The Forrest City times., 1891-04-24
"Not for myself, Mir. Lyle" he said,

| aL laSt SpeaklisR Wltn UlHlculty, put for my mothers sake, do ask your clemency; not to retain me in your employment, but to give me a chance to begin again somewhere else" And serve some one else as you have mel" the merchant exclaimed, | with ironical anger; lit Is rather late to think of your mother, youngman." "I know it, sir. If I had suffered no other love to enter my heart but love for her, should not stand here the guilty wretch am tonight, Yet for her sake, spare me. am her ouly son-her only support. fyou expose me, you strike her to the heart"
 MT Lyle made an impatient move ment. "I tell you, you should have thought of this before. It is too late now; you have had your chance and abused it wickedly. You must take the consequences,
 | Thorley was trembling, and hecould hardly stand.
 "Mr. Lyle," he said, huskily, "do you know how old I am9 I am nineteen, sir, and never touched a farthing that was not my own before. "It is time to end this" Mir. Lyle said, rising and approaching the bell
 "Wait one moment, sir" Frank Thorley said, passing between him and tbe bell-pull; and his desperate, anguished look stayed Mir. Lyle an in- stant; ''shall tell you who tempted me to do this-whose beautiful face came between me and right, and lured me on to my ruin9 As you hope for mercy, hereafter, sir, hear mel Hear how I came tofall, and then refuse to be merciful, Ii you can"
 ''l am listening" said the merchant
 ''I never saw London till two years ago, and you yourself have commend cd me for withstanding it's tempta- tions. You know, sir, that neither drink nor gamble. The smallness of the amount have taken must prove that your money was not spent in that way. You have been pleased to be very kind to me, sir. Do you re- member urging upon me the accept ance Of an invitation to a party given by your daughter? Twas reluctant, but l went, and from that hour my fate was sealed. The most fascinat- ing, as well as the most heartess of coquettes, did not scorn to set her snares for me, to dazzle me with her 1 loveliness and lure mo with her smiles There Is no intoxication like the first love of youth, sir; don't you know that, There is no frenzy like that in- spired by a woman who makes you love her. 1 lived in q delirium; Twas mad on account of this woman whom | l loved, and who seemed to love me, and incurred debt for her--a debt which, i'll a wild moment, n moment when 1 had just been scornfully cast of by her-1 paid with your money"
 What was your debt?" Mir. Lyle asked, briefly.
 ''It was for ring"
 "A ring with q diamond set in a cluster of rubies'" the merchant ask ed, with flash of remembrance.
 .Yes, sir, Thorley said, reluctantly The merchant sat down, and motion l ing Thorley to Q seat, remained some moments thoughtful and with his fac 6 averted. Then touching the bell, he waited, while Frank Thorley covered his face with his hands.
 .'Tell Miss Roxie l wish to sec her here" he said to the servant who answered his summons.
 Rox,e was just going out; and she came dressed as she was for the party, fieecy white floating about her like cloud wreaths, her lips red, her cheeks aglow, and her eyes sparkling. She reddened somewhat at the sight of Frank Thorley's ghastly face.
 Did you send for me. papas" she asked of her father, who sat with his face in shadow.
 For reply. he reached and took her ungloved hand Tn his. It was dainty hand slender, small, and white, and glittered with rings. He put his finger upos one, a small diamond saffound- cd by rubies, and lifted his glance to hers
 Roxie shrank a little, and looked as though she weregoing to cry. Turning toward Frank Thorley, Mir. Lyle said. "Upon one condition will forgive you. Repeat what you have just said to me, in the presence of this misguided girl
 Poor Frank Thorleyl Perhaps hs thought even exposure would be pre- terable to such humiliation before her whom he loved. Perhaps q second thought of his mother came and nerv- cd him. He hesitated only moment. and told the story with half desper- ate, hai sarcastic eloQuence. that took the vivid color out of Roxie's brilliant face. and left it white and scar ed.
 Won't you forgive me. Frank" she cried. and chung to her father with . burst of sobs.
 "Willyoaforgivc her, Frank 'yhorley, or not!" demanded Mir. Lyle.
 "Heaven knows forgive her. sir, As hope to be forgiven"
 Thank you, sir, think she has wronged you more than you wronged me, and will show you young man, how can forgive to o-morrow.
 But when the morrow came, Frank Thorley had loft London. with his m mother; and vain were all Mir. Lyle's efforts to discover him.
 Years passed. There came a financial crash; and though every body suppos- ed Lyle and Co. to be established tn too firm n basis to be shaken, they were not able to outride the storm.
 Scrupulously honest now as ever, MT. Lyle gave up everything; made no effort to save so much as Roxie's piano from going under the hammer.
 "Neyer mind. papa" she said softly to him that last night before the sale; i've have still each other and am young Perhaps may find some use now for those accomplishments you have lavished upon me so freely q tN I M |. Il | e.I