Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-08-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
A W0MAh'S PRIDE.

TWAS fair sunny day in August. They we're
on the cliffs, fathoms above the sea, at play.
She dark eyed haughty-faced beauty of thir-
teen; he tall stalwart boy year
her junior There was wide difference
in their stations in life. You had
only to note the richness of her silken robes the
coarseness and threadbare scantiness sf his to
feel assured of that. No gentlemans son wore
a blue blouse and tattered cap like Duke Ruth
erford's.
The children were gathering mosses from the
rocks and chatting gayly together forgetful Of
rank and station. They had met of en- thus for
the last six years.
Dukes father WAS day laborer on the estate
OF Hortense Delmaines highbred mother. Their
humble cottage was but little distance from
tho Hall, and the children in search OF amuse-
ment, wandered out often to the cliffs and
whied away sunny afternoons in juvenile eports
Duke gathered for his fair playfellow the bright
est tinted shells. thrown mp from the heart of
the ocean by the stormy pillows !; and, in return,
she brought him musty old books of romance
and chivalry from the great library at tho Hail.
which he read and re-read until his soul was
filed with dreams and aspirations, vague and
sweet and unreal as the visions of an opium
eater.
The Rutherfords had not always been hire
liDgs. Generations back there were titled
noblemen in the family but political dif-
ferences had taken the title out Of the name !;
and early in life, Hugh rutherford, Dukes
father, had emigrated to this country, and
married, soon afterwards, the blooming daugh-
ter of 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.upont he intercourse be-
| fypaa a an ma inn
by the proud lady mother of the young heiress.
II she thought of the matter at all, she trusted
to the inborn pride of her daughter, and to the
cold contempt she had tried 30 faithfully to i'm
bue her with-contempt Of all that was low or
ill-bred. Mrs. Delmaine wond never have
thought of looking for princely heart beneath
the rough jacket of a common laborer's boy.
The sea breeze gave r beautiful bloom to the
cheek of Hortense and the sport she shared
with Duke rounded her limbs and gave grace
and vlgor to her step. Mrs. Delmane read her
favorite novels, entertained her chosen compa-
ny, and reigned queen at the Hall and Hor-
tense enjoyed the wild freedom OF the cliffs.
The young girl was almost reckless in her
daring at times. This afternoon she was in her
most dangerous mood cluster OF purple
flower, growing in a cleft of the rocks below the
surface of the cliffs, attracted her attention.
She sprang towards them. Duke waved her
back.
at is perilous, Miss Delmaine, he said, hu-
riedly. "Look at the black rocks beneath. A
single misstep and"
~ am no coward" she laughed defantly /;
"If you are pale, am not and / am going to
carry these bright things home to mamma
ii Before he could prevent her she had swung
herself over the precipice Z; and resting one foot
on narrow shelf of rock, her left hand clngng
to frail shrub that had taken root in the sparse
earth at the top, with the other she grasped tho
coveted blossoms.
Duke white and rigid, stood above her, look
ing down. She shook tho flowers above her
head. See l dare do what boy trembles
seeing done J"
She stopped hastily in the gay, taunting speech
she WAS making, The treacherous rock under
her feet crumbled and fell-there was only that
little swaying shrub to hold her 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 tho 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 es-
capped, she leaned against him, then turning
coldly away she seated herself on rock.
"Well, she said, haughtily, "You have saved
my life, suppose. What ia it worth? My
mother will"
She stopped abruptly. Dukes face had grown
crimson his lips were compressed she under
stood him, and forebore 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.
"Forgve me, Duke. What shall l give you
to show you how grateful am 2' and she be-
gan to detach the heavy gold chain she wore
at her girdle. He put it back when she offered
"Giye INC tho bunch of heliotropes in your
| hair"
| She pulled it out and laid it in his hand.
'You will throw it away tomorrow when 1t Ii
withered," she said.
1.-THE fragrance will outlast the flower itself.
| The scent will remain when even the ashes OF
the blossoms have perished No, l shall never
| throw it away "
''She tied the blue ribbons of her hat.
"Good-bye, Duke, l am going home. may
| not see you again. Tomorrow ! am going away
! to Wilbraham to school. Don't you wish you
could go to school?"
| How the boys great eyes flashed and what q
| beautiful glow broke through the swart sunbeam
| on his cheek He did not speak, He only turned
away slowly and stood gazing out upon the cold
| gray sea-
| banks of them obscured the western sun, and
from the troubled sea vast masses of drenching
| fog swept up the rocky coast and settled heavily
down on the land.
That night MIR. Rutherford called Duke into
| his bed chamber, where he kept his private desl
and his meagre score Of books. He took from
an ebony casket ring set with diamond oroe
/ tone.
There, my son" he said, sis the only thing
have on earth to show that noble blood flows IL
my voins. That ring belonged to my great
grandfather, the Duke of Somerset, ltcost five
thousand dollars. 1t would bring readily more
than half that sum. l Ipequeath it to you. Will
YOU keep it to show the world that your ances
tors were noblee-cr-" He paused and looked
eagerly into the face Of the boy.
aOr what, father ?" Dukes. face was eager
hopeful already he had half OWNED his father
meaning.
"You love books. had thought you nigh
desire an education. The proceeds of that RIM
will defray your expenses at school-may b'
through college. But you can keep it If yor
choose. Which shall it beP"
"oh, father knowledge before anything
else in this world What care ! if my bod.
starve, 30 that my soul be fed ?"
So it was decided and a fortnight afterwards
Duke left Romney, and entered the preparator.
school at G..
Six years passed. Duke had been Blk month";
in college, and WAS home on brief vacation.
Miss Delmaine had just graduated at fash
ionable finishing school, and returned to- tn
Hall, a wonderfully beautiful and accomplishe
young lady, followed by a train of obsequiou
admirers. ., a.