Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-10-07
A WOMAN'S PRIDE.

1t was a fair, sunny day in August
They went out on the cliffs, fathoms
above the sea, at play. She, a dark
eyed, naughty faced young beauty of
thirteen he, tall, stalwart boy yeal
her junior.
There was wide difference in their
stations in life. You had only to note
the richness of her silken robes, the
coarseness and threadbare scantiness of
his, to feel assured of that. No gen =
tlelnan's son wore a blue blouse and
tattered cap like Duke Ruther-
fords.
The children were gathering moss
from the rocks, and chatting gayly
together, forgetful of rank or station.
They had met often thus for the last
six years.
Dukes father was day ~laborer on
the estate of Horteuse Delmaiu s high
bred mother.
The Rntherfords had not always
been hirelings. For generations back
they were titled noblemen in the fam
lily, but political differences had taken
the title out of the name, and, early in
life, Hugh Rutherford, the Dukes
father, HAD emigrated to this country:
and married, soou after, the blooming
daughter of a small farmer. The
young couple had nothing but health
and true love; and after a few years
even this last sweet boon was taken
away. Mrs. Rutherford died, and her
husband had only her six months old
boy to toll for.
No restraint was put upon the inter
| course between Duke Rutherford and
Hortense Delmaine by the proud lady
mother of the. young heiress. If she
thought of the matter at all, she trusted
to the Unborn pride of her daughter
and to the cold contempt she had tried
SO faithfully to ,mbue her with-con-
tempt for all that was low or il
bred.
Mrs. Delmaine read her favoritt
novels, entertained her chosen COM
pany, and reigned queen at the halls
and Hortense enjoyed the freedom o
the cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless
in her daring at times. This afternoon
she was in her most dangerous mood
A cluster Of purple flowers growing IL
cleft in the rocks attracted her atten
ton. She sprang toward them. Th
Duke waved her back.
Before he could prevent her, she hat
swung herself over the preclplce, an'
resting one foot on narrow shelf 0
rocks, her left hand clinging to a frai
shrub that had taken root in the sparse
earth at the top, with the other sh'
grasped the coveted blossom.
luke, white and rigid, stood above
her, looking down, She shook The
flowers above her head, and said:
81 dare do what boy trembles see
ing done"
She stopped hastily In the gay
taunting speech she was making. The
treacherous rock under her foot crumb
led and fell-there was only little
swaying shrub to hold her back from
eternity.
Duke threw himself upon his face
reached over, caught her unified hane
in his, and drew her up slowly, labor
,ously for she was nearly his owr
WEIGH and be realized too well how
much hung on the result to be hasty
or reckless of his strength. He ros'
to his feet, lifting her up with him.
For one moment, breathless ant
overcome by the thought of what sh'
had escaped, she leaned against him
then turning coldly away she seated
herself on a rock.
) "Well," she said haughtily, "yo'
: have saved my life, suppose. Wha
is it WORTH My mother will"
She stopped abruptly. Dukes fac
had grown crimson, and his lips wer'
: compressed. She understood him, an
. forebore tile insulting speech she wa
|. about to make Her voice was softe
when she spoke, for being proud hei
self, she respected pride IN others.
"Forgive me, Duke. What shall
give you to show you how grateful
: ami" and she began to detach tn