Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-07-23

coveted blossoms.
Duke, white and rigid, stood above
her looking kown. She shook the
flowers above her head. Il dare do
what a boy trembles seeing done!'
She stopped hastily in the gay,
taunting 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 hsmself 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, breath
less and overcome 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, hautily, You have
saved my life, suppose. What IS
it worth? My mother-will'
She stopped abruptly. Dukes
face had grown crimson; his lips
were compressed. She understood
him and forbore the insulting speech
she was about to make. Her voice
was softer when next she spoke, for
being proud herself, she respected
the pride of others.
Forgive me, Duke. What shall |
give you to show how grateful l
amp and she began to detach the
heavy gold chain she wore at her
girdle. He put it back when she Of
fered it.
Give me the bunch of heliotrope
in your hair
She pulled it out and laid 1t in his
hand.
Good by, Duke, I am goiug home;
may not see you again. To-mor-
row l am going away to Wilbraham
to school. Don't you wish you
could go to school?'
That night Mr.. Rutherford called
Duke into his bed chamber, where
he kept his private desk and his mea-
| ger store of books. He took from
an ebony casket ring set with a
diamond orbitone.
There, my son. he said, is the on
| ly thing l have on earth to show
| that noble blood flows in my veins.
That ring belonged to my great
grandfather, the Duke of Somerset,
It cost five thousand dollars. 1t
will bring readily more than half
the sum. bequeath it to YOU
Will you keep it and show the world
that your ancestors were noble-or
He paused and looked eagerly
into the face of tbs boy.
sOr what, father?' Dukes face
was eager, hopeful; already he had
OWNED his fathers meaning.
you love books. l had thought
YOU might desire an education. The
proceeds of that ring will defray
your expenses at school-maybe
through college. But you can keep
it if you choose. Which shall 1t
be?'
.Oh father! knowledge, before
ANYTHING else in the world! What
care if my body starVe, so that my
soul be fed?'
| So it was decided, and fortnight
! afterward Duke left Romney and
entered the Preparatory school at
c.
| Six years passed. Duke had been
six months at college, and was home
on brief vacation.
| Miss Delmaine had just graudated
at a fashionable finishing school and
returned to the Hall, a wondrous.
lly beautiful and accomplished young
lady, followed by train of obsequi
Gus 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
silently in the moonlight, looking
out to the sea. He heard her step
perhaps the thrill at his heart
told him who was coming. The
heliotrope had lain there all these
six wears. He rose and turned to
wards her, waiting her pleasure
She might recognize him or not, JUS
as she chose.
She passed him with a naughty
glance. He did not finch, but stooC
with folded arms--his tall, manly
figure outlined against the purple
sky, his face lit up by the young
moon. A faint flush rose to his
b white forehead.
tItis Duke Rutherford?'
Miss Delmain! Allow me to wei
come you home
She gave him her hand. After all
old memories still held their way il
her heart.
Some secret audacity moved hin
to say it. He bent over her anC
J whispered: & have got the hello
trope, yet, Hortense.'
Her eyes blazed; she snatehed he
hand from his as if his touch Stun
her. Remember to whom you ar
speakingp She said sharply.
Il do remember
: Ghave other business than listen
lug to the silly talk of a love-sicl
boy. So good night
Six years have passed again. Duk
, Rutherford had name in the land
On his graduation he had studie
law, been admitted to the bar in du
time, and after two years. successful
practice his talent had won him tn
appointment of judge for the dis
tFict.
One day, late in November, b
found himself on board an ocea
steamer, bound to New York. h
had been on a business tour to Ell
1rope, and was returning. There wa
a gay party Of ladies and gentlemel
!, : among the passengers, wealthy arls
tocrats who had been doing the woI
| ders of the world.
! The second day of the voyag
7 thew were all On deck at sunset
l nromenading, laughing, chatting