Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-06-10


They were out on the cliff, fathom:
above the sea, at play. She, a dark
eyed, haughty-faced young beauty o.
thirteen; he, tall, stalwart boy veal
her junior. There was wide differ
ence in their stations in life. You had
only tonote the richness of her silker
robes, the coarseness and scantiness O
his, to feel assured of that. No gentle
mans son wore blue blouse and tat
tered cap like Duke Rutherfords.
The children were gathering moses
from the rocks and chatting gayly to-
gether, forgetful of rank or station
They had met Of thus for the last six
years.
Dukes father was a day-laborer on
the estate of Hortense Delmaine's high
bred mother. Their humble cottage
was but little distance from the Hall,
and the children, in search OF amuse-
meut, wandered out often to the cliffs,
and whiled away sunny afternoons in
Juvenile sports. Duke gathered for his
fair play-fellow the brightest tinted
shells, thrown up from the heart OF the
ocean by the stormy billows; and in re-
turn, she brought him old books of ro-
nance and chivalry from the great Ii
brary at the Hall, which he read
and re-read, until his soul was filled
with dreams ami aspirations, vague
and sweet and unreal, as the visions of
an opium eater.
The Rutherfords had not always been
hirelings. Generations back there
were titled noblemen in the family,
but political differences had taken the
title out of the name; and, early in life,
Hugh Rutherford, Dukes father, had
emigrated to this country, and married,
soon afterwards, the blooming daugh-
ter of small farmer. The young cou-
pie had nothing but health and true
love; and after few years even this
last boon was taken away. Mrs. Ruth
erford 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 trust
ed to the Unborn pride of her daughter,
and to the contempt she had tried so
faithfully to imbue her with-contempt
of all that was low or ill-bred. Mrs.
Delmaine would never have thought
of looking for pripcely heart beneath
the rough jacket of common labor
er's boy.
The sea breeZes gave a beautiful
bloom to the cheeks of Hortense; and
the sports she shared with Duke roun-
ded her limbs and gave grace and Wig
or to her step. Mrs. Delmaine read her
tavorite novels, entertained her chosen
company, and reigned queen at the
Hall; and Hortense enjoyed the wild
freedom of the cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless
in her daring at times. This afternoon
SIZE was in her most dangerous mood.
A cluster of purple flowers, growing in
a cleft of the rocks below the surface of
the cliffs attracted her attention. She
sprang toward them. Duke waved her
back.
1T is perilous Miss Delmaine,' he
said hurriedly. Look at the black
rocks below. A single mis-step and
Il am no coward she laughed def
antly; if you are pale, am not; and l
am going to carry these bright things
home to mamma
Before he could prevent her, she had
swung herself over the precipice; and
resting one foot on a narrow shelf of
rock, her left hand clinging to frail
shrub that had taken root in the sparse
earth at the top, with the other she
grasped the coveted blossom.
Duke, white and rigid, stood above
her looking down. She shook the
flowers above her head. See! 1 dare
do what boy trembles seeing done!'
She stopped hastily in the gay, ,taunt-
iycr cv,naoh chn aEinn Tho
treacherous rock under her feet crum-
bled and fell-there was only that lit
tie 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,
laboriously-for she was nearly his own
weight, and he realized too well how
much hung on the result to be hasty
or 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 esca-
ped, she leaned against him, then turn
ing coldly away she seated herself
upon rock.
'Well,' she said hsughtiIy, You
have saved my life, l suppose. What
is it worth? 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 when
next she spoke, for, being proud her.
self, she respected the pride of others.
Forgive me, Duke, what shall l give
-. IL. l., nftrl 4 RI
she began to detach the heavy gold
chain she wore at her girdle. He put
it back when she offered it.
Give me the bunch of hellotrope in
your hair
She pulled it out and laid in his hand.
you will throw it away tomorrow
when it is withered,' she said.
The fragrance will outlast the flow
er itself. The scent will remain when
even the ashes of the blossom have
perished. No, 1 shall never throw it
away
She tied the blue ribbons of her hat.
'Good-by, Duke, am going home;
may not see you again. Tomorrow
l am going away to Wilbraham to
school. Don't you wish you could 60
to school,
How the boys great dark eyes flash
ed! and what beautiful glow broke
through the swarthy sunbeam on his
cheek! He did not speak. He only
turned away slowly, and stood gazing
out upon the cold gray sea.
The day was settieg in steel-blue
clouds, great banks of them obscured
the setting sun, and from the troubled
sea vast masses OF drenching tog swept
up the rocky coast and settled heavily
down on the laud.
That night Mr.. Rutherford called
Duke into his bed-chamber, where he
kept his private desk and his meagre
store of books. He took from an ebony
casket ring set with diamond orbi-
tone.