<html>
<head>
<style>
.item{
  width:24px;
  height:24px;
  float:left;
  background-image:url(checked.gif);
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div>line 1</div>
<div>
<a href="foo"><i class="item"></i><span>line 2</span></a>
</div>
</body>
</html>