Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-03-13
LORD AND PLOWMAN.

flower when John Constable presented |
himself at Brookland farm and asked to
see Farmer Willoughby.
Father is down in the fields. Flo will
not be back befors g." said beautiful
Dora Willoughby, VINO had responded to
his knock.
Constable took a seat upon chair near
the open door.
narrow passage separated the kitchen
from tho cool dairy where Dora was work
ing. From Const;!ble's position by the
Kitchen door she could be seen as she fit
ted about, but, rs if this were not enough,
he arose when she began to make the but
| ter into pats, with the pretense of cxainin-
ing the print.
"I am we'll acquainted with that pat
term" he said, ''hut did not know who
made the butter.
IL suppose You have seen it in tho dai-
ries and markets." she went on. "There
is great demand for our butter. We
| could sell three times as much if we had it
| TO SELL
| He learned that she was the eldest of six
children; that, Oh account of her mothers
delicate health, most of the housekeeping
duties fell to her share, and he was sure
that they were all done faithfully and
we'll and that sho was the life and soul of
| Broukland farm.
I'VE have just lost our plowman," she
said at length. "poor Joe summers! He
died last week, and father is looking for
some one to take his place.
So heard said Constable. ~ came
to see about the >iJuation."
you! But you don't look like Il plow
man" said Dora.
Don't l." said he. Then what do
look lillo?'
"Llhc IA gentleman" she answered
81 am % pluWnlan nevertheless"
"I think | hear fathers foOtstcp," she
murlnurcd, turning hastily TO glance into
the farlnyard. "You have not had long to
wait"
And thus, for two young hearts the
heavens were opened, and each humble
task became glorifcd in the light of love-
for Constable and Dora had fallen simply
and deeply in lovo with each other and
theirs was tho faith that would withstand
all trials and shocks.
Day by day it was strengthened by slight
services and mutual help, and it's growth
was silent and unsuspccted by tho family,
who would have discountcnanced an at
tachment between their precious Dora and
common laborer.
For the Willoughbys were of a proud old
yeoman race and they counted on giving
their daughter, with an ample dover, to
one Of tho wealthy young farmers Of the
r neghbOrhOod.
How John Constable worked under her
eyes may he imagined. Early and late,
wherever Il hand was required, there was
} he, ever ready, ever willing.
Little by little Willoughby came to de.
pend upon him and to intrtst the more
important lubOrS Of the farm to his super
intendancc, and before Constable bad been
5 six months in his service he had resolved
, to retain him at any cost
One afternoon Constable was holding d
| refractory cow which Dora was milking,
, and he noticed that tho face he loved looked
prrplcxrd and troubled.
= "Ilave you u grief you cannot share with
t me- he demanded roproachtully as Ii,
{ BENT toward her.
. FEATHER says | must give a definite an
4 swer'
Y "And is it so hard to choosc?' he asked
9 with bitterness in his voice.
"You know there is no choice for me il
I the case. l have asked for ii months dc
9 lay, but | fear it is useless, He woult
never consent to our marriage.'
r "Perhaps he would if ! We're rich, " h'
said. Il must consider what l should do
If you love me truly, meet me tonight b,
the old mill, and ] will tell you my story
Dora found her lover awaiting her wker
= she stole down to the trysting place.
y You remember that first day? Yol
9 thought | was angry with you when yol
O said l looked like gentleman 1t is
bitter subject,' he began tremulously
: MY father is u gentleman. You know
. him by rcpute-- Lord Ernscourt.
= 'Ho fell in love with my mother, a poo
, village girl, when he was u very young
. man and took her to Scotland, whore they
were married. Shortly after my birth HI
8 was called to his fathers dcathbcd.
q "IIo learned that the estates he was tc
Inherit were heavily involved and that h'
. would be ruined unless he married .l
t hcircss. Ho was a weak man, You ma,
imagine the result.
'Ho explained his situation to my moth
or and llnp!orcd her to keep their nlarri;Ig,
a secret, 10 ignore it, in fact. And She
, poor soul, she loved him, and she sat him
free by dying of IL broken heart And tha
l is how l came to be II plowIuan. Directly
$ after nCr death he married the hcros,.'
''AnG Lord Ern,court has never sough
you, never acknowledged you u, his son
although he is chldlessT questioned Dora
"Nover, although he was aware of III,
poor mothers death. But | have tn,
proofs OF her marriage and my own birth
and can claim my rghts.'
@ Three weeks later lawyer appeared a
Brookland farm, and it was known tia
Y Juhu Constable was tho heir to IA grca
. property.
f iord frnscOurt upon his dGathhcd hat
' roppntcd Of his conduct to his luWly wife
' acknowledged his first marriage and insti
tutod il search for his lost lur.
Il trust you will nuW consent to my
= marriage with your dnughtrr, said Con
;. stable when the WiIloughbys had assem-
blcd to cUmgrat ulaue him.
But hu had not rcckuncd with the vii
y loughbys pride.
/ "Nuw less than ever saN the farmer
| Dora is no match for You. You are now
IA great man, and you must marry Lady
Of rank
"Who will disdain her plowman hu,
band, returned Constable. no. Dor,
is my first and only lu\t. and