Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-19
THE WARNING.

NISHl Hiu Scttlcu uOW OhcI tIC
dreary scacoast, and over the throb-
bing, restless sea. The wind lifted
itself with swelling sound, and
roved about a loneiy-looking fisher
mans cottage that stood on the
beach, shaking the doors and win
dows, ever and anon sinking into low
murmurs. Shapeless clouds driftcd
across the dim, blue armament. The
moon shines at intervals; but its titful
light lends no charm to the dismal
scene. There was only one other
habitation in sight; and it was a large
old-tashioned mansion, standing far
back IN the country, yet whose mas
sivc frame stood out boldly against
the steely blue.
Those dwellings, were the only visi-
bic token that man had invaded this
dreary waste; for, aside from them,
nothing met the eye save Il sinuous,
curving road, great jagged cliffs, and
stretches of barren land, broken here
and there with patches of gaunt,
leafless trees.
\ light glowed in the latticed win
dow of the fisherman's dwelling-it
looked cheerful.
Before fire which burned on the
hearth of the capacious fireplace with
in, young girl sat, listening to the
roaring, moaning anthem Of the
winds. 1t was Il beautiful face that,
at times, beLt meditatiyely toward
the fire, or gazel out Of the window
\ pale, yet sweet face, with bright,
carmine eyes, and an abundance of
soft, dark hair-the face of young
girl scarcely past her seventeenth
Year.
This was Lila Wynde, the only
child of an old fisherman, who had
dwelt in this cottage on the beach as
far back as she could remember
There was something remarkable
about the young girl. Looking at
her, one would probably ,all her
lovely; but add, weak and timid.-
She was weak, truly, as far as physi-
cal strength is concerned; bit be-
meath her timidity lurked a tirmncss
of purpose which waited only the
proper moment to bring it INTO life
and action.
There were two doors leading from
the room in which she sat-one to a
sort Of closet used as receptacle for
books and various miscellaneous arti-
clcs; the other into Il larger room,
which was occupied now by her
father and man, in whose hand she
had in,rusted her happiness.
Carl Connor was sailor-a firm,
true friend Of old Casper Wynde;
and although Lila felt only an or'lin-
AIRY regard for him, she had, when he
asked her to be his wife, obeyed the
oftcn-exprcsscd desire of her father,
and accepted him. More than once
dark whispers regarding Carl's early
life came to her, for she had known
him but Il short time; but these she
refused to bclieve-or, at least, at-
fectcd incredulity.
They had been engaged, at the
time we write, upward of year. If
they had been married then, the cur
rent of her life might have flowed on
las smoothly and evenly as ever, with
out even ripple marring its plac-
idity. But destiny had decreed it
otherwise.
| We will not enter into details as to
the manner in which Rhoderick Orvis
became acquainted with Lila Wyndc.
Suffice it to say, he resided, with his
sister Alice, Il beautiful girl about
Lna's age, in the capacious mansion
on the hill.
They lived in almost Iigid secln-
sion; but Lila, somehow, became Il
welcome guest beneath their roof;
and IN this way an intimacy sprang
up between her and the young man
which daily ripened into deeper feel
ings-ay, into deep, pure, enduring
love.
But Rhoderick hesitated to breathe
his passion; and Lila did not know
how deep her feelings were enlisted
in his favor, until Carl, who had kept
Il strict surveillance on their actions,
broke forth in Il storm of passionate
jealousy. Then Lila knew she loved
Rhodcrick Orvis, although hcl faith
was plighted to another.
Her position was pitablc. To ap-
peal toICarl's better nature-to tell
him that marriage-vows to him were
lies to kill her soul-to ask him to
release hcr-was. she intuitiyely felt,
futile Instead, therefore, of denying
his accusation, she burst into wild
fit of weeping, which fully confirmed
his suspicious, while it added fuel t."
the flames OF jealousy smoldering in
his heart. His was a nature at once
crafty, evil and cunning. So he pre-
tended contritlon, asked pardon for
doubling her love, protesting to be-
licvc it was wholly his, and changed
! the conservsp ption.
His plans we're already laid. What
they were remains to be seen.
All this, and more, passed through
Lila Wynde'si mind as she sat there,
and had grown weary Of listening to
the clamor Of the winds. The fire
| died Onf. the hld-fashionp1 clock IN