The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-12-14
THE WARNING VOICE.

The tall leafess trees in the little dell
Tor dene, locally speakingj creaked and
groaned in the sad winter Wind. and the
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 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 insinctively 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,
lifeless atmosphere, something that sug-
gested breathless waiting for the COM
ing storm.
Meanwhile the scattered focks of
sheep moved in a 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-a after a
somewhat mean fashion-the part of
lover, looked prosperous and well to do.
''It's hard upon me, Ralph. You must
confess that!' she exclaimed, with touch
of bitterness, as her blue eyes looked
wistfully up through mist of tears. ''It
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. 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 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 for 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 to the farm and to
hind him! Ye wadn't like te see
me hire cot for hind or a shepherd
me that's been browt up decentlyr'
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. It crossed her mind
now that a man who loved q 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-
ieve the best of him.
As Ralph Wilson looked at her he rec
ognized that for himself as we'll 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.
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
ment, and an attachment had sprung up
between them when Nelly bloomed into
womanhood. But, alas, for the course of
true lovel It 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 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 ful-
filed his promise and kept steady there
wasn't much to be said against the
match.
That s'ifv' 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 q high hand and withdrew
his consent peremptorily. It was ali
very well to marry poor girl. though
even that.was q 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