The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-07-22

I - II OAhE
"Miss Delmainel Allow ms 70
welcome you home"
she gave him her hand After all
old memories still held their sway in
J her heart.
Some secret audacity moved him tc
say il. He bent over her and whis-
pered 81 have got the heliOtrOpe,
yet, Hortense."
Her eyes blazed she snstched her
hand from his as If his touch stu4e
her. "Remember To whom you are
speaking p' she said sharply.
81 do remember"
81 have other business than listen
ing 10 the silly talk of love.sic boy
So goodnight"
Six years have passed again. Duke
Rutherford had a name in the land,
On bis graduation he had studied law,
been admitted to the bar in due time,
and after two years successful prac
tiee his talent had won him the ap-
pointment Of judge for the district
One day, late in November, Ing
found himself on board ocean
steamer, bound to New York. He
had been on business tour to Europe,
and was returning home. There
were gay party Of Ladies and gen.
tlemen among the passengers,
wealthy aristOcr2ts who had been
doing the wonders of the world.
The second day Of the voyage they
were all on deck at tsunset-prOmenad
ing, laughing. chatting-enjoying the
fresh breeZes. Duke was there also.
HOrtense Delmaine face to face
proud, beautiful woman now. Her
youth had not made false prophesies
of the glory OF her womanhoOd. He
had heard of her fame in the gay
Partisan capital /; and, looking at her
now, he was free to confess that she
had not worn undeserved laurels.
She was leaning on the arm OF a
tall, Spanish-looking man but,
though she smiled at his soft moth
ings, she was gazing out, over and
beyond him and his range of thought,
t) the sea stretching SO darkly blue
and boundleas to meet the twilight
glory.
Duke Rutherford stopped before her
just as she disengaged herself from
her companion.
''Itis the same old ocean upon
which we used to look from the cliffs,
Miss Delmaine," he said, quickly.
She was leaning over the side of
the vessel, looking down at the wa
ter. She lifted her eyes, shuddered
slightly, and drew up her shawl.
Duke assisted her.
"Mr. Rutherford, you .ua up once
in six years, it seems"
He smiled to himself. So she re-
membered how long it was since she
had seen him.
at is like going back to my lost
boyhood to see you, Miss DeimRine..
I-U
He did not finish the sentence. Her
late companion approached, and
drew her arm within his. She mep-
toned the gentlemen's name to each
other-"Mr. Trevanon, Mr.. Ruthsr-
ford" They bowed eoldly.
Afterward, Miss De.maine and
Duke never met alone sometimes
surrounded by her friends she came
upon him, and acknowledged him by
distant bow-but.there was nothing
more between them.
The voyage was drawing to close.
They were nearing the harbOr. A
great storm arose the vessel was
driven out of her track and drifted
DOWN to the capes. One dark, direful
night, in spite of skill and frenZied
effort, the ship struck the rocks OF an
ice shore and parted.
A little moment to realize the
dreaded horror of their situation, only,
was left those on board. Miss Del
maine, pale, but calm, was holding
the Srm of Mr.. Trevanon; her friends,
shrieking and terrified. stood near.
She was not looking at the threatened
destruction before her, but over her
shoulder, with hungry, wistful some
thing in her eyes, as If she forgot
what she saw not. The expression
died out as Duke Rutherford appeared.
For an instant their eyes met.
Then the ship lurched violently
there was a dull plunge, a wild shrek
of agony, and the water swarmed with
struggling human beings. The world
had grown dark to Hortense, but she
felt herself borne up by some power
beyond her own strength-upward
and onward through the billows, till
her feet touched the firm shore of the
cape. Then, into the light and
warmth of q fishers cottage, and
when they had laid her down on the
rude settee she opened her eyes and
saw-Duke Rutherford.
"You saved me ?' she asked.
"I had that honor"
The door opened and Mr.. Trevanon
appeared. Whatever Hortense might
have said by way of thanks was
checked by his entrance, and directly
afterward Duke went out. Three
weeks passed before they met again,
and then it was in the old place on the
cliffs, at Rodney.
Mrs. Delmaine was dead Hortense
hal been to visit her grave, and on
her return, sat, for a moment, on the
gray, familiar rock to look out on a
wintry sea. Her eyes were still wet !;
she had been weeping over the dead.
Duke found her thus, and seating
himself beside her, drew her head
down on his shoulder.
"Hortease," he said, ~ love you.
L defy your contempt; dare repeat
iG to you. love you p'
For q moment il seemed to him
that she clung to him, then cast him
away, and rose to her feet And
when she spoke her voice was cold
and unmoved ION New Years eve
L sm to be married to Eugene Tre-
vanOn.
Duke started up-seemed about to
makesome impetuous speech, checked
himself, bowed and left her.
And abe threw herself down where
he had stood, moaning out-"Oh J
pride pride it will be my deathp'
1t is the last day OF the cid year.
Duke Rutherford, a stern and
gloomy man, was about to bid adieu
to his native land for long season.
Almost unconsciously, he turned
his steps toward Delmaine Hall. It
rose up, gloomy, massive pile, light
ed only by the red freight, at sim
gle window. Tomorrow night, it
would blaze with the lamps lit to
shine upon her bridal.
He paused to turn back, but some-
thing led him OF. Through the de-
serted garden, up to the broad door,
which stood Ajar. All was quiet
within. The guests were in bed.
Only some tardy servant was up
it would do no harm to glance within.
He stepped to the door of the room
where he had seen light, and pushed
it softly open. He saw no one. Still
he went on, and sat down in a great
lounging chair before the warm blaze.
Some one rose up from sofa st the
other end OF the fireplace. He start
ed up, an apology on his lips for his
audacious Intrusion. She-it was
Hortense-clad, not in bridal robes,
but in sable vestments, and destitute
of ornament, came toward him, look
ed up into his eyes, and let her white
hand rest upon his shoulder.
"Dnke," said she, her eyelids droop-
ing, her cheeks crimson, shave I Of
Tended past forgiveness ?"
He did not answer. Only looked at
her. She went on persistently "I
will let the truth speak, Duke Ruth
erford. love you. 1 have loved you
all along; but pride came nigh to be-
ing my ruin. Thank God, at last I
have clean hands and pure heart. 1
have dismissed Eugene TrevaDon,
and true to myself, true to you, cast
aside all womanly modesty and
shame, and tell you that 1 love you"
"Hortense,n she said, sis this thing
! frrra ro van dona rrifh that man 0if