The Forrest City times., 1891-04-24
ROXIE'S FILTRATION
'Roxie, Roxie, cllildl"

OiSeiiSaSeu nerSeI rom tne laugning group about her, to reply to the lady who called her.
 "Well, auntie'" she said, with . backward toss of the softest, bright est curls, and a look of saucy defiance out of arch hazel-brown eyes.
 "What was that I heard you say just now?"
 Roxie colored, but looked saucy still, and laughed.
 Idon't care" she said, pouting very becomingly the next moment; 'I do like Frank Thorley, although he is papa's clerk. I shouldn't have said so, only Ellen Richmond was making fun of what she calls his assurance in dancing with me so often tonight"
 "I wouldn't dance with him again, my dear"
 "Why not, pray?" Roxie exclaimed, elevating her graceful eyebrows.
 Because you are 8 pretty girl, and he is Q very handsome, impressionable young man. You may do him much harm"
 "T,"
 "Such fattering preference as you arc evincing for young Thorley's so- ciety, is enough to turn any young mans head; and coming from girl in your position, to man in is, is cal culated to do harm. Tekemy advice, Roxie; he already sees no one in the room but you. Lavish your witcher- ies on some one less liable to lose his wits in consequence of them"
 Roxie turned away from her aunt little pettishly, and stole from un- der her thick lashes a furtive glance in young Thorley's direction. He was indeed watching her, with his heart in his handsome eyes; and the vain little beauty flushed with pleasure.
 It was not long before Frank Thor ley asked her to dance with him again.
 "He is so handsome and graceful, and so entertaining" Roxie unused during the instant's hesitation before she put her little white gloved hand in his, II will dance with him-there"
 And away she fioated in airy circles.
 "It can't do any harm. she continu- cd with some inward misgiving. as her eyes met auntics mildly disappearing look, or fell beneath the impassioned and almost too frankly admiring glance of her companion; "of course he knows l am particularly kind to him, because he's papa's clerk; and he cant be SO ridiculous as to fall in love with me really, and 1t isn't likely we shall over be together this way again"
 Miss Roxis, however, was mistaken in her calculations. She had indulged . momentary whim, and had insisted upon his attending her party.
 As consequence, somebody else in vited him, and then somebody else, and he was 80 handsome and enter taining-such q graceful addition to asy circle-that before the winter was over, he had become very popular, and received more invitations than he was able to accept. Roxie was sur prised, but secretly pleased at this, and at the continuance of his undis- guised and almost romantic devotion to herself Roxie accepted this de- votion with occasional reluctance, oc- casional misgiving as to where 1t IVES to end; but she liked 1t too we'll 0 lose. and was perhaps moreintsrest,d d ct heart than she realized herself.
 Imagine her consternation, when Frank Thorley asked her to marry himl
 "I-rm sorry, Frank" she murmur- d, almost incoherently, as she drop ped into seat.
 Thorley's eyes flashed momentarily.
 You've done a wicked thing. Miss Roxie Lyle," he said, "If ever wom- an led man to believe she loved him, you did me-"
 Roxie stopped him, thers with . naughty gesture, and an Angry--"You forget yourself, Mir. Thorley;' and she swept impsrially past him, back to tho drawing-room she had quilted . moment before on his arm.
 Mr. Vincent Lyls was at the head of ono of the oldest firms in tho City. He was . man of sterling integrity and uprightness himself. and sternly severe upon any dereliction in another His clerks were all liberaIly paid; and a young man who could obtain sitii- ation, be it ever so subordinate, with Lyle and Co, was considered to have secured an uncommonly good start in life. Dishonesty or unfaithfulness amosg the clerks of the firm was rare; partly because of the discrimination exercised in engaging them. partly be- cause of the severe and summary reckoning exacted from the few offend CTS.
 Mir. Vincent Lyls was not inclined therefore to deal lcniently with the author of some small but daring speculation 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 WE s likely to do that soon. The matter worried him so long as 1t baffled him; and he was sitting in his luxurio, library at home, pondering it, when Frank Thorley sent in note to him.
 The merchant started, as he read, muttering:
 sharp fellow. Thorley. Iwasn't de- ceived in him! Show him up, John"
 Mir. 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 unwontcd glitter.
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