The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-09-21
HE WARNING VOICE,


- The tail leadess trees in tho little del
or dens, locally speaking) creaked ant
/. 8roaned IN the sad winter wind, and tn,
waters OF the burn foamed and frettet
about the great gray powders contin
ucusly. A dull, red sun scarce man
aged TO pierce through the prevailing
graynees, and masses Of blue black cloud
lay low upon the horizon.
Any one familiar with the district
that Wild. bleak, barren country contig
nous to the Chevoit range-would have
Known instinctively that bad weather
was In store. that the long expected snow
would make its appearance ere long
Between the fitful gusts Of wind Their,
was something solemn and impressive IL
the aspect Of nature and in the heavy
hfeless atmosphere, something that sug
gested breathless waiting for the com
ing storm.
Meanwhile the scattered focks oil
sheep moved in q leisurely fashion along
the steep sides of the fells, and pair Of
lovers fingered in the dene, too absorbed
In their own insignificant portion Of the
worlds business to pay much attention
to the impending trouble.
The girl was young, and on her cheeks
bloomed the roses Of vigorous health.
but she was poorly dressed, while the
young man, who was enacting-after q
somewhat mean fashion--the part oil
lover. looked prosperous and well to do.
ITS hard upon me, Ralph. You must
confess THAR she exclaimed, with touch
Of bitterness, as her blue eyes looked
wistfnlly mp through mist of tears. III
isn't ma fault that Aw Gamma keep him
straight. and yet Alvin to DO punished
for It, as II IL wasl'
Ralph turned his head away. He could
not bear to meet the pathetic appeal Of
her eyes. He had imagined himself
stronger until that moment. II had re-
quired some courage to face the ordeal,
which proved worse than he had antici.
pated.
He was fine, athletic looking young
fellow, but there was q feebleness about
his mouth and jaw that did not promise
much moral stamina.
'It's to be all over betwixt us, then,
because yer feyther wishes ity' the girl
went on in tremulous voice
Ralph shuffied about from ons foot to
the other for minute or two, ,hen he
burst out:
How can Aw say it-what would yer
hev me do, Nellyf Ii the auid man turns
me of, Awe nowt o my own to live
on. Aw, man. stick to the farm and to
him--d-- him! Ye wadn't like to see
me hire DOT for q hind or shepherd
me that's been browt mp decentlyY"
Nelly knew nothing OF the world. In
this remote north country nook had her
whole NE been passed, and from the
larger life that books might have opened
out her lack OF education had debarred
her. Nevertheless she was q woman
and had intuitions. 1t crossed her mind
now that . man who loved q woman
truly and unselhshly might without
much self denial do more heroic things
Tor her sake. But she saidnothing.
She loved him, and she wished to be-
lieve the best OF him.
As Ralph Wilson looked at her he rec
ognixed that for himself as well as for
the girl this separation which circum-
stances had rendered imperative was a
real hardship.
Where In all the countryside could
hesequal DO found in looks, manners,
sweetness OF disposition, loyalty of hearti
Though she was only the child Of a
drunken, disreputable old shepherd, she
could hold her own against any of the
farmers daughters In the neighborhood.
1t was this fact OF her unfortunate par
entage that had proved the stumbling
block to their happiness. They had
been thrown together from childhood,
for Martin Daglish. the shepherd, had
grown old In Farmer Wilson's employ
mcnt, and an attachment had sprung up
between them when Nelly bloomed into
womanhood. But. alas, for the course Of
true Lowell 1t had from the first been
shadowed by tho shame and degradation
OF tho girls father.
During the course Of tho year that was
drawing to close The drunkard had
made tremendous effort for the sake
OF mis- child, whom he fondly loved, to
reform. and Farmer Wilson had rather
reluctantly given his consent to the mar
riage. He thought that Ralph might
have done better, In a worldly sense,
than marry Nelly Daglish. There were
farmers daughters about who had both
money and good connections. and the lad
was . fool to throw himself away. but
abe was good. useful, industrious girl
eli the same. and II only the old man fol-
filed his promise and kept steady there
wasn't much to be said against the
match.