Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-10-06

Wnen IN the society OF my friends Z
i know IL Fred-I know all that but
your influence is what ] fear. There Il
Charlie Chester thinks you perfect pat
tern OF goodness and as he touched glass
es with you last evening at Mrs. Reardon's
and you stood up and drank together, my
heart ached mot so much for you az
for him, knowing that he has not the
selfcommand which you have and that be
loves to look upon the wine when it sparklet
In the cup
Well, we'll, Lita, perhaps you are right.
l never looked at it in that way before,
replied Fred, while his countenance wore a
thoughtful expression. But who, in the
name OF common-sense (and now the young
man smiled would have expected that my
little fashionable, butterfly sister ever found
a moment for such thoughts as these, what
with her ribbons, roses and laces Seri'
oDsly, Lits did not give you credit for be-
ing so much Of a woman
Thank you for thel compliment, Fred.
But now promise me shall not be hap.
py until you do. have no fears for your
personal safety in this matter--though /
doubt your moral right to indulge in u So
eial glass, merely because Mrs. Grundy
smiles upon the custom--but hare fears
Tor Charley Chester, seeing with what a
relish he drains the glass to the very dregs.
Promise me, Fred come, do this, If you
love me ! and Lita Ross laid her hand be.
seechingly upon her brothers head.
We'll, Lita, this is something of q sac.
rifice TO ask of me. Why, shall make
myself very conspicuous by refusing q So
cial glass. But don't know but I'll do
1t, if you'll make corresponding sacrifice.
don't care to be inundated upon the altar
alone.'
Name it, Fred, and il It is in my power
III do it willingly, gladly : aud Lita's soft
brown eyes danced with delight.
Well, then, sis, III promise this thing If
you will do what l om about TO ask you.
] declare, l have scarcely the heart to, you
look so pretty in that blue silk dress, with
its lace trimmings, and your -ear.riRgS, pin
and bracelets, Of those tiny pearls; but
you must give them up if comply with
your request.
I WILL Fred-I will
And wear drab dress without orna-
ments p sa
Yes, Fred
Next Thursday night make your first
appearance at Mrs. Thurstons. Remem-
ber, you will be subjected to many remarks,
and besides will look very plain by the side
of your showily dressed companions.s
i promise, Fred. in return that you will
then and there comply with my request
Your hand, sis. And now remember,
rs long as you will wear drsb, and that
without ornaments, will refuse fashion
able glass. But you do not know what a
sacrifice you are making / should not be
surprised were you to retract any day.
We'll Fred, we shall see. And now O
kiss, as a seal of our contract : aud Lita
threw her arms about her brothers neck,
and covered his forehead, brow and lips
with a shower of kisses, and glided away
through the hall, up the long. polished oak
en- stairway to her own chamber, and seat
ing herself she bowed her head upon the ta-
ble and calculated
Thank God, Charlie Chester may yet be
savedP And the tears rained down over
her fair face, and when she looked up there
was subdued, tender light in her eye never
there before.
And this was Lita Ross, the pet play
thing of the family--the sparkling fashion
able belle of the season-the coquette so
accounted. But there was leaf in her
heart leaf as yet unread by any eye save
that of her Maker, and OIL it was inscribed
her love for her childhood's playmate, Char.
lie Chester
We'll, now, who'd have dreamed it /?
Fred exclaimed, as soon ss he found him
self alone. L thought / had touched her
dearest idol, and that she could nc more
deny herself than she could give up her
right band. But she'll do it saw it in
her eye. Faith, never was so proud of
her in my life ! I've looked upon her as
mere chit of girl but all at once she
stands before me noble, selfsacriicing
woman Aud she's right abont Charlie
Chester, for, now think of it, he is in
danger Of being drawn into the whirlpool
of dissipation Strange Tve not thought
of it before. / used to fancy they had
quite "a partiality for each other but
they've out-growu it reckon
How we pride ourselves upon our dis
cernment, and yet how widely do our con-
clusions oftentimes wander from the truth
Thursday evening came, and Frederic
Ross sat in the drawing-room, waiting the
appearance of Lita. There was light
rustling step, and she stood before him with
her soft brown hair drawn smoothly from
her brow, and confined plainly at the back
of her pretty head, and amid its glossy
abundance were few sprays of heliotrope;
her dress was Of drab silk, with low cor
SAGE and short sleeves, relieved by fall of
plain but rich white blonde, while her tiny
foot, with its dainty satin slipper of the
same shade of the dress, lay coquetishly
half hidden in the thick rich carpet.
Come, Fred / am ready she exelaim-
ed. Am presentable =
why, Lita, love = Here be paused,
Admiration was written on every feature
of his speaking but be adroitly changed
the expression, and concluded yith-'Yes,
Lta presentable perhaps /; but one would
take YOU to be at least twenty-five instead
of nineteen. Faith, I'd no idea it conld
alter YOU so much Come, there's an hour
vet; run aud put on that rose-colored Grape,
and take the fastenings from your hair, and
let Il fall in curls abont your shoulders. l
hate to see you, my little sis, looking SO
prim. There's an hour yet, and Bell will