Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-13

ed by his entranee. aud directly after
wards, Duke w4nf cut Three weeks
passed before tleT met again, and then il
was in the old piace on the cliffs, at Rom
ney.
Mrs. Delmafnc = Is dead; HOrtense had
been 20 visit her traYe, and on her re-
turn, sat, for \ ni3nent, on the gray, IA
miliar rock 20 look out on the wintry
sea. Her eyes we're still wet; she had
been weeping over the dead.
Duke found her thus, and seating him
self beside her, drew her head down on
his shoulder.
''HOrtense," (" lie said, s'T love you.
defy your eontsmpt- l dare repeat it TO
you. l love yoE-
For moment, it seemed to him that
she clung to hiu. then cHst him away,
and rose 10 her feet. And when she
spoke, her voice vas cold and unmOved.
''On New Years eve, am to be married
to Eugene Trevanen." l
Duke started eT,-seemed about to make
some impetuous speech, checked himself,
bowed, and left her. PaE
And she threw herself down where he
had stood, meaniBg out-''O, pride
pridei it will Be ms deathl''
les the last day of the old
year.
Duke fs.stherI5rl, a stern and gloomy
man sas abeatfl bid adieu to his native
ilad. ~ lopg $685. sz-al-s...
He did not wish - breathe the air OK
the same continent with HOrtense, and
she the wife of another, People are diff
ferent, you know. Some keep their dis
appointments ever at heart, others put
them eternally out of their reach, in the
past. Duke wished TO free himself from
memory. He had destroyed everything
but the heliotrOpe, and even that should
be sacrificed, he said, when the ocean
rolled between it and the soil which had
nourished it!
1t was dark, moOnless night, with
prophecies of snow in the air. He shut
the door of the cottage where his father
had died, and went out for a walk He
avoided the path to the cliffs he had clos
ed his heart to all dreams of tenderness.
Almost unconsciOusly, he turned his
steps toward Delmaine Hall. 1t rose up,
a gloomy, massive pile, lighted only by
the red fiFelight, at single window
Tomorrow night, it would blaze with
the lamps lit to shine upon her bridal.
He paused to turn back, but something
led him on. Through the deserted gar
dens, up to the broad door, which stood
aiar. 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 mad seen the Hgut, anu pcsned
it softly open. He saw no one. Still he
went on, and sat down i'm great lOung-
ing chair before the warm blaze.
Some one rose up from sofa at the.
other end of the fireplace. He started
up, an apology on his lips, for his auda-
ciOus intrusion. She-it was HOrtense-
clad, not in bridal robes, bat in sable
vestments, and destitute of ornament,
came towards him, looked up into his
eyes, and let her white hands rest upon
his shoulders. ''Duke,'' she said, at last,
her eyelids dropping, her cheeks Grim
son, "have offended past forgiveness 81
He did not answer. Only looked at
her. She went OH persistently. 81 will
let the truth speak, Duke Rutherford
love you'll have loved you all along!
But pride came nigh to being my ruin :
Thank God atylast, l have clean hands
and pure heart! 1 have dismissed Eu-
gene Trevan0n, and true to myself, true
to YOU, 1 cast aside all wOmanly modesty
and shame, and tell you that l love yOup'
'HOrtense," he said, sis this thing
true? Are you done with that MANI"
II have done with him." she said,
softly.
He gathered her into his arms Sand
whose are you nOw:'
"Yours, if you will take me-"
And Duke Rutherford forgot his ami
mostly to America, and did not sail for
Europe, which was sensible.