The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-01-21
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMTAT1oN.
\ New Years sketch.
BY MATTE DYER BRITTS.

Upon a bright New Years eve. Josephine
Stokes and her pretty cousin, Myra Haynes, sat
in Judge Stokes handsome parlor, engaged in a
most animated discussion.
The subject was the arrangement of the table
for New Years callers next day. Josephine
had wisely determined TO have no beverages but
coffee and lemonade-Myra was in favor of wine.
"No, Myra, DEAR" said josephine rising at
last to end the waste words, mo wine comes up
ton In the way of those who are only too ready
to yield to it,"
81 don't suppose nybody who comes here is
in great danger" said Myra. pettishly.
~ can think of several whom l consider So "
said Miss Stokes, quietly.
~ would like to know who, thenT"
Erred Vane is one, Myraf"
Myras black eyes flashed, and a blush Grim.
soned her cheek. "Josie Stokes, don't believe
you ever saw Fred Vane drunk in your life ~
she cried.
mot quite drunk, perhaps" replied Jose.
phine, but lace seen him strongly under the
influence of wine, and know him to be in the
habit of INDUCING freely, therefore he il in dan.
ger. And SO are Others. 1 have decided firmly,
Myra, dear hope you won't be offended"
Certainly not, JOSIE love you too we'll to
quarrel with you about anything. And it is
your own table, for I am only your guest, so
you have a perfect right to do as you please
Only you must expect, Josie, to be talked about"
"Very WELL haven't the horror most people
have OF being talked about II know am
right + shalt go ahead, talk who wilt So now,
my pet cousin, we'll drop the subject before We
do get to quarreling," said Josie with one of her
1t won Myra's heart entirely, so putting up
her red lips for kiss from Josie's beautiful
mouth. she replied:
"have your own way. my best Josie. You
are wiser than l, anyway"
The great parlors were thrown open for the
reception of the New Years guests, and the
young ladies were elegantly dressed to honor
the occasion. Josie, in the rich garnet silk
which became her pure, pale face and clear gray
eyes so WELL and Myra in her favorite mixture
OF black and crimson.
A charming tete.a-tete dining room was sepa.
rated by heavy sweeping curtains from one end
OF the long paror, and here dainty table, Gov.
cred with finest, snowiest damask, and glitter.
with cut.glass and silver, was spread with the
most invitin. refreshments.
But no wine was there. The strongest. rich.
eat coffee, tea, and most delicious lemonade ia
profusion, but no Intoxicating liquor of any de.
soriptiou.
Some of the callers could hardly conceal their
surprise ut this Some of them were secretly
thankful, and everything else was 20 perfect in
arrangement, and the young ladies themselves
90 charming, that the gayest of them scarcely
missed their favOrite INDULGENCE.
Late in the afternoon Fred Vsne had not
called. Now ss he WAS Myrs's understood, if
not accepted, lover, even Josie wondered ut this
and Myra herself was beginning to feel dlsap-
pointed and uneasy, when Mr.. Vsue and Dr..
HOllister were announced.
The young ladies rose to receive them az they
entered. DIR. HOLSTERS greeting was quiet and
gentlemanly, perhaps little distant, ~ bsfittsd
somewhat new acquaintance. But Freds, in
strong contrast to his usual elegant manner,
was noisy aud familiar. He called the girls
"Myra" and "Jo," shook Josephines hand till
her wrist ached, kissed Myra's hand before she
could prevent it, and without waiting for An iu-
vit"tion, dropped into chair and began to chat
ter III lively manner, which, without sny
help of imagination might decidedly call silly.
Poor Myra's face flushed holly, and she was
90 embarrassed she could hardly speak single
word.
Josiss quick eye read the case ut glance,
but she pilied Fred and Myra both too sincerely
to be angry or Indignant To help Myra re-.
cover herself she began an animated converse.
ton with Doctor Hollster, and in few mo.
ments she succeeded in getting him away from
the other two, to examine picture on the oppo-
site wall.
But Doctor Holister WAS not entirely ab.
sorbed in the picture Drawing nearer to Josie
as they stood with their backs turned 10 Fred
and Myra. he said:
Miss Stokes, may I ask favor Of YOU 2"
Certainly. Tell me what" returned Josie.
somewhat surprised.
"Only this. Please don't offer Mr.. Vans any
wine l am sure you perceive he has taken too
much already"
yes" said Josie, gravey. Then. hooking M
into his face with brivh, S,Ailc. she added
"But you need not have asked that, Doctor Hol.
lister, for ] should not. in amy case, have of.
fered it to either ~ you
Doctor HOLSTERS face instantly put on such
apecuhar expression that Josie FASTENED to ex.
plain: "Not becau.e thought you were in
danger. but because it is entirely excluded from
my table"
"ludeed Is that not contrary 10 custom Z"
"Perhap.-l don't know. But custom or not
no, Doctor Hollis,er, will not put temptatio,
10 the lips OF mine or my cousins friends, o
encourage them TO follow u dangerous h abit,'
Doctor HOLSTERS dark eyes turned full upo,
Josie's sweet. earnest face with "A look of min
gled admiration and respect, which made he
cheek brighten in spite of herself.
"You are right, Miss Stokes !" he said wayml,
"Yours is a noble example, and honor tn
woman who il brave enough toget IT, Had yo
seem all | have to-day, you would only b
strengthened IN your resolution"
q have seen enough for that" said JOSH,
glsncing at Fred.