Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-13
THE WARNING VOICE.


 for dene, locally speaking) creaked and groaned in thefad winter wind. and the waters of the burn foaned and fretted about the great gray powders contin- uously. A dull, red sun scarce man. aged to pierce through the prevailing grayness, and masses of blue black cloud lay low upon the horizon.
 Any one familiar with the district that wild, bleak, barren country contig- uous 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 there was something solemn and impressive in the aspect of nature and in the heavy, hfeless atmosphere, something that sug- gested breathless waiting for the com ing storm.
 Meanwhile the scattered hocks of sheep moved ill 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 somewhat mean fashion-the part of lover, looked prosperous and well to do.
 Its hard upon me, Ralph. You must confess that" she exclaimed, with a touch of bitterness, as her blue eyes looked wistfully up through mist of tears. 1t isn't ma fault that Aw canna keep him straight, and yet Aw'm to be punished for it, as if it Was
 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. It had re quired some courage to face the ordeal, which proved worse than he had antici- pated.
 He was a fine. athletic looking young fellow, but there was feeblcness about his mouth and jaw that did not promise much moral stamina.
 Its to be all over betwixt us, then, because yer feyther wishes it:' the girl went on in tremulous voice.
 Ralph shuffied about from one foot to the other for minute or two, then he burst out:
 How caE Aw say it-what would yer hev me do. Nelly? If the auid man turns me of, Aw've nowt O my own te live on. Aw, man, stick te the farm and to him-d- him! Ye wadn't like te see me hire oot for hind or a shepherd me that's been browt up decently:''
 Nelly knew nothing of the world. In this remote north country nook had her whole life 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 munitions. It crossed her mind now that a man who loved a woman truly and unselfishly might without much self denial do more heroic things for her sake. But she said nothing
 She loved him, and she wished to be- heve the best of him.
 As Ralph Wilson looked at her he rec ogniZed 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 her equal be found in looks, manners, sweetness Of disposition, loyalty of heart: Though she was only the child of d drunken, dl5reputable old shepherd, she could hold her own against any of the farmers daughters in the neighborhood.
 It 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 DaSlish. the shepherd, had grown oll in Farmer Wilson's employ ment. and an attachment had sprung I'D between them when Nelly bloomed into womanhood. But, alas, for the course of true love, IL had from the first been shadowed 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 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 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 she was a good, useful, industrious girl all the same, and if only the old man fol- filled his promise and kept steady there wasn't much to be said against the match.
 That fir A month before this the shepherd had broken out again wes @ than ever for his enforced abstinence and had become the ob3eCt of public scorn and contumely.
 Then it was that Farmer Wilson inter- fered with a high hand and withdzeW his consent pergmptOrily. N wes AH very well to marry poor girl, tlrunSA even that was foolish concern when capital was required 10 develop the Se- sources of the land. but to marry poor girl whose father was shame and dis. grace to the heneighborhood was too idiotic an act to be tolerated without some en. deavor being made to put n stop to 1t. The farmer had therefore rather