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


waters of the burn foamed and fretted
about the great gray powders contin-
uously. A duh, red sun scarce man.
aged to pierce through the prevailing
grayness, and mas rs Of blue black cloud
lay low Ulon the horizon.
Any one familiar with the district
that wild, bleak, barren country contlg-
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 iitful gusts OF wind there
was something solemn and impressive in
the aspect of nature and in the heavy,
hfeless atmosphere, something that sug-
gested a breathless waiting for the COM
ing storm.
Meanwhile the scattered flOcks Of
sheep moved in Il leisurely fashion along
the steep SIDES Of the fells. and pair OF
lovers fingered III the dene, too absorbed
i'll their Own insignificant portion Of the
worlds business to pay much attention
to the impending tr0 lble.
The girl WAS young, and on her cheeks
blOOmcd the roses Of vigorous health,
but she was poorly dressed, while the
young man, who WAS enactiEg-
somewhat mean fashion-tbe part of
lover, looked prosperous and we'll to do.
Its hard upon me, Ralph. You must
confess that she exclaimed, with touch
of bitterness, us her blue eyes looked
wistfully up through Il mist Of tears. cit
isn't ma fault that AW Gamma keep him
straight, and yet AVN 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. 1t had re-
CURED 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 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 it," the girl
went on in tremulOuS voice.
Ralph shufaed about from one foot to
the other fer minute or two, then he
burst out:
"How can Aw say it-what would yer
hev me do, Nelly? If the auid man turns
me off, Awe nowt O my own te live
on. AW, man, stick te the farm and to
hind him! Ye wadn't like tie see
me hire DOT 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 intuitions. 1t crossed her mind
now that a man who loved woman
truly and unselfshly might without
much self denial do more heroic things
for her sake. But she said nothing.
She loved him, and she wished to be-
lieve 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 a
drunken, disreputable 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
l. 10 l,o.1