The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-05
A WoMAN's PRIDE.

1
They were out ON the cliffs, fathom
above the sea, at play. She a dark
eyed, haughty-faced young beauty of thir
teen; he, tall, stalwart boy year he
Junior. There was a wide difference il
their stations in life. You had only t.
note the richness of her silken robes, th
coarseness and threadbare scantiness o
his, to feel assured of that. No gentle
mans son wore blue blouse and tai
tered cap like Duke Rutherfords.
The children were gathering mosse
from the rocks and chattering gayly to
gether, lorge,ful Of rank or station
They mad met often thus for the last si1
years.
Dukes father was a ay-laborer on tht
estate of Hortense Delmaine's high bret
mother.
The Rutherfords had not always beer
hirelings. Generations back there were
lifted loblemen in the family, but politi.
cal differences had taken the title out o
the name; and, early in life, Hugh Ruth
ertofd, Dukes father, had emigrated tC
this country, and married, soon after
ward, the blooming daughter OF a small
farmer. The young couple had nothing
but health and true love; and after !
few years even this last sweet boon was
taken away. Mrs. Rutherford died, and
her husband had only his six months Old
boy 10 toll Ior.
30 restraint was put upon the inter.
course between Duke Rutherford and
Horteuse Demaine by the proud lady,
mother Of The young heress. If sht
thought of The matter at ali, she trusted
to The inbsrn pride Of her daughter, and
| to the cold contempt she had tried 81
| faithfully to imbue her witli--contempt
| of all that WAS low or ill-Drtu.
| Mrs. Delmaine read her iaVoribe ney-
| els, entertained her chosen company.
and reigned queen at the Hail; ana lIor-
tense enjoyed the wild freedom OF the
cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless in
ner daring ut times. This afternoon she
| was in her most dangerous mood. A
| cluster Of purple flowers, growing in d
clelt OF the rocks below The surface of
the cliffs, attracted her attention. She
sprung toward them. Duke waved her
back.
Before lie could prevent her, she had
swung herself over the prucipice; and
resting one foot on a narrow shelf OF
rocks, her lett nand cliiIgiug to II Irail
shrub that mad taken root in the sparse
earth at the top, with the othur she
grasped the coveted blossoms.
DukeSNynIte and rigid, stood above her
looking down. Sne shook tie flowers
above her head. "Seei l dare do what u
boy trembies seeing dUne!'
She stopped hastily i'll the gay, taunt-
ing speech she was making. The treacn-
erOus rock under her feet crumbied and
iell-there was only that little swaying
sh, lrb to boId her back from eternity.
Duke threw himself upon his face,
reached over, caught ner uplilted hands
in his, and drew her up slowly, labori-
ously--for she was nearly Ills own
weight, and he realized too we'll how
mucn hung Oh the result to be nasty or
reckless OF his strength. He rose to his
feet, lifting her up with him. For one
moment, breathless and overcome by the
thought oil what she had escaped, sine
leaned against him, then turning coldly
away she seated herself on u rock.
"Well," she SAID hauyhtily. "You
have saved my lite, / suppose. What is
it worth? Mymother viii
She stopped abruptly. Dukes face
had grown crimson; his lips were com
bore he insulting speech she was about
TO make. Her voice was softer when
next sac spoke, for being proud herself,
she respected the pride OF others.
"FoFgive me, Duke. What shall L
give you to show you how grateful ]
am?' And she began to detaeh the heavy
gold chain she wore at her girdle. He
put it back when she offered IT.
"Glve me the bunch Of heliotrope in
your hair"
sue pulled it out and laid it in his
hand.
"Good-by, Duke, am going kome,
may not see you again. Io-norfow am
going away TO Wilbfaham to school,
ieax RI TIM
That night MIR. Rutherford called Duke
into his bed-chamDer, where he kept his
private desk and his meager store Of
books. He took from an ebony casket a
ring set with diamond orbit0ne.
"Fhefe, my son." he said, is the only
thing have ON earth to show that noble
blood flows in my veins. That ring be.
longed to my greatgrandfather, the Duke
of Somerset. 1t cost five thousand dol
lars. 1t will bring readily more than
half the sum. bequeath IL " you.
will you keep it 10 show the world that
your ancestors were nebles--or----'' He
paused and looked eagerly into the face
OF the boy.s
cor what, fatherW Dukes face was
eager, hopeful; already be had half dl-
vined his rathers meaning.
"You love books. / had thought you
might desire an education. The pro-
ceeds Of that ring will defray your ex-
penses at school-mayb through col.
lege. But you can keep 1t il you choose.
Which shall IL bey
sOh. father! knowledge before any,
thing else in this world! What care I
il my body starve, SO that my soul be
fedF'
So it was decided, and fortnight
afterward Duke left Romney and en-
tered the preparatory school ut c..
Six years passed. Duke had been six
months in college, and was home OIL q
brief vacation.
Miss Delmaihe had just graduated at
fashionable finishing school, and re-
turned to the Hall, y wondRously beau-
tiful and accomplished young lady, fol.
lowed by a train of obseQnlous admirers.
One still July night she stole away
from the revelry Of the Hall, and went,
as of old, to the cliffs. Duke was there
before her, sitting silent in the moon
light, locking out to the sea. He heard
her step-perhaps the thrill at his heart
told him VINO was coming. The hello
trope had lain there all these six years.
He rose and turned toward her, waiting
her pleasure. She might recognize him
or not, Just as she chose.
She passed him with naughty glance.
He did not finch, but stood with folded
arms-his tall, manly figure outlined
against the purple sky, his face ~ up BY
the vo,rug n1oon A faint fiush rose 10