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

CO1U suOu1Q0I. DUC dIm0T w ilSO0 was
q 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 I'll
Ralph Wilson was weak, though well
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 trotb.
The interview now proceeding was the
result of that promise.
'sDon't you imagine that you have the
worst of it, Nelly" said Ralph as he
felt again the charm of her presence.
'.These things come more hard to a 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, wish we'd never seen one
another!'
Ralph, moved by a 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-
tantly 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! wish he was dead!''
''Don't. Ralph! l cannot bide to hear
your
"What good is his life? Itdoesn't ben
eft one living creature-not even him
self! You ought to wish it, too, Nelly,
instead of chiding me. Aye. and you
would if you cared half as much about
me as / do about you."
Nellie drew herself slowly away and
looked him straight in the face.
''You don't mean a word of what
you're sayin, or would give you bit
of my mind for bein heartless! Poor
old dad! Hes never said a cross word to
me in my ife-not even when he was
the worst for drink! He's nobody's en-
emy but his own, there's that to be said
for him. anyway. If you won't marry
me because l mean to stick to my auld
feyther, wey aa'l ha' to bide it as best
"a may. But as for me wantin him deid
ma poor, good hearted dad-that'll II new
er, never be, and SO I tell ye plainly,
Ralph!"
At this conclusion the young fellow
hung his head, feeling rather ashamed Of
his i'll nature, and the pair walked in a
leisurely and detected manner toward
the farm. Where the two roads Joined
they parted, sullen, miserable, without
their customary kiss or even friendly
handshake.
Again the little dene appeared desert
ed and resumed its normal aspect of ex-
pectation, the spell having betn broken
momentarily by the young and eager
presences.
But the solitude and silence did not
have long to reign. Up one bank of the
stream struggled a thicket of ragged
shrubs, alders and hawthorns, and from
thence there emerged a few minutes
afterward the figure of a man. He
crawled up to the level ground upon his
hands and knees, like some prowling
beast that had been in hiding.
When he reached the road. he rose to
his feet and stood upright, or at least
made as near an approach to that posi-
ton as his own condition would allow,
for he was evidently greatly under the
influence of alcohol.
He rubbed his hand across his eyes
and gazed in bewildered fashion in the
direction taken by the pair of lovers.
ma canny Nelly! Ma bonny lass!'
he muttered in tremulous, husky voice,
the voice of whisky drinker, ssiust te
think she ha' stuck by me like yonr'
He stood silent for a moment after
this, as though endeavoring to master
the situation; then he gave himself a
shake like as dog does on emerging
from the water.
"You boozy, dram drinkin old soak
er, dinna ye feel ashamed O. yersel'?"
he burst out at last. "What's wrong
wi ye? Lemme think"
But it was of no use for him to trv
and consider. The earth reeled around
and met the sky, and the road rose up
and hit him in the face. His brain was
on fire, and he could not think.
He stumbled down to the edge of the
stream again, and at the imminent risk
of meeting death by drowning managed
to lave his face and head in the icy cold
water and to gulp down great drafts of
the same, making, it must be confessed,
q wry face at the latter part of the pro
gramme.
Then he sat down on heap Of stones.
and resting his face in his hands made
another effort.
He was the miserable wreck of a fine.
stalwart man. Although little past the
prime of life, drink had done its work.
and he looked Q broken down old toner
on the brink Of the grave. He had the
h1oovod ,1natoa6v nvou NJ q Arrr9-o.sa /.