North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-02-24


Chester. ~ -.
"Well, now, who'd have thought it 2"-
Fred exclaimed, as he found himself alone.
thought had touched her dearest
idol, and that she could no more deny her
self than she could give up her right hand
Bnt she'll do it-I saw it in her eye. Faith
never was so proud of her in my life. Pve
looked upon her as a mere chit of girl 3
but all at once she stands before me, noble
and self-sacrifcing woman. And she is right
about Charlie Chester for, now | think
abou, it. he Is in danger of being drawn into
a whirlpool of dissipation. Strange I've not
thought of that before! l used to think
that they had quite partlality for each 9th
er; but they have outgrown it reckon.,,
How much we pride ourselves upon our
own discernment, and yet, how widely do
your conclusions sometimes wander from the
real truth.
Thursday evening came, aud Frederick
Ross sat in the drawing room, awaiting 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
head, and amidst its glossy abundance were a
few sprays of heliotrope; her dress was a
simple drab silk, with low corsage and short
sleeves, relieved by fall of white blonde,
while her tiny foot, with its dainty slipper
of the same shade as the dress, laid coquet-
tishly hidden in the thick folds of the rich
carpet. .tE4L tst..
"Come, Fred, I am ready now," she said.
"Am presentable 2"
"W1y, Lita, love !"
Here he paused. Admiration was written
on every feature of his speaking face but he
adroitly changed the expression, and conclu-
ded with
eyes, Lita, prsentable, perhaps, but one
would take you to be at least twenty five,
instead of nineteen. Faith, l had no idea
that it wonld altar you so much Come
there is an hour yet run and put on that
rose-coiored Grape, and take the fas Jennings
from your hair, and let it fail in curs about
your shoulders. | hate to see you, my little
Sis, looking so prim. There's an hour yet
and Bell will assist you. DO it, now to
please me--there's good girl 2"
Litas cheek turned crimson and her eyes
filled with tears. To think that Fred her
own brother, should tell her she looked twen
ty-fve, and prlm, at thai What would
Charley Chester think of her2 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 wine
cup at his lips: she heard her mothers
voice crying, Enter not into temptation"
as plainly as when she heard her whisper it
into her ear as he turned from his cottage
home q few weeks previous, 1t was those
words, and the look of gentle sorrow that
filed the mothers heart with tears, that
first aroused Lita's fears in regard to Charlie;
and ever since tnat time she had watched
closely. She did not care to betray her IN ter
est in him, as be had avoided her studous-
ly for more than year and besides, she
feared to wound him by forcing upon him the
thought that she imagined him incapable of
selfcontrol. But now she had devised a
way in which either of these contingencies
could be avoided, And having obtained her
brothers consent, should she yield it up
simply TO crafty her love for dress and adm
ration ? No, no-she would not More than
that: she dared not. Laying her hand, in its
tiny kid glove, upon her brothers shoulder,
sne said
"Brother Fred, I shall 60 as am, though
| would gladly consult your taste and my
own by exchanging this somber dress for the
rose-colored Grape; but it would not be right
in mel should despise myself. l an sorry
you are going to be mortified at my appear
ance. did not think before came below,
that looked so old and prim. But of course
| do, as you say so."
Never mind, Sis-I am proud Of you,
let you look as you will. should not have
loved you half so we'll, if you had meekly
yielded to my request. And now run and
get your hat aud cloak, for the carriage waits
for us at the door,"
Had my readers looked closely into the
eyes of Frederick Ross they would have seen
something like a tear glittering upon his
dark lashes, which he hurriedIy wiped away
upon his delicately perfumed handkerchief
as Lita turned away from him. And Lita
thought he never looked so lovingly upon her
as when he handed her into the carriage; and
then she was quite sure his bearing was
more than usually proud as he lei her to
the further end of the reception room, to
present her to Mrs. Thurston, the lady of
the house.
Lita Ross, as live! !" cried an imperious
beauty, as she tossed her stately head. " l