The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-01-22

"Such nattcrng preference as you are
evDcing for young Thorleys society Is
enough to turn any young mans mead; anu
coming from a girl in your position to man
in his, is calculated 20 do harm. Take my
advice, RoXic; he already sees no Que IN the
room but you. Lavish your wlicherles on
some one less liable to lose his Wits IN conse
lQurnce of them
Roxie turned away from her aunt a Little
pe,tlshly, and stole from under her lashes
n furtivc glance in Young Thorley's direction
He was indeed watching her, with his keart
in his handsome eyes; and the vain little
beauty flushed with pleasure.
| 1t was not long before Frank Thorlcy ask
ed her to dance with him again.
"He is SO handsome and graceful, and so
entertaining" RoXic unused during the in.
stant's hesitation before she put her little
white gloved hand in his, IL will dance with
| him --thcre!'
| And away she floated in airy circles.
! at can't do any HARM she continued with
some inward misglving, as her eyes met
anntic's mildly disappearing look, or TELL be
meath the impassioned and almost too frank.
| " adm;ring glance Of her companion; "ot
course lie knows | am particularly kind to
him, because he's papa's clerk; and he can
be so ridiculous AS To fall in love with me
y
gethrr this way AGAIN
Miss ROXie, however, was mistaken in her
calculations She had INDUCED a momenta-
~ whim. and had insisted upon his attend
| ing her party.
| As a consequence, somebody else invited
him, and then somebody else, and he was so
| handsome and entertaining graceful
addition to any circle-that before the winter
was over he had become very popular, and
received more invitations than he was able
to accept RoXie was surprised, but secretly
pleased at this, and at the continuance OF his
undisgulsed and almost romantic devotion 10
herself Roxie accepted this devotion with
occasional misgiving as to where It was TO
end but she liked 1t too well TO lose, and
was perhaps more interested at heart than she
realized herself
Imagine her CONSERVATION when Frank
Thorley asked her the marry him
w-I'm sorry, Frank" she murmured,
almost ircoherently, as she dropped into Il
seat
| Thorlcys eyes flashed momen,ariy.
You've done wicked thing, Miss RoXie
Iyle,' he said "lf ever woman led Il man
to believe she loved him, you did me-
| Roxie stopped him there with laugh
| ty gesture, and an aDgry-"Tou forget
Yourself Mr.. Thorley;" and she swept impe-
rally past him back to the drawing room she
had quilted moment betonc on his arm
Mr.. Vincent Lyle was at the head Of one of
the oldest firms in the city. He was man
of sterling integrity and lprghness himself,
and siernly severe upon any derelictiOn in
another. His clerks were all literally paid
and young man who could obtain situa
ton, be it ever SO subordinate, with Lyle IL
CO., was considered to have secured an I'M
commonly good start in life. Dishonesty or
uniaithfu'ucss among the clerks was rare
arly because of the discrimination exercis-
ed in engaging them, partly because OF the
severe and summary reckoning eXacted from
tie few offenders.
Mr. Vincent Lyle was not inclined there.
fore To deal lenenlly with the author of some
small but daring peculation that had been
going on of late Woe to the gailty one
when he discovered him; and from the
searching investigation he was making, he
was likely to do that soon. The matter wor.
ried him so long as it batilcd him; and he
was sitting in his luxurious library at home,
ponderng it, when Frank ThOrley sent in n |
note to him.
The merchant, started, as he read muter-
ing:
"Sharp fellow, Thorley, WASN'T deceived
IN him! Show HIM up, John
Mr.. Lyle shook hands with him warmly !
when he came in; but Thorley seemed
strangely reticcnt, and, not noticing the
seat the merchant offered him, remained |
and his eyes in an unwonted glitter.
Glad to see you, Thorey glad ID sec you.
Shan't forget ii If you give me any clue TO
The author of This scandalous business" Lyle |
said.
"Bchold him. Frank said, getting whittier
yet
Mr.. Lyle started.
at was | who stole your money" Frank |
repeated, with half desperate emphasis on
the obnoxious word in the sentence
Mr.. Lyle stared incrcdulously few mo-
men,s STILL before he could realize the stu
pcndousncss of the fact. lie was terribly an
cry then. The very fact that he had been so
ready TO vouch tor young Thorley, made his
unfaithfulness doubly Culpable. He remem-
bered suddenly the gay life the young man
had been leading of late, vague rumors OF
which had reached his ears, and said sternly, |
as soon as he could master his voice enough, |
"lf you come here thinking to move me to
thoughts of clemency you Will find yourself
mistaken"
Not for myself Mr.. Lyle" he SAID, at last,
speaking with difficulty; "but for my moth.
cr's sake do ask your clemcncy; not TO re-
tain me III your employment, but TO give me
a chance 10 begin somewhere else
And serve some one else as you have me >"
the merchant exclaimed, with ironical an ger
"it is rather too late TO think of your mother,
young man.
al know IL, sir If had suffered no other
love TO enter my heart but love for her
should not stand here the guilty wretch
am. Yet for her cake spare me. | am her
only son-hcr only support. fyou expose
me, you strike her To the heart
Mr.. LYLE ms,c an impatient movement IL
tell YOU you should have thought of this be-
fore. II is too late now, you have had your
chance and abused il wickedly. You must
take the consequences
Thorlcy was trembling, and lac could hard.
ly stand
Mr.. Lyle he said huskily, "do you know
how old | am: | am 10, sir, and never
touched farthing that was no. my own
before"
at is time to end this" Mr.. Lyle said, ris-