Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-16
THE DIAMOND RING


Ayoung girl disengaged herself from
the laughing group about her to reply to
the lady who called her.
"Well, auntieY" she said, with back
ward toss of the softest, brightest curls,
and a look of saucy defiance out of arch,
hazel-brown eyes.
"What was that heard you say just
nowP"
Roxie colored, but looked saucy still,
and laughed.
''I don't care" she said, pouting very
becomingly the next moment, &c do like
Frank Thorley, although he is papa's
clerk. l shouldn't have said so, only
Ellen Richmond was making fun of what
she calls his assurance in dancing with
me so often tonight"
81 wouldn't dance with him again, my
dear"
"Why not, pray2" Roxie exclaimed
elevating her graceful eyebrows.
because you are a very pretty girl,
and he is very handsome, Impressions
BILE young man. You may do him much
harm"
"IY"
"Such fattering preference as you are
enough to turn any young mans head
and coming from girl in your position,
to a man in his, is calculated to do harm.
Take my advice, Roxie; he already sees
no one in the room but you. Lavish
your witcheries on some one less liable
to lose his wits in consequence of them"
Roxie turned away from her aunt a
little pettishly, and stole from under her
thick lashes q furtive glance in young
Thorley's direction. He was, indeed,
watching her, with his heart in his hand
some eyes; and the vain little beauty
blushed with pleasure.
1t was not long before Frank Thorley
asked her to dance with him again.
HE is so handsome and graceful, and
so entertaining" Roxie mused during
the instant's hesitation, 81 loiU dance
with him-there!"
And away she floated in airy circles.
" 1t can't do any harm, )" she continued
with some inward misgiving as her eyes
met auntie's mildly disappearing look, or
fell beneath the impassioned and almost
too frankly admiring glance of her COM
panion; " of course he knows l am par
ticularly kind to him because he's papa's
ClCIhi uuQ uC Cuu DG SO as 10
fall in love with me really, and it isn't
likely that we shall ever be together this
way again"
Miss Roxie, however, was mistaken in
her calculations. She had indulged a
momentary whim, and had insisted upon
his attending her party.
AS consequence, somebody else in
vited him, and then somebody else, and
he was so handsome and entertaining
such a 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, butscarcely pleased,
at this, and at the continuance of his un-
disguised and almost romantic devotion
to herself. Roxie accepted this devotion
with occasional reluctance, occasional
misgiving as to where it was to end; but
she liked it too we'll to lose, and was
perhaps more interested at heart than
she realized herself.
Imagine her CONSERVATION when Frank
Thorley asked her to marry him!
"I-I'm sorry, Frank" she murmured
almost incoherently, as she dropped into
a seat.
Thorley's eyes flashed momentarily.
You've done wicked thing, Miss
Roxie Lyle" he said. If ever woman
led man to believe that she loved him,
you did me-"
Roxie stopped him there with naughty
gesture, and an angry, "Ypu forget
youyself, Mr.. Thorley"; and she swept
imperially past him, back to the draw
ing-room she had quilted moment be-
fore 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 up
rightness himself, and sterniy severe
upon dereliction in another. His clerks
were all literally paid; and young man |
who could obtain situation, be it never |
so subordinate, with Lyle & Co., was |
considered to have secured an uncom- |
monty good start in life. Dishonesty or
unfaithfulness among the clerks Of the |
firm was rare; partly because of the dis |
elimination exercised in engaging them,
partly because of the severe and sum.
mary reckoning exacted from the few Of
Tenders.
Mr.. Vincent Lyle was not inclined.
therefore, to deal leniently with the au-
thor of some small but daring peculation
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
1t baffied him; and he was sitting in his
luxurious library at home, pondering it,
when Frank ThOrley sent in note to
him.
The merchant started, as he read, NUT
tering:
Sharp fellow, Thorley. wasn't de-
ceived in himi Show him up, John"
Mr.. Lyle shook hands with him warmly
when he came in; but Thorley seemed
strangely reluctant, and, not noticing the
seat the merchant offered him, remained
standing on the hearth opposite, his
face pale and his eyes in an unwonted
glitter.
Glad to see you, Thorley, glad to see
you. Shan't forget it if You can give me
any clew to the author Of this scandalous
business" Lyle said.
" Behold himp Frank said, getting
whittier yet.
Mr.. Lyle stared.
1T was ! who stole your money!"
Frank repeated, with a half-desperate
emphasis on the obnoxious word in the
sentence.
Mr.. Lyle stared incredulously few
moments still, before he could realize the
of the fact. lie was ter
ribly angry then. The very fact that he
had been so ready to vouch for young
Thorley made his unfaithfulness doubly
culpable. He remembered 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 ashe could master his voice enough: {
II you come here thinking TO move [
ne to thoughts of clemency, you will find
Yourself mistaken"
Not for myself Mr.. Lyle" he SAID I
t last, spsaking with difficulty, " but /
'or my mothers sake do ask your elem
ncyi not 10 retain me in your employ.
nent, but TO give me chance to begin /