Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-13
the ashes of the blossoms have perished


/ She tied the blue ribbons OF her hat.
Goodbye, Duke, am going home
I 1 may not see you again. Tomorrow
/ am going away To Wilbraham TO school.
/ Don't you wish you could go 10 school! -
How the boys great dark eyes flashed
! and what beautiful glow broke through
| the swart sunbeam on his cheek. lie did
! not speak. He only turned away slowly,
and stood gazing out upon the cold gray
The day was setting in steel-blue
/ clouds, great banks of them Obscured the
\ westering sun, and from the troubled sea
| vast masses Of drenching fog swept up
I the rocky coast and settled heavily down
/ on the land.
That night Mr.. Rutherford called Duke
/ into his bed-ehamber, where he kept his
/ private desk and his meagre stock Of
| books. He took from an ebony casket a
l ring set with a diamond oTbitOns.
There, my son, he said, sis the only
/ thing have on earth to show that noble
| bloed flows in my veins. That ring be-
/ lOnged to my great grandfather, the
| Duke of Somerset. It cost five thousand
dollars. 1t will bring readily more than
half that sum. / bequeath il TO yOu.-
I Will yOu keep Ito show the world that
/ your ancestors we're nobles-Sr-'' He
paused and looked eagerly into the faee
I of the boy
/ eager, hopeful; already he had half di-
vined his fathers meaning.
"YOu love books. / 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
/ it be 20
''Oh, father! knowledge before any
! thing else in this world! What care l If
hnf cfa ma m - no
\ So it was decided, and fortnight af-
terwards Duke left ROmney and entered
the preparatory school at c..
Six years passed. Duke had been six
months in college, and was home on a
brief vacation.
Miss Delmaine had just graduated at Il
fashionable finishing school, and return
ell to the Hall, a wonderfully beautiful
and accomplished young lady, followed
by train of ObsequiOus 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, looking out to the sea. He heard
her step-perhaps the thrill at his heart
told him who was coming The hello
tTOpe had lain there all these six years.
He rose and turned towards 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 a
gainst the purple sky, his face lit up by
the young moon. A faint flush rose to
her white forehead.
''Is it Duke RutherfOTd?''
miss Delmaine! Allow me to well
come you home"
She gave him her hand. After all, old
To-
heart.
Some secret audacity moved him to say
1t. He bent over her and whispered
Il have the heliOtrOPe yet, HOrtense.'
Her eyes blazed; she snatched her
hand from his as If his touch stung her
Remember to whom you are speaking!'
she said, sharply.
''I do remember"
81 have other business than listening
to the silly talk of 4 lOve-sick boy. So,
goodnight"
Duke Struck his breast as she fastened
away.
'',i'he time may come" he muttered,
eyes, it may happen that she will be
glad to unSay those wOrdsi can wait!'
Six years passed again. Duke Ruth
erfOrd had a name in the land. On his
graduation he had studied law, been adj
mitted TO the bar in due time, aad after
two years successful practice his talent
had won him the appointment Of judge
for the district.
Wealth came to him slowly, but fame
was not chary. Already he ranked high
as poet in his own country, and critics
across the sea were beginning to speak of
him with favor. His father was dead
There was no tie, save memory, to bind
him TO the old place at ROmney. So he
travelled, when he could do so with BEN
eft. N
One day, late in November, he found
himself on board an ocean steamer, bound
to New York. He had been on 4 bust
ness tour TO Europe, and was returning
home. There was a gay party of ladies
and gentlemen among the passengers,
wealthy aristOerats, who had been 'sdO-
ing" the wonders of the old land.
The second day of the voyage they were
all on deck at sunset-prOmenading
laughing, chatting-enjOying the fresh
breezes. Duke was there also. He met
Hortense Delmaine face to face-a proud,
Seautiful woman now. Her youth had
not made false prophecies 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 con-
fess that she had not worn undeserved
laurels. LeA
Her wealth of dark hair rippled away
from her broad white forehead, aud was
gathered into massive coil at the back
of her head; her eyes were deep and
fathomiess as some woodland spring in
tO which the sunshine never looks; her
lips red ripe, perfect; her whole air and
bearing full of naughty grace.
She was leaning ON the arm of a tail,
nish-looking man but, Though she
smiled at his soft nothings, she was gaz-
ing out, over and beyond him and his
range of thought, to the sea stretching
so darkly blue and boundless to meet the
twilight glory.
Duke Rutherford stopped before her
just as she disensaged herself from her
companion.
''It is the same old ocean upon which
we used to look from the cliffs, Miss Del
maine,' he said, quietly.
She was leaning over the side of the
vessel, looking down at the water. She
lifted her eyes, shuddered slightly, and
drew up her shawl. Duke assisted her.
MIR. Rutherford, you turn up once in
six years, it seems"
He smiled to himself. So she remem-
bered how long it was since she had sc II
him.
''lt IS like going back to my lost boy
hood to see you, Miss Delmaine. -"
He did not finish the sentence. Her
late companion approached her, and
drew her arm within his. She mention
''Mr. TreYanOn, Mr.. Rutherford -
They bowed coldly. They would new
er be any better acquainted. There was
nothing in their natures which would as
simulate.
Afterwards, Miss Delmaine 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.
he a ~ ff,C m n 81
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 4 lee shore, and parted
A little moment TO realize the dreaded
| horror of their situation, only, was left
those on board. Miss Delmaine, pale.
but calm, was holding the arm of Mr..
| TreyanoH; her friends, Shrieking and
terrified, stood near. She was not look
ing at the threatened destruction before
her, but over her shoulder With a hun
CRY, wistful something IN her ewes, as if
she forgot what she saw not. The eX-
preston died out as Duke Rutherford ap-
peeTed; for an instant their eyes metl
Then the ship lurched violently
there was duil plunge, wild shrek of
agony, and the water Swarmed with
struggling human beings, The world
had grown dark to HOrtense, but shs felt
herself borne up by some power beyond
her own strength-upward and onward
through the billOws, till her feet touch
ed the firm shore of the cape. Then, in
10 the light and warmth of a fishers cot
tage, and when they had laid her down
on the rude settle she opened her eyes,
and saw-Duke Rutherford.
''You saved mes'' she asked.
81 had that honor"