The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-03
HStraDQemeSsa9e
BY
DORA RUSSELL,
Author OF "FooTPRINTs IN THE Snow
'STHE BROKEN SEAL" ''THE Wears
GovERyEss." "ANyABEL's RIVAL"
DORA RUSSELL
CHAPTER LII.


sense told him, though he had not
admitted this to Nora, that the likeness in
the handwriting OF the two letters was at
least remarkable fact. Yet his ardent
desire TO believe that this woman was not
the Natalie Beranger he had welded years
ago, swept everything before it, and he
went TO DR.. Alexander's determined to be
convinced of nothing else.
The doctor came down in his old plaid
dressing-gown-a somewhat uncouth fig
ure, for he had not shaved, nor yet had
breakfasted-a held out his hand and
took Biddulph's in a warm and friendly
grasp.
'Ye've come about this bad business.
Eli, mon, ye're changedW
1--WE gone through a good deal since
I've seen you, doctor, and have had a very
sharp fight for life"
Miss Leonora Stewart told me of yer
sare trouble, and of yer goodness to the
puir laddie, Malcolm Fraser, whose gat
hame at last Eth, Mr.. Biddulph, it's been
tangled web, all this, and now there
seems no end of it still"
"You know what l have come about
and now doctor | want to hear the exact
truth. Miss Stewart told me last night
that this woman who is here now-who
went TO her and offered, for a certain sum
of money, to admit she was deceiving us
all when she declared she my wife
that day in the kirk, had told or limited
something OF this to you before. Is this
SOP
"Ye mind" answered the doctor,
gravely, "when We declined to give her
the money she wanted, and sent me to
tell her sa, she said she must ha' it; and
then and there she started up, and asked
me how much she thought We wad gi TO
believe you yerseP again free mon"
And why did you not tell me this ?"
asked Biddulph, briefly.
"Mr. Biddulph, I'll answer We as |
answered her. told her we were all puir
weak, erring creatures, prone TO fall, and
thought this offer was tempting We too
far?"
'You might have allowed me to judge
of that"
"Maybe should, but in my puir judg-
rnput-D
''You would have spared me months of
pain if you had done so, interrupted Bid
dulph, as the doctor hesitated.
"How, Mr.. Biddulph? The woman was
living then, as she wad lie now"
she was my wife in the kirk, you will say !;
but she was ready to swear to you then,
and she is ready to swear to me now, that
she is not. Why should you believe one
oath more than the otherY
Truth is a vera subtle thing, Mr.. Bid
dulph. That woman standing there in
the house of God tbSt day had it in her
eyes and on her tongue, to my mind, and
when she make this offer she had not"
"But this is only your own idea. And
have you forgotten that Natalie's wedding
ring-the ring with which married her,
at least-was certainly found on the dead
woman's hand"
LAY; but what about the words she
whispered in yer ear-the words We said
none but she could know?"
A dark flush rose to Biddulph's very
brow.
"They were only some folly" he said
abruptly; "some stupid speech l made
when first placed it on Natalies hand,
which she no doubt had repeated TO her
sister"
"But We did not think this that day in
the kirk"
81 do now, at all events; and l want
you to go to her, and, il you will be so
good, to arrange about the money, and
also about the time when she will make a
solemn declaration-take an oath, in fact
that she is not my wife, before wit
nesses. think Of asking Mr.. Fraser OF
Airdlinn to be present"
But the doctor shook his head.
"I'll ha' naught to do wi it" he said ;
'it's unjust to the young leedy, whose
soul is as white as shaw"
ats unjust TO me that my whole life
should be rendered wretched by false
claimp
"Butis it false ?" said the doctor, fixing
small scrutlnizing eyes on Biddulph' S
dark, agitated face. "Mr. Biddulph,
doesn't a sma' voice within we whisper
that this SMITHS folly OF yer youth, we
may call it-hangs around yer throat
heavy as a millstane still p
al will throw it off, then" said Bid
dulph, finging back his head with pas
sionate gesture; 81 will see this woman if
you will not; and if she will swear on the
bible she is no wife OF mine"
"She wad sell her vera soul" inter
rupted the doctor.
"Let her sell it, thon believe she's a
vile impostress, who traded on her like
ness 10 her dead sister. / wish you good
morning, Dr. Alexander" and, with a
somewhat naughty bow, Biddulph took
up his hat and went away.
Yet scarcely was he gone when his
heart reproached him for being angry with
good man for speaking according to his
conscience. The doctor thought different
" to what Biddulph so earnestly wished !;
but. as he did think so, Biddulph knew
that, for Nora Stewart ssake he was justi-
fed in expressing his opinion. And Bid
dulph's head fell low on his breast as he
slowly walked from the doctors house to
the little inn at Balla. DIR. Alexandra
strong convictions had not tended to make
bis mind easier; il influenced him as hon.
, est, truthful words ever will.
When he reached the small hostelry,
and asked for Madame de Beranger, he
was told she had not yet appeared. Bid
dulph was still so lame that TO walk was n
very great exertion TO him, and he there
fore sat down 10 wait until she was ready
10 receive him. She sent a message that
she would not be long, and presently the
door OF the little parlor opened, and Bid
dulph half started when he saw the
strangely familiar dark face appear.
She smiled a little scornfully, and nod
ded her head as she walked into the
room
$50 you've come to seek me this time p
. she said.
YES" answered Biddulph, still with his
eyes fixed upon her face.
"Well, are you willing to come TO
terms?" went on the woman who called
/. herself Madame de Beranger, yet more
mprnfully. Are you and the young lady
DO are so anxious 10 marry each other
ling to pay down the sum / asked for
luxury2'