Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-10-03
A LOVERS JEALOUSY.

no doubt that it is you who have robbed
me-"
The hot blood flooded Robert Acland's
neck and face as he took in the meaning
of the words.
II swear to you, sir" he cried, pas
Sionately, that you wrong me- swear
it by my soul!"
"I wish could believe you, Robert
MIR. vyse replied, "for like you; but,
unfortunately, appearances are too
much against you. What, may j ask.
were you doing at five o'clock yesterday
evening in my private room? You had
no right or business to be there"
"Nor was l." returned the young fell
low, proudly, drawing himself up to his
full height. 81 have never been in this
room in my life except when you have
sent me. Has anyone told you that
was here last evening, sir?"
Eyes, Robert; your comrade, Richard
Starltie, assured me of it not ten min
utes ago"
"Richard Starkie!" exclaimed Acland,
in great wonderment. "Why, he must
be mad. What can have possessed him
to tell so wicked falsehood? We have
Why should he thus try to ruin me"
The words, the tone, were those OF
an innocent man. Mr.. Vyse began to
waver in his opinion as to Acland's guilt.
"Robert," he said, more kindly, will
you swear to me before God that you
are innocent?"
Raising aloft his right hand, 81 call
the God before whose Judgment throne
we both shall one day stand to witness
that I am guiltless," he declared, SOL
EMMY. Surely, sir, you will believe me
pow?"
Mr.. Vyse held out his hand. Eyes,
Robert, 1 believe you," he said, land ]
beg your pardon for having doubted
you; but what Starliie's motive in ira
ducing you has been 1 am at loss to
understand"
$50 ann I, SIR" answered Acland. "His
conduct is quite reprehensible."
"Well, Robert" wound up the old
gentleman, as he dismissed his clerk,
you must promiseme one thing that
you will treat Starllie just the same as If
nothing unusual had occurred 1t is my
wish"
"I will try, sir, but it will be a hard
task" Acland replied, as he quilted the
room.
OF course the news that their EN-
ployer had been robbed ran like wild
fire through the small community. II
was Richard Starkie who first made
public the i'll news-for no official init.
mntion of it was given; but to his fel-
Iow-worIers he dare not try to incrim-
mate young Acland, for Acland was q
favorite with his colleagues, and Star
kie knew well that any remark sug-
gestive of his guilt would be received in
stony silence-the silence of sheer dis
belief.
That evening Bob Acland went to SCI
Elsie Venner, the girl OF his heart
There was no actual engagement be-
tween them, but Elsie understood quite
well that Bob was only waiting for a
rise of salary before asking her to be his
wife. He had intended to tell her moth.
ing about what had occurred at the
Office during the day, but the quick
witted girl soon saw that something
was amiss, and taxed him with it. And
after little hesitation on his part and
a little pressing on hers the whole story
came out.
81 cannot think, darling" finished
Bob, what has induced Starkie to dc
it,"
"Shall 1 tell you?" said Elsie, de
murely.
"You?"
''Yes, I. I can, you know" Anf
then she proceeded to orelate how Richarr
Il, = l,,l g., Il l. c1. l.,
to marry him, and, on her refusal, flow
into violent rage, not only heapin!
anathemas on her head, but also ol
Bob.
"And you believe he has attempted t
lay the theft at my door to blacken m
character in your eyes? What scoun
drel the fellow must bel"
''If you had seen the look on his fac
when he left me-" replied the girl, ''yo
would think. as do, that he is capabl
of anything"
Next day Bob Acland repeated to MI
Vyse the conversation he had held wit
Elsie Venner.
Meanwhile Richard Starltie was in
very unhappy frame of mind. He ha
just sufficient manhood left to be abb
to appreciate the unutterable currisi
ness of his own conduct. But that dj
not tend to make him sorry for what h
had done. No. ii rather embttered hiI
still more against his rival. A mani
for gambling, iuherited from his fathe
who had bet away large estate du
ing his life, dying only just in time
save himself from actual starvation
had in the first instance made him sho
of money.
In order to retrieve his position he b'
still more heavily and again lost.
luck pursued him from day to day, ii
at last, unable to meet the demant
made upon him, exposure stared him
the face; and exposure, he knew, meaI
prompt dismissal from Mr.. Vyse
service. In this dilemma he stole IL
cash box, and it was only when gloatir
over its contents that tba i6po of coi