The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-05-16
Number FL.
Lita especially feared the influence Of her
L-olLa..a a-a,nln

Lita especially feared the influence OF her
brothers example.
Your sister is an angel OF goodness, Fred;
you may well be proud Of and worship her.
If more ladies would take the same stand she
has done, young men would have higher In
ducements to break from fashionable follies !;
but instead Of that, they smile upon one Gus
tom which "dear, delightful Mrs. Grundy"
sanctions. and give the cold shoulder to one
who has the independence to assert and carry
out his own honest intentions. You, with
your wealth, are an exception. And yet I'm
resolved to follow your example; and when-
ever temptation is strong upon me, l will
look upon Lita in her dark drab dress, and
call to mind the sacrifice she has made-not
so much from fear that her brother might
fall prey to the winc.cup, but lest others,
who have not so much self.control. might
take encouragement from your example"
After few moments spent in discussing
the subject, the two friends parted and
when Fred related their conversation to Lita,
after expressing her satisfaction, she stole
away to b.r-chamber as was her wont, to
give vent to the gratitude Of her heart, and
an earnest petition ascended to heaven that
Charlie Chester might have strength impart-
ed to remain true to his VOW.
well, Lita, so this rich, talented, hand.
some European, who sued so earnestly for
this little white hand, has shared the same
fate with your many ruitor. You're an en-
igma, sis, and I'm afraid If | do not exert
my authority you'll never marry
Il am sure shall not, Fred, unless my
heart goes with my hand and Lita smiled
quiet smile as she looked up from her sew
ing. Now don't you leave lne'with such a
sober face, for assure you that am happy
us am
Il doubt it, sis,' was the laughing rejoind.
er, rs Fred closed the door, and went through
the long hall humming . snatch Of senti.
mental song.
Two years had flown by, and still Charlie
Chester had kept his vow inyiolate. Lita
had watched him narrowly, and every day
in her heart she thanked God that this was
SO and yet to have seen them, no one would
have imagined that they had the slightest in
terest in common.
Lita 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 n mere child, wondering why
he avoided her so studiously Of late, when
she was reused by tap at the door, and be-
fore her stood the object Of her thoughts
With heightened color and an embarrassed
air she welcomed him, wondering at this un-
ceremonious call. A few moments Of silence
followed his entrance, and then Charlie drew
his seat near to her and said:
'Lita-Lita, my early playmate, my boy
hoods love now that know, and can trust
myself, will you en,rust your life, your happi-
ness to my keeping? Will you be my wife?
I owe to you all that have, all that am.
1t was through your influence that l aban.
doned the wine-cup just in time to save me
from an inebriatc's grave. o. Lita. what do
I not owe you I? And yet this very fact en-.
courages me to ask for more. Say, will you
become my wife?'
The small hand he held nesting more con-
fdently in his, the brown eyes uplifted to his
face with 90 much Of truthful love in them,
answered him. And she told him Of all the
long years his image had been hidden 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. and the
consequent adoption Of her drob dress.
And 1t was for my sake, and mine alone,
that led you to this sacrifice And yet you
did not know half my danger. lloved wine;
my thirst for II was becoming more intcn'c,
and only few months longer woula have
placed me beyond the reach Of aid; but you
were the good angel commissioned by God to
save me.
Lita Is now happy wife and mother, but
she still maintains her plain style OF dress.
She wore q drab drcss on her bridal day, and
as she passes along the street she is pointed
out as the lady in drab; but many there
are who know not the story connected with
it, nor that her husband will not hear to
changing 1t for any other color, for to him
no dress is us beautiful rs her drab dress.
American Civilization.