The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05

ferings.
"They have fought" Nora had told her.
self again and again during the night,
"and James also is wounded, though he
has tried 10 spare me"
This idea filled Nora's heart with a
strange yearning to look once more upon
mis- face But she did not admit even to
herself that she wished to 60 to New
York to see Biddulph. 1t was poor Nal
colm," whose hand she hoped to clasp
once more before he died, that would
take her there, she told herself; and she
determined to go if Mr.. and Mrs. Fraser
went.
"Come up to Jeanie, now," said Jock,
moment later; and he led the way to his
wife's room.
Nora had been prepared to find Mrs.
Jock in bitter distress, but was scarcely
prepared for the mournful sight that noY
met her gaze. Mrs Jock, dressed in
white dressing-gown, with her fair griZzled
hair pushed back disorderly from her
brow, and her blue eyes fixed, wide-open,
staring rs it were into distance, was pacing
up and down her bed room like a woman
bereft of reason. And as her husband
and Nora entered. she stopped abruptly,
and at once addressed Nora.
"Have you brought it7" she said, her
haggard face flushing for moment as If
with intense indignation. "Have you
brought the letter from the man who has
killed my SOM"
"Hush, Jeanie! do not talk thus" said
Jock Fraser, soothingly.
"Is the truth never to be spoken ?"
answered Mrs Fraser, passionately, mora
Stewart knows it is true, and you know it
is true! Biddulph has murdered my boy
murdered my boy" And she wrung
her hands together, and then fell upon
the bed in paroxysm, very agony OF
grief.
ooh, dear Jeanie, do not give way thus"
said Nora, going up to her and laying her
hand on her shoulder.
But Mrs. Jock started, and pushed
away Nora's hand as if the touch had
stung her.
"Dont come near me-" she said, "for it
is all through yon! For love of this man
you first broke Malcom's heart, and now
you have killed him between you"
'Tou are unjust, Jeanie, and forget
what Nora did for poor Malcolm" said
Jock Fraser.
"What she did for himp' cried the
wretched mother, turning round and fac
ing her husband. eyes, I'll tell you
what she did She taught him to love
her, encouraged him to love her, till this
man came, and then she turned away.
Don't try to deceive me with soft words
any longer" continued the unhappy
woman, beginning once more her restless
pacings; "this is the truth, and now the
end has comet
MALCOLM may get well, Jeanie," said
Nora, gently,
''he shall have his mother at least be-
side him; ne has his mother still" and
Mrs. Jock clasped her hands together.
"Jock, get things ready; we must start at
once, you know-we must net lose an
hour"
1--WE can't start while you are in such a
state, Jeanie; try to ocompose yourself, my
dear" said Jock Fraser.
'How can II" she answered, "when l
think" And again she wrung her
hands convulsively together and looked
wildly up in her husbands face. But
when she met Jocks sad brown eyes, and
read the unspoken grief there, her mood
suddenly changed.
"Forgive me- she said and went up to
him, and clung to his arm. Forgive me,
Jock; but am only weak woman, you
know, and-and l loved him so, our one
boy, our darling son."
ayes, dear; but grief should not make
YOU unjust, answered Jock, gently kiss
ing his wife's cheeks. "See how you are
distressing poor Nora, who has been so
kind to our poor children"
Morals tears were now flowing fast, and
Mrs. Jock, seeing this, and moved per-
haps by her husband words, held out her
hand.
Don't mind me, Nora; 1 don't know
what I'm doing or saving, think. IL
may be unjust, as Jock says; but"
"Only try to take comfort, Jeanie and
- .I. -. h.
hand extended to her. ''In his letter, Mr.
Biddulph says you may depend upon him
taking the greatest care of Malcolm, and
am sure he viii do everything for him
that he can"
"AIay l see his letter."
For a moment Nora hesitated, and then
drew Biddulph's letter from the pocket Of
her dress, which Mrs. Fraser eagerly
grasped in her trembling hand. And
strange, as she read she seemed to gain
hope.
ellis spine?" she repeated, quoting the
letter; "but many people recover, and live
for years at least, with injuries to the
spine. We must start at once, Jock; get
to Liverpool to-day"
At this moment DR.. Alexander raped
at the room door, and entered, looking
sadly enough from one parent TO the other,
and silently took Nora's hand.
"Ye've had bad news from the laddie, I
hear, Mrs. Jock ?" he said, with infinite
tenderness Of tone.
"He has had an accident" she answered
eagerly; che has hurt his spine. But peo-
can live with injured spines, can't they,
doctor2"
INA doot; and the laddie's young and
strang Ye must keep up yer heart, Mrs.
Jock"
eve are going to Liverpool to-day, and
from there 10 New York. Wen soon be
there" she said.
"Ye're ma fit TO travel to Liverpool to-
day. Let Jock 60 to Glasgow, and tele-
graph 10 New York to ask ii they've
arrived yet" said the doctor, who had re-
ceived a hint from Jock Fraser about what
be was TO advise. "Miss Nora Stewart
here will stay wi We while Jocks away,
and I'll gi' We draught so that yell ha' a
bit o sleep to frishen yc up for yer
journey"
After some difficulty, Mrs. Jock was per-
suaded to follow this advice. Jock Fraser
started for Glasgow, and telegrsphed from
thence to Biddulph, Fifth-ave. hotel, New
York, and waited in Glasgow until the
reply arrived. II was as follows, so Jock
had some hope to take back to the unhappy
mother at Ardlinn:
Arrived safely at New York. NJ bore
journey better than we expected; is looking
eagerly forward to seeing his parents.
BIDDULPH.
ITO Be continued n>zt lccek)
Tho Doctors stratagem.