The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-05-16

cd. But there was in her heart leaf asyet
unread by any eye save that Of her Maker,
and on II was inscribed her love for Charlie
Cheslpr.
Well, now, who'd have thought ~ Fred
exclaimed, as he found himself alone. Il
thought l had touched her dearest idol, and
that she could no more deny herself than she
could give up her right hand. But she III DO
i'll saw 1t in her eye. Faith, l never was
so proud Of her in my life. velooked upon
her as mere chit Of girl; but oil at once
she stands before me noble, self.acri6cing
woman. And she's right about Charlie Ches-
ter for now think OF 1t, he is in danger
of being drawn into the whirlpool Of dissi-
pation-strango I've not thought Of that be-
fore used to think they had quite par.
tiality for each other, but they must have
outgrown it, | reckon
How much we pride ourselves upon our
own disccrnment, and yet how widely do our
conclusions sometimes wander from the truth.
Thursday evening came, and Frederick
Ross sat in the drawing.room, waiting the
appearance Of Lita. There was light, rus
tling step, and she stood before him, with her
soft, brown hair drawn smoothly from her
brow, and confined plainly a. the back Of
her pretty head, and amid Its glossy abund.
ance were few sprays of hcliotrope; her
dress was drab silk with low corsage and
short sleeves, relieved by fall of rich white
blonde, while her tiny foot, with its dainty
slipper Of the same shade of the dress, laid
coquettishly hidden in the thick, rich car
pet
.Coms, Fred,' am ready, she said Am
l prcsentablc"
why, Lita, lovc!' Here he paused. Ad'
miration was written on every feature of his
speaking face; but he adroitly changed the
expression, and concluded with-'Yes, Lita,
prescntablc, perhaps; but one would take
you to be at least twenty-five, instead of nine
teen. Faith, I'd no idea it could alter ysu 20
much. Come, there an hour yet; run and
put on that roso-colored Grape, and take the
fasteuings from your hair and let it fall in
curls about your shoulders. l hate to see
you, little sis, looking 50 prim. There's an
hour yet, and Bell will assist you. Do it
now to please me there's q good girl
Litas cheek turned crimson, and her eyes
filled with tears. To think that Fred, her
own brother, should tell her she looked twen-
ty-iive, and prim at that What would
Charlie Chester think Of her? For mo.
ment the temptation was strong upon her
But she did not yield, for she saw in her
minds eye Charlie Chester with the winc-cup
at his lips /; she heard his mothers voice cry.
ing, Enter not into temptation = as plainly
us when she heard her whisper 1t in his ear
as he turned from his cottage home few
weeks previous. 1t was those words and the
look Of gentle sorrow that filled the moth
er's eyes with tears, that first reused Litas
fears in regard to Charlie, and ever since that
time she had watched him closely. She did
not care to betray her interest in him, as he
had avoided her studiously for more than a
year and. besides, she feared to wound him
by forcing upon him the thought that she
imagined him incapable of self CONTROL
But now she had devised way in which
either Of these contingencies could be avoid.
cd. And having obtained her brothers con-
sent, should she yield it up simply to crafty
her love for dress and admiration? No, no,
she would not. More than that, she dared
not. Laying her hand, in its tiny kid glove,
upon her brothers shoulder, she said
Brother Fred, shall 60 as am, though
I would gladly consult your taste and my
own by exchanging this dress for the rose
colored Grape, but it would not be right in
me; should despise myself. am sorry
you arc going to be mortified at my appear
ance. did not think, before came below,
that looked 50 old and prim. But of course
I do, as you say do
Never mind, sis. | am proud Of you, let
you look Us you will. l should not have
loved you half 80 well had you meekly yield.
ed to my request. And now run and get
your bat and cloak, for the carriage waits at
the door,
Had my readers looked closely into the eye
of Frederick Ross. they would have seen
something resembling tear glttering upon
his dark lashes, which he hurriedly wiped
away upon his delicately. .periumcd handkcr-
chief as Lita turned from him. And Lita
thought he never looked so lovingly upon
her us when he handed her into the carriage;
and she was quite sure his bearing was more
than usually proud rs hc led her to the farth.
er end Of the reception room, to present her
to Mrs. Thurston, the lady Of the house.
.Lita Ross, US live = cried an imperious
beauty, as she tossed her stately head. Il
wonder what new freak has taken possession
of her2'
%, she likes to make herself conspicuous
replied another lady. carelessly toying with
one of her golden curls. See how all eyes
follow her. I should not care to be in her
place. She looks like Quakercsr matron
Of thirty or thirty.fve. Yon'R stand quite