Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-17
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, a tall.
stalwart boy a year her junior.
There was a wide difference in their sta
lions 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 g%entleman's son wore
a blue blouse and battered cap like Duke
Rutherford's.
The children were gathering moss from
the rocks. and chatting gayly together,
forgetful of rank OF station. They had
met often thus for the last six years.
Dukes father was a ~day-laborer on the
estate of Hortense Delmaine's high-bred
mother.
The Rutherfords had not always been
hirelings. For generations hack they were
titled noblemen in the family. 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, 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 her six months old boy to toll for.
No restraint was put upon the inter-
course between Duke Rutherford and Hor-
tense Delmaine by the proud lady mother
of the young heiress. If she thought of
pride Of her daughter, and to the cold con-
tempt she had tried so faithfully to Undue
her with-contempt for all that was low or
ill-bred.
Mrs. Delmaine read her favorite novels,
entertained her chosen company, and
reigned queen at the halls, and H~ortense
enjoyed the freedom of the cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless in
her daring at times. This after o she
was in her most dangerous mood, A clus-
ter of purple flowers growing in a cleft in
the rocks attracted her attention. She
sprang towards them. The Duke waved
her back.
Before he could prevent her, she had
swung herself over the precipice, and rest
ing one foot on a narrow shelf Of rocks,
her left hand clinging to d 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, and said:
II dare do what a boy trembles seeing
done"
She stopped hastily in the gay, haunting
speech she was making. The treacherous
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, 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 over
com by the thought Of what she had
escaped, she leaned against him, then
turning coldly away she seated herself on
a rock.
"Well," she said haughtily, s'you have
saved my life, l suppose. What is it worth?
My mother will"
She stopped abruptly. Dukes face had
grown crimson, and his lips were CON-
pressed. She understood him, and fore
bore the insulting speech she was about to
make. Her voice was softer when she
spoke, for being proud herself, she respect
ed pride in others. Il
"Eurgive me, Duke. What shall / give
yolto show you how grateful 1 amp" and
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 heliotrope in
your hair"
She pulled it out and laid it in his hand.
Goodbye, Duke, I am going home; may
not see you again. Tomorrow / am going
away to Wilbraham to school. Don't you
wish you could 60 to SCHOOL,"
That night MI. Rutherford called Duke
into his b~edchamber, where he kept his
private desk and his meagre stock o.
books, He took from an ebony casket.
ring set with diamond Orbitone.
'sThere, my son" he said, sis the onl.
thing / have on earth to show that nobl'
blood flows in my veins. That ring be
longed to my great grandfather, the Duk'
of Somerset. 1t cost five thousand dol
lars. 1t will readily bring more than hal
that sum I bequeath it to you, Viii yoV
keep it to show to the world that'your an
cestors were n~oble-or-ar" He pause