The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-10
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THE DIAMOND RING.

ROxie, Roxie, child y
a young girl lovely as the morning
disengaged herself from the laughing group
abDut her, to reply to the lady who called
h6F
Well, auntie u she said, with u back
Nard toss Of the softest, brightest curls,
and look Of .saucy defiance out Of arch
hakel.brown eyes,
What was it l heard you say just
nbw?"
Roxie colored, but looked saucy still
and laughed 81 don't care, she said,
poOting very becomingy the next moment;
n do like Frank Thorley, although he is
pfpas clerk. shouldn't have said So
oaly Ellen Richmond was making fun Of
Nhat she calls his assurance in dancing
Nith me so often tonight"
wouldn't dance with him again, my
Mar
Why not, pray2" Roxie exclaimed,
awaiting her graceful eyebrows
Because you are very pretty girl, he
Is very handsome, impressibe young
. unn. You may do him much harm"
"I?"
Such fattering preference as you are
= oyincng for young Thorley's society, is
! Dough to turn any young mans head /,
/. apd coming from girl in your position to
man in his, is calculated to do harm.
J hke my advice, Roxej he already sees
no one in the room but you. Lavish
your witheries on some one less liable to
lose his wits in consequence of them"
Roxie turned away from her aunt
Ila ,,affsatl,, a,I ,,.1. L
! thick lashes furtive glance in young
Ihoreys direction. He was indeed watch.
ing her, with his heart in his handsome
! yes and the vain little beauty flushed
With pleasure
1t was not long before Frank Thorey
ssked her to dance with him again.
. He is SO handsome and graceful, and
p entertaining" Roxe mused during
be instant's hesitation before she put her
lttle gloved hand in his, II tcW dance
Nth him--therc r.
And away she foated in airy circles.
1t cant do any harm, she continued
= ith some inward misgiving, as her eyes
pct auutic's mildly disappearing look or
keIl beneath the impassioned and almost
20 frankly admiring glance Of her com.
paniOn; "of course he knows | am particu-
hrly kind to him, because he's papa's
<lcrk and he cant be so ridiculous as to
kl in love with me really, and it isn't
hkely that We shall ever be together this
say again"
Miss ROxie, however, was mistaken in
Der calculations. She had INDUCED a
Nomentary whim, aud had insisted upon
hs attending her party
As consequence, somebody else invit-
sd him, and then somebody else, and he
pas so handsome aud cntertaining-su
graceful addition to any circle-that be.
fore the winter was over, he had become
very popular, and received more invita-.
tons than he was able to accept. Roxie
Nas surprised, but was secretly pleased at
this, and at the continuance of his undis.
euised and almost romantic devotion to
herself. Roxie accepted this devotion
with occasional reluctance, occasional mis-
giving as to where it was to end but she
liked it too well to lose, and was perhaps
nore interested at heart than she realized
N herself.
Imagine her CONSERVATION, when Frank
Ihorley asked her to marry him
"l-Tm sorry, Frank, she murmured
Utmost incoherently, as she dropped into
beat.
Thollcys eyes flashed momentarily
You've done wicked thing, Miss
Roxie Lyle" he said "If ever woman
Jed man to believe she loved him, you did
he"
Roxie stopped him there with haugh-
y gesture, and an augry-"iou forget
Yourself, Mr., Thorley;" and she swept
impatiently past him, back to the drawing
foom she had quilted mouent before on
bis arm,
Mr.. Vincent Lyle was at the head of
bne of the oldest firms in the city. He
pas man Of sterling integrity and up
fightness himself and sternly severe upon
hny dereliction in another. His clerks
we're all literally paid aud young man
who could obtain situation, be it ever SO
Subordinate, with Lyle 4 Co., was consd-
ered to have secured an uncommonly good
etart in life. Dishonesty or unfaithful-
ness among the clerks Of the firm was are;
partly because of the discrimination exer-
clsed in engaging them, partly because of
The severe and summary reckoning exact
ed from the few offenders.
MIR. Vincent Lyle was not inclined
therefore to deal leniently with the author
of some small but daring peculatlon that
had been going on of late. Woe to the
guilty one when he discovered him and
from the searching investigation he was
making, he was likely TO do that soon.
The matter worried him so long as it
baffod himi and he was sitting in his lux.
urious, library at home, pondering il, when
Frank Thorley sent in note to him. Z
The merchant started, as he read, NUT
teriugi
Sharp fellow, Thorlcy. l wasn't dc.
ceiyed in him Show him up, John"
Mr. Lyle shook hands with him warmly
when he came in; but Thorley seemed
strangely reluctant, and not noticing the
scat the merchant offered him, remained
standing on the hearth opposite, his face
pale and his eyes in an unwonted glitter.
Glad to see you, Thurley, glad to see
YOU. Shant forget ii If you can give me
any clue to the author Of this scandnlous
business, Lyle said.
=" Behold him." Frank said, getting
whittier yet.
Mr. Lyle started
II was who stole your money!
Frank repeated, with half desperate