The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-12-27

wOmanhOOd. But, alas, for the course of
true love! 1t had from the first been
Swallowed by the shame and degradation
of the girls father.
During the course Of the year that was
drawing to a close the drunkard had
made a tremendous effort for the sake
of his child, whom he fondly loved, to
reform, and Farmer Wilson had rather
reluctantly given his consent to the mar
rage. 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
she was a good, useful, Industrious girl
all the same, and if only the old man full
filled his promise and kept steady there
wasn't much to be said against the
match.
That "ifw A month before this the
shepherd had broken out again worse
than ever for his enforced abstinence
and had become the object of public
scorn and cOntumely.
Then it was that Farmer Wilson inter-
fered with a high hand and withdrew
his consent peremptorily. 1t was all
very well to marry poor girl though
even that was a foolish concern when
capital was required to develop the re-
sources Of the land, but to marry poor
girl whose father was shame and dis
grace to theneighborhood was too idiotic
an act to be tolerated without some en-
deavor being made to put stop to it.
The farmer had therefore q rather
stormy interview with his only son. At
first the lad stuck to his resolution to
marry Nelly at all hazards and trust
to their united efforts either to keep the
old shepherd steady or to give him the
cold shoulder. But Farmer Wilson was
a man of the world, and he knew the
fallacy Of these hopes. Old Martin Dag
lish was past reformation in his eyes,
and even Ralph acknowledged that he
was not himself sanguine about it, And
Nelly would stick to her father through
thick or thin; that was the worst of It!
Ralph Wilson was weak, though we'll
intentioned, and he proved as wax in his
fathers hands.
Before the conclusion Of the scene he
had promised to see Nelly and to induce
her to give him back his plighted troth.
The interview now proceeding was the
result of that promise.
"Don't you imagine chat you have the
worst of it, Nelly" said Ralph as he
felt again the charm of her presence.
"These things come more hard to man
than woman, because they are not so
patient"
Nelly sighed.
"But men can go away and forget all
about their disappointments They ha'
lots to think about. But we women folk
we just ha' to bide it and say nothin,
though our hearts be ever so sore! Oh,
Ralph, lad I wish we'd never seen one
another!'
Ralph, moved by sudden impulse,
drew the girl to him and with passion
ate vehemence kissed her lips over and
over again.
Il cannot help it-they are the last,
he muttered apologetically as he reluc-
family released her, "but it is cruel
downright cruel-that we ha to part!
And all for the sake of drunken good
for nothing that might have broken his
neck half dozen times this winter if
that mistaken providence that watches
over such like wastrels hadn't prevented
it. Hang him! I wish he was dead!"
"Don't, Ralph! | cannot bide to hear
you"