Year: 1876

ono Pu1ou ~ ouo ahA ihlt' IL LII hiS
hand.


"You will throw it away tomorrow
when it is withored," she laughed.
"No; shall never throw it away"
The day was setting in steel blue
clouds great banks of them obscured
the setting sun. From the troubled sea
vast masses of drenching fog swept up
the rocky coast and s, tiled heavily down
or the land.


That night Mr.. Rutherford called
Duke into his bedchamber, where he
kept his private desk and his meager
store of books. He took from an ebony
casket ring set with large diamonds.
"There, my son." he said, "this is
the only thing have on earth to show
that noble blood flows in our veins
That ring belonged to my great-grand-
father, the Duke of Someton. It cost
s1 900. It will bring readily more than
half that sum. I give it to you. Will You
keep it to show the world that your an
cestors were nobles-or"- He paused
and looked into the face of the boy.
"Or what, father2" Dukes face was
eager, hopeful; already he had half
OWNED his fathers meaning.
"You love books, Duke. I had
thought you might desire an education.
TIE proceeds of that ring will defray
your expenses at school-maybe help
you through college. But you can keep
it if you choose. Which shall it be -


I" Father knowledge before anything
else in the world What care I if my
body starve, so that my mind be fed I"


80 it was decided. A fortnight after
ward Duke had left Romney and en-
te' cd the renowned school at @.
n,,1r L.
years at college and was at home on a
brief vacation.


Miss Delamere had completed her
education and come "out"a wonder
fully beautiful and accomplished yourg
lady, followed by train of obsequious
admirers.


On still July night she stole away
from the revelry at the Hall and went,
as Of old, to the cliffs ; to the very sr OF
W. ere Duke Rutherford had saved her
life. Chance had taken him that night
to the same spot. He was sitting silent
ip the moonlight, looking out at the sea.
thinking of that bygone day when she
hal given him the heliotrope for
keepsake. All these six years the
heliotrope had been kept by him as his
greatest treasure. Her image had been
ever present to him, squirting him on to
exertions in his duties, making every
fir sh victory, every upward step, q
triumph for her FAKE. And yet he never
asked himself why this was or what it
wonld end in. It was so and he could
not help it. But he felt that to aspire
eventually to tho hand of Lucy Della
mere, the richest heiress in the county.
the daughter of one of the proudest
women in England, was az hopeless al
aim rs an attempt to grasp an ignis-
fdtnus.


He heard her step-perhaps the thrill
at his heart told him who was coming.
He rose and turned toward her, waiting
her pleasure. She might recognize him
or not, ju as she chose.


She passed with a naughty glance.
He did not finch but stood with folded
arms, his tall, manly figure outlined
against the purple sky, his face lit up
by the young moon. A faint flush rose
to her white forehead.


"Isit Duke Rutherford 2"


"M Miss Delamere Will yon not well
cone me home9"


She gave him her hand After all,
OH memories held still their sway in
her heart.


Some secret audacity moved him to
say it. He bent over her and whispered:
=" / have the heliotrope yet, Lucy. "


Her eyes blazed she snatched her
band from him as if the touch had stung
her. Remember to whom You are
sp|aking!' she said, sharply. II have
other business than listening to the
silly talk of lovesick boy | Good night
to you, Mr.. Duke Rutherford"


Duke gazed after her as she hastened
away.


"The time may come," he muttered.
".yes, it may happen that she will be
glad to unsay those words I can
wait"


Six years passed again. Duke Ruth
erford was making name in the land.
On his graduation he had studied law,
been admitted to the bar in due time.
and after two years was in successful
practice, one OF the most rising men in
his profession.
WAS not chary. He had turned his at
tention and his leisure moments TO
literature, and already ranked high as a
poet. 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 benefit.


he frequently met Lucy Delamere in
the gay world. Their old familiar foot
ing OF early days had given place to a
colder and more distant acquaintance
ship. He could not forget the hint he
had whispered to her respecting the
heliotrope that hot July night. Her
pride had taken alarm, yet to him she
was and ever would be the one woman
the world contained. His heart never





sionate allegiance. And she9 What
meant that frequent absence of mind,
that dreamy look in the beautiful eyes.
that constant look Of aadnasa on a.