South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-10-23

rage urive from tho doar, supposed HELEN
had gone with the other mem bers Of tha
family. On descending to the parior he was
surprised to end her sitting by the centre
table with a book in her hand.
HELEN ! Is this you | thought you
had gone to the ball. are you not vel! 2
he said quickly, and with surprise, coming
up to her side.
Il am very well, BROTHER she replied,
looking into bis face with smile Of sister.
/ " regard, 'but have concluded to stay u,
home this e7enine. I'm going to keep you
company
Are you, indeed . Right glad am Of
it. though | am sorry you have deprived
yourself of the pleasure Of thia bali, which
! believe is to be very brilliant one.
was just going out, because it 10 so dull at
home when you are all away
| am not particularly DESTROYS of going
to tho ball. So little So tina, the Thought
of your being left here all aloro had suffi
cient Influence over me to keep away.
Indeed Well, must say you are kind
EDWARD returned with feeling. The
self-sacrEcing act Of his sister had touch,
ed him sensibly.
Both HELEN aud her brother played well.
She upon the harp and piano, ADD no upon
the flute ana violin. Both were fond of
music, and pracrioed aud played together
frequently. Part of the ogenng yas spent
in this way, much to the satisfaction Of
each. Then an hour passed in reading aud
conversation, after which music was again
resorted. Thus lnpsed the time pleasantly
till the hour of retiring came, when they
separated, both with an internal feeling of
pleasure more delightful, than they had ex &.
perieDced for long time. It was nearly
three o'clock before Mr.. aud Mrs. LIND
LEY, and the daughter who accom- panied
them 10 the ball came home. Hours be-
fore The senses of both EDWARD and He
Leg had been locked in forgctfu.ne5s.
limo passed on. FD~AGD LIXDLEY
grew up and became a man OF sound prin-
ciples-a blessing to his family aud society
lie saw bis sister well married and be lim
self finally led to the altar lovely maiden.
5 e made him happy Husband Ga the
night o! his wedding, as he sat beside He
LEN, he paused for some time in The midst
of a pleasant conversation, thOusht!ully.
At last he said
% you remember, sister, the nigh. you
Sta'd at home FROM the ball 10 keep me
company Z?
That was many years ngr. Yes, re-
member 1t very well, now you have recall
ed ii to my mind
4 have often since thought, HELEN,' he
sad with serious air, that 10y the simple
: act Of remaining at home for my sake, YOU
were the means Of saving me from destruc,
ton
/ How so 2 asked the sister.
( . was just then beginning to forrl an in.
Innate association With young men Of ny
own age, nearly oil Of whom have sioos
turned out badly. did not care great
deal about their company still liked So
ciety end csed to be with them frcqueufly
especially when you any MAGT went out
OF an evening. Ca the night of the ball
/ TO |hich you we're going, these young men
had supper, aud | IVES to have been with
them. did not wish pirticu,1ry 90 i,i1
them, but preferred doiog 50 to remaiaing
+ at home alone. TO find you as diI, no
e2Pec'edly in The parlcr, va al agreeable
surprise, indeed. | staid at HON. with a
hew pleasure, which was heightened by tho
thought that 1t was your love fIr me thai,
made you deny yoursel! for my cratifca'iln.
We read together tina, evening, we rlayol
together, and talked Of many Iiue.. Ia
your mind | bad never before seen So much
to inspire my own with hig1 and pure
I thoughts. j remembered the conversation
/ oil the young men with whom ] had boon
assoclating,aud in which had taken pleas.
urc With something like disgust. ], was
/ low, sensual, and too much of, vile aud de-
mOraiZing. Never from that L,,r I;l T
join them. Their way, even in th8 early
stage Of LIES journey, saw TO be down
ward, and downward ever since it bas been
tending How often since have I ,bopoh,
OF that period in time, 80 fully frauytt with
good an evil Influences. Those few hours
spent with you seemed TO take scales from
my eyes. | saw with new vision !
/ thought and felt differently. Had you zone
+ % the bell, and ! 10 meet those young men,
/ no one can tell what might have been gls
consequences. Sensual indulgeuoes. amid
song aud sentiment oalcull,e9 10 awaken e..
vil instead Of good feelings, might b,ge
stamped upon my young and delicate mind
bias Of low affections that never would
have been eradioitod. That vas lhe g,eat
starting point 10 lifo--the period when T
was coming ioto state Of Tatilnaiity ami
freedom. The good prevailed over che evil.
snd by the agency Of my sister as an angel
sent by the Author Of al benefits Co save
me-.
Like IIELES LINDLEy, lei, every elder
sister be thoughtful Of her brother a that
critical period 10 life when Tho boy is abou,
passing into the stages Of u suhoo1 and she
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