Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-05-11


Alter q few moments spent n discussing
this shbject, the two friends parted, and when
Fred related the circumstances to Liia she
stole away 70 her chamber, as Fhe was won't
to give full gratitude Of her heart and IN
earnest petition assembled 10 Heaven that
Charlie Chester might have strength i'm
parted to remain true % his vow. 4 YbLl
"Well Lita, so this rich, talented, hand
some European, who sued 90 earnestly for
ms ltttls white hand, has shared the same
late with your many suitorF. You're an
enigma, sis and I'm afraid II do not exert
ny authority you'll never be Riar-ied."
; Iam sure / shall not Fred, unless my
heaIt goes with my hand and Lita smiled
& quiet smile as she looked up from her sew
ling. HNow don't leave me with that sober
face, for I.asstfe you that IAN very hspPs
as / am.
{" doubt it, sis, was the laughing %rejOin-
der, as Fred closed the door and went out
through the long hall humming . snatch Of
sentimental song. .isa
Two years had hown by, and sti1l Charlie
Chester had kept his vow i~nviolate. Lita
had watched him narrowly, and every day
in her heart she thanked God that this was
so; aadyet 10 have seen them, no one would
ever have imagined that they had any in
terest in common. -U N hala
Lila sat alone in the back parlor Of her
home thinking Of the past Of the happy
hours she had spent with Charlie Chester
when she was a mere child, wondering why
he aF9ided her 80 s~tudiously of late, when
she was aroused bya low tap at the door,
and before her stood the object OF her
thoughts. With heightened color and an
embarrassed air she welcomed him, wonder
ing al this unceremonious call. A few mo-
ments Of silence followed his entrance, and
then Charlie Chester drew his seat near her,
and taid:le -r-sf "ai-a as -
iIka-Lita, my early playmate, my boy
hoods love, now that I ! know, and can trust
myself win you entrust your life, your hap
piness tony keeping fLwhl you Be my wife?
1 owe to you all that I have all that I am.
It wds through your influence / abandoned
the wine-cup in time to save me from an in
ebriate's grave. Oh, bita what what dol
owe to you2 And This very fact encourages
me 70 ask for more. Say, will you trust me
and become my wieT Ia. -
The small hand he held nestled more con-
fdently in his, The brown eyes uplifted to
his tace with so much of trusting love in
them, answered him and sitting there, she
told Of the long years his love had been hid
den In her heart-of her fears for his safety
when she saw him with the wine,cup pressed
to his lips, and of her resolve to save him
aud the consequent adoption of her dab
dress. l.l Ell.
"And it was for my sake, and mine alone,
thatiled you to this sacrificed And yet you
did bot know half my danger. / love wine;
my thirst for it was daily becoming more IN
tense, and a few months longer weald-haEe
placed me beyond the reach of aid but you
were the good angel commissioned by God
to save me- . .o.
Lits is now a happy wife and mother, but
still maintains her plaiu style Of dress She
wore a drab dress On her bridal day, and as
she passes along the stieet, she is pointed out
as 'fhe lady in drsb;" but many there are
who know not the story connected With il
nor that her husband VIII not hear to her
changing it for any other color, for to him no
dress is as beautiful as her drab dress.