The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-10-04

Io1rsefves?:"
"We will help one another to be faith
full" said Lily Mason, the pet of the
school, she was so gentle, 50 loveable,
and so sunny in her disposition, ''and
rs to your other objections, dear Vivian,
I think you have magnifed them too
much. If the young men really desire
our society because we are ladies, they
cannot object to us because we advocate
purity in life, and freedom from con-
tamination. On the contrary. | think
we can effect great good by our intlu-
ence over them," and the glowing
eheeks grew brighter, rs the speaker
thought of the handsome student Joel
Baugh, to whom her maiden troth had
been plighted few short weeks be-
fore .-,e ...I..
"You may influence one," was the
saucy retort of Vivian, "but the rest of
us are not as sure of our game. And
what if he were to oppose this project?"
81 don't know W hom You mean by
'he, replied Lily, blushing furiously.
and indulgiug in pardonable feminine
mendacity, "but if have any influence
at all, it is my duty to exert it for the
good of others. I have seen the evil
vaguely it is true-for some time, and
I was so glad dear Miss Vane has made
this proposition"
"And as to yivian's objections. cons
cerning the probabilities of Insults. etc.,
let the purity of our lives and the rec>
titude Of our principles be the best re-
futation of any slander that may possi>
bly, assail us. Mo, o,eover, our mothers
or mine at least-if not our fathers, will
join us in this step"
This speech came from Katy Moore,
the youngest of the group. SO it went
around. and when the vote was taken,
it was found that sufficient number
We're in favor of the plan to secure the
charter and organize the lodge:
Miss Vane lost no time iu notifying
the grand lodge deputy, and the young
ladies employed every opportunity in
efforts to induce their young gentlemen
friends to Join them in the order. They
met with poor success, however; some
treated the proposition with ridicule,
and others met it with open scorn. This
so discouraged some of the girls, that
had not few mothers stepped to the
front, the falling off had been so great.
that the enterprise must have failed for
the want of the requisite num-
ber. Lilly Mason was not idle: but her
lover was not at home, and she could
only write him long, long letter, full
of arguments and assurances of endur~
ing affection, then turn her efforts in
other directions.
The day for the organization came Mt
last. The deputy--a misister of the
gospel-made thrilling speech, but
none save few of the wavering ad
herents came forward. The. lodge was
organized in the evening, with not a
single male member. Miss Emma Vane
was W. G. T. and poor Lily Mason, her
eyes red with weeping over her lovers
cruel letter, was installed as w. S. AS
her fingers flew over the unstained
pages, through her binding tears she
saw only this sentence. "If you per-
sist in this foolish whim, you and I
must part for ever;" and it seemed so
cruel that the sweet hopes born but yes
terday. should die so soon. wrecking
every bright prospect. robbing duty of
its holiest incentive and drying up the
fountain OF every glad emotion.
AS they parted at the door that night.
Mabel Gray. who guessed the secret of
her friends distress, whispered:
"Poor Lily!" then after swallowing
sob. continued, .. Z.
"Be of good cheer. Devotion to
principle is better than the appreciation
of men. and duty is higher than human
love. feel that God will bless our
small beginning tonight, and that You
and / can yet rejoice together in tue
sweet fruition of our dearest hopes. My
brother cursed the Order last week. and
to day he cried when we talked about
it, A spirit of good is at work among
our people. I heard your father and
mine talking together as I left home to
come here '''-' ' -''-~
Sour daughters shall be uphollen
in this. " said Mr.. Mason. ''and 1 for
one will join them as soon as they get
"Why not join them now?' asked
| father.
| "Because they have begun it, and I
want them to have the credit of all the
good that is done.'' alH f. 5l
.1 was SO glad, dear Lily, that I
conld hardly keep from crying all night!
Good 1bye-and let MS ask Gods bless
J ing on our undertaking"
, ff'sGod bless you, sweet comforter, !"
murmured Lily as they kissed each
other, and each went her way. ~ -""
! A week passed, and the evening for
| the meeting Of the lodge came around.
| Four names were presented as candi-
dates, Mabel's father and brother and
the parents of Lilly Mason. Before anl'
other meeting was had Joel lBaugh
came home. 8 He went to see Lily, the
| first evening Of his return. When they
were alone he said: Pardon me. dear
Lily, for what I wrote, / was harsh
and unjust, but I have deeply regret
ed any harshness and injustice. Still I
think yop are carrying the matter too
far" ~ .ssta h. 4.e.,e~
It is unnecessary TO follow the argu-
ments he used in favor of moderate
drinking. nor of his favor OF total alb
stinence. These arguments are famili-
ar to all who have investigated the mat
ter, and are conversant with the temper
ance literature Of the day. The contro-
yersy ended at last with neither party
convinced, aud he said:
"I will no longer object to your
doing, as you think best in this mat
ter, but do not ask me to join your So
ciety." q
s.On the contrary, that is precisely,
what I expect to do. was the reply.
sand / expect you to obey me-" and
with an arch smile she looked up into
his face. rs
sNeveri" cried he.
| ssNot for my sake?' HG
s.No. not'for your sake, dearly !
love you. Hs
"Then," said she, as she slowly rose
with white, white face" it must be
aa you intimated in your letter, We
,Aust part forever! If you prefer the
! wine cup to my love so be it. May
~ 4 L 1.