The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-12-06

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himself beside her, drew her head down
on his shoulder.
Lucy" he said, "I love you. defy
your contempt. dare repeat it to you.
l love you'll"
For moment it seemed to him that
she chung to him, then cast him away,
and rose to her feet. And when she
spoke her voice was cold and unmoyed.
"On New Years eve am to be married
to Sir George Trevor"
Duke started up-seemed about to
mako some impetuous speech, checked
himself, and left her.
! And she threw herself down where he
mad stood, moaning out: "Oh, pride
pride! It will be my death"
1t was the last day of the old year.
Duke Rutherford. a stern and gloomy
man, was about to bid adieu to his ma
tive land for long season.
He did not wish to breathe the air Of
the same country with Lucy, and she
the wife of another. People are differ
ent, you know. Some keep their disap
pointments ever at heart, others put
them eternally out of reach, in the pa. t.
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 that had
nourished it.
it was dark, moonless night, with
prophecies of snow in the air. He shut
the door of the cottage where his ia. her
had led, and went out for a walk. He
avoided the path to the cliffs: he had
closed his heart to all dreams of tender
mesa.
Almost unconsciously he turned his
steps toward Delamere Hall. It rose up
a gloomy, massive pile, lighted only by
the red freight at single window.
Tomorrow night it would blaze with
the lamps lit to shine upon her bridal.
He paused to turn back, bat some
thing led him on-through the deserted
gardens, up to the broad door, which
stood njar. All was quiet. The guests
hal retired for the night. Only few
tardy servants were up-it would do no
harm to glance within,
He stepped to the door of the room
where he had seen the light, and pushed
1t softly open. He saw no one. Still
he went on, and sat down in O great
lounging chair before the warm blaze.
For moment, he said to himself, he
would sit in the chair she had recently
occupied; gaze into the dying embers
She too had gazed into.
Some one rose from a sofa at the other
end of the room. He started up, an
apology on his lips, for his audacious
intrusion. Shc-it was Lucy-clad, not
IN bridal robes, but in sable vestments,
AMI destitute of ornament, came toward
him, looked up into his eyes, and let
her white hands rest upon his shoul-
dera. "Duke," she said, at last, her eye
lids dropping, her cheeks crimson,
"have offended past forgiveness 2"
He did not answer; only looked Mt
her. She went ON persistently: "I
will let the truth speak. Duke; I love
you have loved you all along But
pride came nigh to being my ruinl
Thank God at last have clean hands
and pure heart have dismissed Sir
George Trevor, and true to myself, true
to you, l cast aside all womanly modesty
and shame and tell you that love you"
"Lucy," he said, sis this thing true2
Is all at an end between you and that
MANI"
"All-all," she whispered, softly.
Forever"
Duke Rutherford pressed her more
closely to him, and left his first warm
kiss upoa her lips. She had found her
haven at last. Love, as it ever should,
had conquered pride.
He gathered her into his arms. "And
whose are you now?"
Yours, if You will take me-"
And Duke Rutherford forgot his ami
mostly to England, and did not go
abroad.