The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-17
A LOVERS JEALOUSY.

have no doubt that 1t Is you VINO nave
robbed me-"
The hot blood flooded Robert Ac-
lands neck and face as he took In the
full meaning of the words.
81 swear to you, SIR" he cried pas
sionately. that you wrong me-I
swear it by my soul.'
81 wish | could believe you. Robert
Mr.. vyse replied, "for like you; but
unfortunately, appearances are too
much against you. What, may l ask,
were you doing at five O'Clock yester-
day evening in my private room? You
had no right or business there"
"Nor was l." returned the young fell
low proudly, drawing himself up to his
full height. 1--WE never been in this
room in my life except when you have
sent me. Has any one told you that l
was here last evening, sir?'
"Yes, Robert. Your comrade, Rich-
ard Starkie, assured me of it not ten
minutes ago"
Richard Starkie!" exclaimed Ac-
land, in great wonderment. why, he
must be mad. What can have pos
sessed him to tell so wicked a false
hood? We have always been good
friends, he and |. Why should he thus
try to ruin me, l wonder?'
The words, the tone, were those of
an innocent man. Mr.. Nyse began to
waver in his opinion as to Aclands
guilt.
Robert" he said more kindly, will
you swear to me before God that you
are innocent?"
Raising aloft his right hand, he said:
II call the God before whose judg-
ment throne we both shall one day
stand to witness that l am guiltless,"
he declared solemnly. Surely, sir,
you will believe me now?"
Mr. Vyse held out his hand.
"Yes, Robert believe you,' he said,
"and | beg your pardon for having
doubted you. But what Starkie's mo-
tive in traducing you has been l am
at loss to understand"
$50 am /, SIR" answered Acland.
"His conduct is quite incomprehensi-
ble.'
well. Robert" wound up the old
gentleman, as he dismissed his clerk,
"you must promise me one thing-that
you will treat Starkie just the same as
if nothing unusual had occurred. 1t is
my wish.'
II will try, sir. But it will be hard
task" Acland replied as he quilted the
room.
Left alone, Mr.. Vyse, hale, active
man of sixty-five, lay back in his chair
and gave himself up to thought. But
the more he puzzled over the disap-
pearance of his cash box the farther
he seemed from a solution Of the mys-
terry. 1t was gone, but by whose hand
it was difficult to say.
OF course the news that their EN-
ployer had been robbed ran like wild
fire through the small community. 1t
was Richard Starkie who first made
public the i'll news, for no official inti-
nation of it was given, but to his fel,
low workers he dare not try to incrimi.
nate young Acland, for Acland was a
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
disbelief.
That evening Bob Acland went tc
see Elsie Venner, the girl Of his heart
There was no actual engagement be
tween them, but Elsie understood
quite we'll that Bob was only waiting
for rise of salary before asking hel
to be his wife, He had intended to tel
her nothing about what had occurred
at the office during the day, but th'
quick -witted girl soon saw that some
thing was amiss, and taxed him will
it, and after little hesitation on hi
part and a little pressing on hers tn
whole story came out.
~ cannot think, darling" finishe,
Bob, what has induced Starkie to d.
it,"
"Shall l tell you?" said Elsie de
murely.
"You?"
"Yes, I. can, you know" And the
she proceeded to relate how Richar
Starkie had few days before aske
her to marry him, and, on her refusa
flown into violent rage, not Onl
beaplng anathemas on her head, bu
also ON Bob.
"And you believe he has attempte
to lay the theft at my door to blacke
my character in your eyes? What
scOundrel the fellow must be!'
"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
Mr.. yyse the conversation he had hel
with Elsie Venner.
Meanwhile Richard Starkie was in
very unhappy frame Of mind. He ha
Just sufficient manhood left to be alb
to appreciate the unutterable currisl
ness of his own conduct. But that di
not tend to make him sorry for whi
he had done. No, 1t rather embittere
him still more against his rival.
mania for gambling, inherited from h
father, who had betted away a lars
estate during his life, dying only ju
in time to save himself from actu