The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-07-22
A WOMAN'S PRIDE.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.


1t was fair, sunny day in August.
They were out on the cliffs, fathOms
above the sea, at plsy. She, a dark
eyed, haughty-faced young beauty OF
tMrtsen; he, tall, stalYArt boy year
her junior.
There was a wide difference in their
stations of life. You had only to note
the richness of her silken robes, the
co2rseness and threadbare scsntiness
of his, to feel assured of that. No gen.
tleman's son wore q blue blouse and q
tattered cap like Duke Rutherford's.
The children were gathering MOSES
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 DsimRine's
high-bred mother.
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 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 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 helress. If she
thought of the matter at all, she trust
ed to the Unborn pride of her daughter
and to the cold contempt she hsd
tried SO faithfully to imbue her with
contempt for all that was low or ILL
bred.
Mrs. Delmaine read her favorite
novels, entertained her chosen COM
pany, and reigned queen at the halls,
and HOrtense enjoyed the wild free
dom of the cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless
in her daring at times. This after
noon she was in her most dangerous
mood. A cluster of purple flowers
growing in a cleft in the rocks below
the surface Of the cliffs, attracted her
attention. She sprang towards them.
Duke waved her back.
Before he could prevent her, she
had swung herself over the precipice /;
and resting one foot on a narrow shelf
of rocks, her left hand clinging to q
frail shrub that had taken root in the
sparse earth at the top, with the 9TH
er she grasped the coveted blossoms.
Duke, white and rigid, stood above
her looking down. She shook the
flowers above ber head. 81 dare do
what boy trembles seeing done 90
She stopped hastily in the gay,
tauHting speech she was making.
The treaeherous rock under her foot.
crumbled and fell-there was only a
little swaying shrub to hold her back
from eternity.
Duke threw himself upon his face,
reached over, caught her uplifted
hand in his, and drew her up slowly,
labOriously-for she was nearly his
own weight, aud he realized too we'll
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 escaped, she leaned against
him, then turning coldly away she
seated herself on s rock.
"Well," she said, haughtily. "You
have saved my life, suppose. What
is it worth d? My mother will
She stopped abruptly. Dukes face
had grown crimson his lips were
compressed. She understood him and
forebore the insulting speech she was
about to make. Her voice was softer
when Rext she spoke. for being proud
herself, she respected the pride OF 9TH
ers.
"Forgive me, Duke. What shall /
give YOU TO show you how grateful ]
am ?" and she began ID detach the
| heavy gold chain she wore at her gir-
die. He Put it baeE when she offered
It.
"Give me the bunch of hsliOtrope in
your hair"
She pulled it out and laid it in his
hand.
"Good by, Duke, am going home
may not see you again. Tomorrow
l am going away to Wilbraham tC
school. Don't you wish you could &c
to school
That night Mr.. Rutherford called
Duke into his bed chamber, where be
kept his private desk and his meageI
store of hooks. He took from an
ebony casket ring set with dia.
mond Orbitone.
"There, my son." he said, ''is the
only thing I have on earth to show
that noble blood flows in my veins,
That ring belonged to my great
grandfather, the Duke of Somerset
1t cost five thousand dollars. 1t will
bring readily more tnan half the sum
I bequeath it to you. Will you keeE
it to show the world that your auces.
tors were nobles-or-" He paused
and looked eagerly into the fac, oi
the boy.
"Or what, father ?" Dukes fact
was eager, hopeful; already he haC
half OWNED his fathers mesning.
"You love books. I had thought
Won might desire an education. Tht
proceeds Of that ring will defray you
expenses st school-maybe through
college. But you can keep It II yoI
choose. Which shall it be ?''
"Oh, father knowledge before any
thing else in this world ! What car
Inmy body stsrve, so that my sou
be fed ?'i
So it was decided, and fortnigh
afterHard Duke left Romney and en-
tered.the preparatory school at c.
Six years passed. Duke had beel
six months at college, and was hom
on q brief vacation.
Miss Delmaine had just GRADUATES
at fashionable finishing school an
returned to the Hall, a wondrousl
beautiful and accomplished youn
. lady, followed by q train Of obsequ
Gus admirers.
Il