Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-09-25
The Temptcr.
BY ELLA WHEELER.

a By ELLA WHEELER.
Robert Castle leaned so low owe
Lizzie Howard, that she could fee
his hot, quick breath on her cheek
His eyes We're glowing passionately
: and she put her hand up to her fac
as Ii to shut out his gaze. He sa,
the GESTURE, and clasping the han
almost fiercely he drew it from he
face.
II tell you, Lizzie, / must kno,
, the reason; you say that you Low
me, that you are not engaged to an
enc else, that there Ia no one TO offe
any opposition to you, and yet yo
cannot marry me. In the name q
Heaven-why?"
The young girls face was pitiful t
see. .... s-
40 Robert she pleaded, "wh,
cannot you accept my answer an,
leave me? l tell you 1t can neye
be-" s. l...s.@
"But why? We love each other
there is no one to object, and L hav
a good home to offer you. Tell m
why?" 7@ 4uue .sss
"You will be angry If / do; Il 1
better that we should part now a
friends than an hour hence as foes
Do not urge me, please. l hay,
enough to bear now.o
The sweet face was all in CULVER
and the brown eyes full of tears =
Robert Castle drew her down ON tn,
sofa by his side, and gathered th'
little head to his shoulder.
"Now tell me all about it.; / prom
ise not to he angry, and wont speat
a word till you get through /; SO pro
ceed,"
20 Robert. I'm afraid to marry
you.n go
AFRAID! Why, my little Lizzie
what are you afraid Off"
II will tell you, Robert; you know
Remember you are not to be angry
you know you are very ficklt
minded, and am afraid you DO MOI
love me, and this Is only q passing
fancy with you that will wear itsell
out in little WHILE" &
Lizzie! .......> .t.......s
Robert Castles tone was indicative
Of surprise and vexation. .'.-..
at Is so, Robert she continued
al have felt so for long time, and ]
think we had better remain just as
we are.n aTi#H ag9 arf aE
o"And so do T." laughed Mr.. Castle
as he drew her still closer. "This is
a very comfortable position, and we
| will remain so.n But his tone chang.
ed, and he looked down gravely into
her eyes. "And now, little Lizzie
tell me what can do to prove how
truly aud lastingly love you'll a.
She did not answer for some time,
but at length she raised her face So as
to look him fairly I'm the eyes, and
said slowly. "If for three years you
viii not touch drop of any kind oi
| liquor to your lips nor take gaming
card in your hand, nor speak word
of profane language, then Robert ]
shall believe you love m.e."
Robert Castle looked for a moment
In unspeakable astonishment ut the
eager, growing face; then his face
and brow flushed crimson and he
dropped his eyes i'm confusion. .-
'But Lizzie, do not drink enough
to hurt me now; / was never intox-
icated I'm my life." IL.
II know Robert, know. My fa.
ther used to talk just so, but he died
a miserable edrunkard, and promised
my motherI / would never marry a
man WHO drank drop. Even now
your breath Is strong with liquor
1t must not be, Robert. You only
play for amusement but 1t will sool
be for money, and / cannot marry O
gambler. The other day heard you
you did not know / was near-but
/ heard you swear. o Robert, which
its ?n .s-, .. as.# ~. ....
And so Robert Castle made q SOL
emn vow that he would "touch not,
taste not, handle notn either cards or
liquor ever again. He was really in
earnest, too. Lizzie Howard In her
sweet, womanly way, had placed his
sins and the danger SO plainly before
his eyes that he was really startled to
look back, and his promise was heart
felt, sincere. She could see that, and
thanked God for it.
But they were to wait three years
for the test. He pleaded strongly
for her TO shorten the time, but she
remained firm. lie held her hands
at parting, aud made her say she
would wait for him, and Robert Cas-
tie went out into the sunlight,
thoughtful and happy, while Lizzie
Howard knelt in her room and
thanked God for his goodness. And
all the day prayer rose up from her
heart, 80 Lord, strengthen him 10
resist temptation.
d A week later, Robert Castle stood
in the little parlor again, holding
both of Lizzie Howard's hands.
~ h.. h. Ia
my darling, and have been true to
my promise. IL is harder than /
thought 1t would be. I did not know
how strong a hold the demon drink
had upon me, but with the glorious
reward which know will be mine,
l can fight him successfully / trust.
0 Lizzie, Lizzie, how can ever wait
these long years."
Lizzie Howard lifted her sweet face
nov halfreproachful and rested her
cheek on Robert Cnstie's shoulder.
at will not be SO very long, after
all. Robert. We can see each other,
often, and I will always be by to
strengthen and cheer you II possess
the power. You heye taken one
step IN the right direction; keep on,
and when your three years havepass-
ed"
"Two years and fifty.one weeks =
corrected Robert.
well, If when the two years aud
fifty -one weeks have passed away,
you can stand upright before me aud
say, Lizzie Howard, have kept my
promise, why then-"
"Well what then?n
"Why I'll set the wedding. day.
laughed Lizzie.
Robert Castle went forth into the
world again and fully assured that
nothing could ever induce him to lift
the bowl or deal tile card. And Liz
zie Howard went about her home du-
ties with joyful hymn of thanks
giving filing her heart. And SO the
long days passed on, and every week
Robert Castle came to be cheered and
strengthened.
~ ~ ~ ~
Robert Castle stood on the platform
at the busy little car depot, watching
the train as it puffed breathlessly up.
He had wandered down there, scarce
ly knowing what he did, so engross-
ed was he with his own happy
thoughts, for on the morrow the lust
day of the three long years would ex-
pire. On the morrow he could go to
Lizzie Howard and say, "Nane the
day." for not one drop OF liquor had
he tasted, not one gaming card had
he touched In those years. He was
thinkingit all over when q hand
al htr, ~, fl,a nhnpIIar naH a