Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-05-16
DOROTHY PREsToN's PRIDE.
Oh, Yes.
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some people, and then there are Others
whom it fits with the appropriateness
of a natural garment.
Among the latter class the Preston
family might have been Justly placed,
and as an exponent of uncompromis,
ing, stately pride, one might have
cited the only daughter, Dorothy
And why should she not have been
proud? She was Young and beautiful
and wealthy, and knew that there
coursed through her veins some Of the
bluest blood of the Old Dominion.
The men, self-complacent and con-
ceited as they are ever reported to be-
said that they felt like manikins in
her presence. And the women-well
she was too good and pure for them tc
hate and too proud and distant fol
them to- love, for, say what YOU will
we NAV reverence, but we can never
really love a being who Is greatly
above us. 1t is selfish but it's human
So the women contented themselves
with loving her a little, envying her a
great deal and copying her very much.
But the men loved her, proposed to
her, were rejected and grew desperate
There never was a social function but
that she had her coterie Of admirers
about her, each anxious for word ol
a smile, and always in that number
might be found the handsome and
strong, but hopeless, face Of Ned CuI-
bertson. A man of brilliant intellect
ual attainments, society was kind to
him on account of his talents. His
character, his manners, his social po-
sition was above reproach. But when
that's said alTs said. For, as the
world looks at it, Ned Culbertson was
a poor man. OF course he had a pro-
fession, and there was an income from
that. But in the circles in which he
moved the yearly earnings Of even SO
excellent an architect as himself were
hardly a very weighty matrimonial
consideration.
But the heart knows no distinctions
of wealth or condition, and it soon
became an open secret, a secret shared
by all the immediate circle who knew
the two, that Ned Culbertson had pre-
sumed to fall in love with Dorothy
Preston. 1t caused no extraordinary
comment, for society recognized the
right which every man has to be fool
if he chooses, and then there were SC
many others in exactly the same posi-
ton.
But despite his fine qualities, Cul-
bertson was a very modest fellow, and
no word of his love for Dorothy had
ever passed his lips. He was no cox
comb, and though he was conscious Of
his ability to hold his own among the
men, he saw in himself no quality tc
attract women. So when the proud
Miss Preston treated him with even
less consideration than she bestowed
on her other admirers, he accepted ii
all as only what was due him and went
his way in silence.
Meanwhile, Dorothy Preston chated
and groaned in spirit under the stln9
of wounded pride. She refused to SET
what was patent to everyone else
that Ned Culbertson loved her-anc
only knew that she had, after a strug
gle, given her heart to man who hac
never spoken an atfectiOnate word t
her.
1t was after a ball one night tha
her position first came 50 stongly hom'
to her mind. She had long tried t
deny to herself this passion of he.
heart, but now it rose a strong, tul
blown love and clamored to be heard
She clasped her hands and, with flushed
face, admitted to herself that she love(
Ned Culbertson.
"Shame, shame upon me J! she crled
81 love him and he has never glvel
me a word-and they call me proud
too" Her lips curled and she nal
laughed.
| "Well, will be proud. i will b