Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-24
MEADOWS WARNING.

M LADOWO w AL1Nl1NO.
Ben Holding was a tall, handsome
young fellow, in much better posi-
ton than l, but never envied him that
or anything else till he came between
me and pretty Lizzie Meadows She
was an orphan and lived with her grand
father, Luke Meadows, the oldest fisher
man in the village. Had she wished it
she might have had all the lads In the
place at her feet, but even in her child
ish days, when her companions fought
for the privilege Of buying toys or sweets
for her or Of carrying her books when
she trotted to school, she would give
them no reward but smile or a glance
from her dark eyes. Her childish kisses
were reserved for me. To me only she
told her childish secrets and brought
her childish troubles.
But now she was woman grown and
no longer lavish Of her favor She was
quiet and shy And old Luke, being
naturally very careful of his treasure,
guarded her so jealously that it became
each day more and more difficult to OBJ
tain speech with her. 1t was but seldom
now that | was allowed to look in at the
cottage of Sunday evening, as l had
been in the habit Of doing regularly
from boy. But that troubled me the
less inasmuch as the permission was
not granted to any one else.
At length, however, it began to be
whispered about that Ben Holding went
very frequently to Meadows cottage
and was doubtless paying attention to
his granddaughter. This was the more
surprising, as the young man had till
very recently been working at place
some 30 miles to the north, and, to my
certain knowledge, there was nothing
between the two when he first went
there. His work must have brought him
In a good round sum, for he went fish
ing now in boat of his own and had
taken cottage all to himself, instead
of living in single room or boarding in
o family, as was the custom with the
young fishermen round about.
However, 1 gave little heed to such
gossip Lizzie always greeted me with
a smile when we met, and Meadows
was il anything, rather more friendly
than he had been for some time. More
over, if by chance did spend an even
ing at the cottage, l never came across
Ben Holding. He used to go by on Sun
days on his way to the meetings of the
Plymouth Brethren, where he was con-
slant attendant, but he never staid to
chat moro than five or ten minutes, and
what he said to the girl all the world
might hear.
went down to Meadows place one
Sunday afternoon with the intention of
telling Lizzie how it was with me and
Of asking her to be my wife 1t would
be the best way, l thought, Of putting
an end to the talk Of the village, which
did not please me, though it caused me
no anxiety. had lately had raise in
my wages and was promised further
increase at the end Of the year, SO l
hoped to satisfy Meadows as to my pros
poets
cannot tell If he suspected my in
tention, but 1t was in vain l sought for
an opportunity Of speaking to Lizzie
that evening. Meadows talked without
oeasing, and Lizzie herself seemed more
occupied than usual Instead of sitting
still sho fitted around the kitchen,
doing one thing or another, now reach
ing down plates from the topmost shelf
of the dresser, then bending over the fire
where, contrary to her custom on Sun
day, she had two or three pots to attend
to | was 80 absorbed in watching her
movements that l fear l made but an
Indifferent listener to Meadows old
time yarns. It was delight to me to
note the graceful turn Of her figure, to
watch the color deepening ON her cheek
till her delicate ear looked like a rose
leaf as it lay amid the clustering rings
Of her dark hair. Lizzie laughingly
turned US out at last, saying she wanted
to set the kitchen to rights and we were
In the way. ! offered to help her, but
the old man would not hear of my do
ing anything and carried me off to the
porch to smoke pipe with him.
We had not sat there long before saw
Ben Holding in the distance, evidently
making his way toward us. So little did
] fear him that I was actually glad to
see him, thinking he would take off
Meadows attention and give me
chance Of word with Lizzie. But ]
soon saw that was not to be. After shak-
Ing hands with us Ben strobe into the
kitchen. and, though we followed him
Immediately, he had found time to give
her little note, for saw her hide It
IN her dress as came in.
soon discovered he had been invited
to supper, and the dishes Lizzie had
been taking SO much pains with were
prepared in his honor When we sat
down to table. the talk turned ON mat
sers Of which knew nothing aud could