Year: 1867

George Jackson was a young man Of
promise, and was 80 considered BY all in
his native town. lie was LAWYER in
profession, and was gradually laying the
Foundation for strong and steady prac-
tiee


He had one great drawback to contend
against, however. lie was nan of
strong, impetuous nature, aut had inLer.
tied with it fondness for dissipation In
his younger days, and until he conquered
the practice of his profession, be had led
A wild, reckless life, and had been regard
ed as hopeless case. Upon receiving
his certificate he had suddenly astonisbed
his friends by an abrupt discon,inuance
OF his old habits, and steady application
to business.


Yet no one knew what struggle it cost
him to do so. No one knew the mental
agony Inc endured in trying to cast off the
temptation which constantly haunted him,
and sought to cast him down from the po-
sition he had reached. 1t was, with him
4 continual effort for, in the society in
which he moved, not day passed that he
did not experience 4 temptation to aban-
don his resolution, aud indulge just once
in the dangerous pleasure, His legal
friends we're by no means so strict in their
habits, and they frequently urgently urged
him 10 join in friendly glass and he
scarcely attended an entertainment :ha;
he was not offered wine. All these offers
were quietly aud courteously refused !;
but sometimes the young man felt that
the effort would snap his heart. he made
the struggle bravely, though. He firmly
resolved never again to taste intoxicating
liquor for be knew himself well enough to
be assured that the frs. glass would only
lead TO another, and the old thirst for
liquor once aroused, he coul1 not :ell
where it would end. Thus matters stood
when this story opens.


Mr. Jackson, feeling that he wss on the
road to success, and that prudence and
energy would certainly bring him that
blessing, thought it about time that he
should take wife He believed that he
had arrived at years Of discretion. and
was capable of making judicious selec-
ton, and be ended the matter by resolv-
ing to settle this question as soon as he
had an opportunity.


In the town in which he was residing
we're two young women, who had long
divided the admiration of the gallants.


One vas a beautiful, brilliant creature,
with glorious black tresscs of the same
hue. She vas, by many considered the
belle OF the town and indeed it seemed
hard to find a more beautiful woman than
Sarah Carlyle.


Others, however, gave the preference
to Lucy Lane, quiet, modest little things
whose exquisitely sweet face seemed to
have stepped out from one Of Raphae!'s
pictures.


Mr.. jackson had known both ladies for
some time, but as he had not until Iecent-
ly considered himself marrying man."
he regarded them simply as ordinary &C
quaintances. Like others, he had been
perplexed to decide which was the more
beautiful. At the frs: glance he invari-
ably awarded the palm to Miss Carlyle
but sight Of Lucy Lanes sweet face
would scatter this conclusion to the winds,
and he would feel irresistably drawn by
the latter.


When he made up his mind to hunt
fol a wife, his thoughts went Immediately
to the two beauties, and he resolved, that
if he found their other qualities such as
he hoped, to try and win the one he could
love best for his wife T.; to tell the truth,
tbe young man was half in love with beth,
but with growing preference to Lucy
He wanted wife Cor something more
than mere beauty, and lie could not help
believing tina; he would fud what he de-
sired amore surely in Miss Lane than
in Miss Carlyle A favorable oppor:uni-
ty soon presented itself to decide the ques-
ton.


Miss Carlyle felt fattered by the attcn-
ton of one who bade SO fair 10 achieve
distinction, and resolved to win him if
her powers of facination could do SO.


On her twenty-fourth day she gave an
entertainment which surpassed anything
the town had ever witnessed. George
Jackson was there. She was radiantiy