The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-02
CHAPTER ".
MRS. JOCKS DINNER PARTY.


/ party, was the same James Biddulph who,
! with pale lips and a countenance distorted
( with rage and shame. had stood hacking
/ at the tree in his avenue long after the
/ name, which for him Possessed such hate
! lul recollections, mad been utterly erased
! from the bark
/ Yet it was 50. We change our moods
] like our garments, GTd one day put on our
/ best and another our worst. And il had
! been q bitter day for James Biddulph, yon
1 drearv, misty one. when he had been sud-
/ denly confronted by a past he would fain
! have forgotten, and all tine evil OF his ma
ture had i9r the time held possession OF
! bis soul.
I But his brow was smooth now, and his
! smile as ready as ii no secret weighed
upon his heart. lie had natural grace
] OF manner, and Jock Fraser, whose face
/ by this time had once more renewed its
ordinary proportions, as he advanced to
meet his guest WAS struck las his wife had
beenl by Mr.. Biddulpli's remarkably good
! looks.
"Glad to see you" said the kindly Jock,
wramly shaking his hand. Your poor
uncle was great stranger among us, but
i hope YOU mean to be good neighbor."
You are all very kind to receive me as
YOU do, answered Biddulph, 'and hope
to be a good neighbor,' and he smiled.
You know my WIFE, continued the
master OF the house, in his pleasant way
as Biddulph was shaking hands with Mrs.
Jock and her daughter; and this Is my
/ brother, Alick Fraser, and my boy Mai
/ c0lm"
The uncle and nephew-the cookbook
ing man OF fifty and the handsome Young
man Of tWenty-One-noW both exchanged
bJdn. Alick Fraser liking his keen, oh
1 serving eyes for Il moment ON Biddulph's 5
face.
Glad to make your acquaintance" he
said; and then he looked at Biddulph
again. il struck him he had seen him
before, though at the moment he could
not remember where.
"And do you mean TO take up your
abode amongst us" continued Alick still
cycling the stranger.
"For some months in the year, at all
events, hope" replied Biddulph.
"Ah not a true Scot" said Alick ''The
mists will drive youa away" and he laughed
aloud.
But as he did so there was a little stir at
the door of the room, and Nora Stewart
and her two girl friends, the Lees, ap-
peared. Nora entered first, and the eyes
lowed her. For one thing, she was hand
some: for another she was a landowner,
and little heiress in her way; and this
last consideration, 10 doubt, materially
added to her charms.
"IIow are you, my dear? said Jock
Fraser, kindly shaking her hand
'WCll, young lady, how are You getting
on p asked Alick.
"Nora, how late YOU are" said Malcolm
Fraser, with his blue eyes ii:,od-oH Nora )
face.
Only Mr.. Biddulph said nothing; these
two shook hands in silence, and during
the dinner which followed were placei
far apart Jock Fraser taking i'm Nora and
Mr.. Biddulph Mrs. Jock, and somehow
Nora found il very hard to keep her at
tcntion fixed on the laird's jokes and pleas
ant, homely talk.
''She is fine girl, and the land joins" :"
Alick Fraser sat thinking, as hc ate his
dinner with appetite and satisfaction.
"She isbeautiu," sighed poor Malcolm.
who did not feel as hungry as usual, and
did not see why Miss Maud Lee should
always eXpec- him 10 amuSe her.
And he felt also q strange dislike grow
ing within him 20 the good-l0Oking man
Al the head of the table, who WAS talk
ING 50 agreeably TO his mother with his
llUeut tongue This Young Highlander,
with his stalwart length OF limb and
breadth Of muscle his straight features
and blue eyes and bright. crisp, curling
I chestnut hair. had been on pretty good
terms with himself until the last few
weeks, when Mr.. Bildulph hal arrived 1T
( Dunbaan to disturb his equanimity. But
I now, with that subtle knowledge which
/ comes To rs unsought, which tells us grim
I truths against our vanity, our hopes, Nal
/ coim Fraser knew that this stranger was
| preferred before him. aud that Nora
! Stewart's dark eyes seldom met his owa.
And the young mans natural sunny
/ nature had grown changed. lie had be-
come more silent, sometimes sullcn, and
| only his fOnd mothers eyes guessed the
! cause. She was looking at him now-her
! handsome bOv-and Mrs. Jock gave a lit
| tie sigh, and Mr.. Biddulph heard il, and.
/ glancing at her face, wondered what cross
I this seemingly prosperous, happy woman
| could have on her path of life.
"And you mean to live here?" she said,
/ looking at Biddulph curiOusly, in the in
/ terest OF her son.
How can tell, Mrs. Fraser? We are
driven hther and thither by opposing
! currents lin the stream OF life, amt know
! not where they will land us. Six months
! dep iAlllbddn Nsto btlb u lltIit ~ tlits anu
my poor uncle never entered my mind.
! Now, you see, sit by his hearth stone,
! and his friends have become mine"
Poor man, he sought few friends"
"Net believe for Mr.. Stewart OF Ross
/ more Miss Stewards uncc-he had q
very strong regard
"Rossmorc saved his life, YOU know.
/ Nora showed me the magnificent necklace
lac left her. II was q strange thought oi
! the old man. ! wonder where he cot it?
! Perhaps there Is some romance connected
/ with it," And Mrs. Fraser laughed.
81 believe In every mans lie, who j.
worthy OF thename, there is some romance.
| J sometimes think, as sit alone ut Dun
! baan, OF tine grim old colonel, shut away
/ there, rs il were. from communion with
his kind No doubt lac had his romance
some lost love--to keep'conlpany with his
memory in his lonely hours"
"And YOU must find II lonely, Mr.. Bid
/ dulph ~
"luaway; but am used to being alone,
and ann writing book"
Indeed! This is interesting. May |
/ ask what sort of book 2'
"On men and manners, answered Bid
| dulph, with laugh. at serves to amuse
me. ii il will not amuse the world"
81 expect you will put us al in. What
/ do YOU say, now, TO my br0ther.in-laW
Alick Fraser for good character"
Biddulph turned his gray eyes in the
direction Of Alick Frazer, and looked for
n moment or two steadily i'm his face.