Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-11-23
TIE WARNING VOICE

waters OF tic burn foam2d and frett.i
about the great graz powders conth-
uously. 4 dull. red sun scarce man
aged to pierce through the prevailing
Cravncss. and muses. Of blue black cloud
Law low upon the horizon.
Any one fanil%.r with,thc district
that wild. bleak. barren country contig-
nous to the Chcyoit rarcc-would have
known instiuctivclv that bad weather
was in store. That the long expected snow
would make lis appea1ancc ere long.
Between the Gtful trusts Of wind there
was something solemn and impressive in
the aspect Of nature and in the heavy,
lifeloss atmosphere. something that sug-
gcstcd hrcathlcss waiting for the COM
ing storm.
Meanwhile the scattered hocks Of
sheep moved in leiaurcv fashion along
the steep sides Of the fella, and pair of
lovers fingered in the done. too absorbed
in their own insignificant portion of the
worlds business to pay mach attention
to the impending trouble.
The gi,l 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 a
somewhat mean fashion-tho part Of
lover. looked prosperous and well to do
Its hard upon me. Ralph You must
confess that! she exclaimed. with touch
of bitterness. rs her blue eyes looked
wistfullv M through IL mist of tears. 1t
isn't ma fault that Az Gamma keep him
straight. and yet Alvin to be punished
for il. as il il was"
Ralph turned his head away. lie could
NOT bear to meet the pathetic appeal of
her eyes. lie had imagined himself
stronger until that moment It had re-
quirol some courage to face The ordeal,
which proved worse than he had antici-
pated.
He WAS fine athletic looking young
fellow, but there was II fceblcness about
his mouth and jaw that did not promise
much moral stamina.
ITS 10 be al over bctwiHt ms. then,
bccause Yer feythar wishes it," the girl
went on IN treululous voice.
Ralph shuf.led about from one foot to
tie other for & minute or two, then he
burst ont:
How can Aw say it-what would Yer
hey me do Nelly: Ii the auid man turns
me of, Awe noWt o my own te live
on. Aw. man. stick &c the farm and to
him-d-- him. We wadnt like t. SO
ne hire DOT for a hind or a shopherd--
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 declared
her. Nevertheless she was Il woman
and had munitions. Ii crossed her mind
NOW that man who loved a woman
truly and uusclfshly 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 be rec
ognized that Tor himself as well as for
the girl this separation which circum-
stances had rendered imperative was Il
real hardship.
Where i'll all the countryside could
her equal he found in looks, manners.
sweetness Of disposition, loyalty of heart!
Though she was only the child Of u
drunken, disroputable old shepherd. she
could hold her own against any of the
farmers daughters in the neighborhood.
Ii was this fact Of her unfortunate par.
entace that had proved the stumbling
block to Their happiness. They had
been thrown together from childhood,
for Martin Daglish. the shepherd, had
grown ell IL Farmer Wilson's employ
meut. and an attachment had sprung llp
between them when Nelly bloomed into
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 q close the drunkard had
made tremendous effort for the sake
IF his child. whom he fondlv loved. to
reform, and Farmer Wilson had rather
reluctantly given his consent to the mar
r;nfro uo +I,,,,ol,+ .bo+ P,1,,I -, ;,.l =