
er and his little Flora had gone to
their long home, and he was utter
ly alone, without kith or kin in the
wide world.


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 despite its privations and
sorrow. 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 be recalled that stormy night
when he sat sobbing on the steps of
Mr.. Fontenay's mansion and little
Pansie, the remembrance Of her
sweet Cace. as he saw it through the
snow wreaths that night, haunted
him certainly. In all the fifteen
years never for one hour had he for
gotten her. But she was gone lost
to him forever.


His revery was broken by the en-
trance of customer, n lady closely
cIoaked and yelled She approach
ed the counter with 4 jewel case in
her hand


Would you buy these?" she ask
ed simply, in clear sweet voice
that stirred the young mans heart
as no other woman's voice had pow
er to do.


He took the casket and unclosed
it and spread out its contents. A
watch, elegant and costly, a dia-
mond ring, two rubies and an emer-
aid necklace. Ross Dunbar barely
suppressed a 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 lived in his heart for so many
long 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, then
she put out slender hand and drew
the emeralds toward her


81 dislike to part with this" she
said sit was fathers gift-and-but
no matter, take them all f.; 1 must !
have the money"


2 In her eagerness she had thrown
aside her veil, revealing a little face
lit by lustrious sapphire eyes. Ross
Dunbar stood silent a moment, 4ev-
cry nerve in his manly frame thrilling
with supreme delight He had
found her at last, the one idol of his |
life.


"They are very fine gems" he
said after a moment, sand l am
willing to give you a fair price-sup-
pose we say one thousand dollars,
will that do?''


The girl flashed dazzling glance
of surprise from beneath her heavy
veil.


$50 much as that?" she asked
tremulously. ''You are very kind,
sir. o You cannot know how much
this money will help me-


The young man made polite re-
ply and proceeded to put aside the
jewels to draw check for the mon-
ey. The March winds were still
clustering without, and the girl
shivered and drew her wrapper clo-
ser as she started out.


won't you let me run down to
the bank for your said the jeweler
up his hat. "You can play
the while; it won't be but
a minute or two"


''But am troubling you so.''


Not bit; just take this warm
seat, please, you'll not be likely to
have any customers" And seating
her beside his desk, he took the
check and hurried out.


Pansie Fontenay threw back her
veil and leaned her head upon her
hand puzzled reflective look upon
her sweet, sad face.