Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-12-13
A Woman's Pride.

ncy WeTe OUT Oh tne CllHs, idtuOlnS
above the sea, at play. She, dark
eyed, haughty-faeed young beauty of
thirteen he, a tall. stalwart boy year
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.
tleman's son wore blue blouse and a
tattered cap like Duke Rutherford's.
The children were gathering mOsses
from the rocks and chatting gayly to-
gether, forgetful of rank or station. They
had met often thus for the last six years.
Dukes father was day labOrer on
the estate of Hortense Delmaine's high
bred mother
The Rutherfords had not always been
hirelingS. Generations back there were
titled noblemen in the family, but polit-
ical differences had taken the title out
Of the name; and. early in life, Hugh
Rutherford, Dukes father, had emigrat-
ed to this country, and married, soon af-
terward, 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 his 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 Undue her with--contempt
of all that was low or i'll. bred.
Mrs. Delmaine read her favorite nov
els, entertained her chosen company,
and reigned queen at the Hall. and Hor-
tense enjoyed the wild freedom of the
cliffs. The young girl was almost reck-
less in her daring at times. This after
noon she was in her most dangerous
mood. A cluster of purple flowers, grow
ing in cleft of the rocks below the sur
face of the cliffs, attracted her attention.
She sprang toward them. Duke waved
her back
Before he could prevent her, she had
swung herself over the precipice and
resting one foot on narrow shelf of
rocks, her left hand clinging to a frail
shrub that had taken root IN the sparse
earth at the top. with the other she
grasped the coveted blossoms. .,
Duke. white and rigid, stood above
her looking down. She shook the fow-
ers above her head. ''Seel l dare do
what boy trembles seeing done y
She stopped hastily in the gay, taunt-
ing speech she was making. The treach-
erous rock uuder her feet crumbled and
fell-there was only little swaying
shrub to hold her back from eternity.
Duke threw himself upon his face,
reached over. caught her uplifted hands
in his. and drew her up slowly, labOri-
ously-for she was nearly his own
weight, and he realized too we'll how
much hung on the result to be hasty OF
reckless of his strength. He rose to his
feet. lifting her up with him. For one
moment, breathless and overcome by the
thought of what she had escaped, she
leaned against him, then turning coldly
away she seated herself on rock.
WELL" she said. haughtily, '.yOu
have saved my life, l suppose. What
is it worth? My mother will"
! She stopped abruptly. Dukes face
had grown crimson; his lips were com.
pressed she understood him, and fore
bore the insulting speech she was about
to make. Her voice was softer wher
next she spoke, for being proud herself
she respected the pride of others.
Forgive me. Duke. What shall
give you to show you how grateful
am 2" and she began to detach the heavy
gold chain she wore at her girdle. HI
put it back when she offered it.
"Give me the bunch of heliotrope il
your hair"
She pulled it out and laid it in his
hand.
GOOD by. Duke am going home,
may not see you again. To morrow | an
going away to Wilbraham to school
Don't you wish you could 60 to school ?
That night Mr.. Rutherford callet
Duke into his bed chamber. where b
kept his private desk and his meage
store of books. He took from an ebon,
casket ring set with a diamond orb
tone.
There. my son." he said. ''is the on
! ly thing have on earth to show tha
noble blood flows in my veins. Tha
ring belonged to my great grandfather
the Duke Of Somerset. 1t cost five thou
sand dollars. 1t will bring readily mOr
: than half the sum. bequeath it to yO'
Will you keep it to show the world tba
your ancestors were nobles-or-" H
paused. and looked eagerly into the faC
{ Of the boy
..Or what. father p Dukes face vi