The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-15

Thank you, dear, so much, she said,
''for asking Minnie"
But it will be great pleasure to me to
have her." answered Nora, with some
emotion, for she knew Mrs. Jock must
naturally be thinking OF other things than
Minnie's visit.
and there is something want to say,
Nora, about my boy," continued Mrs.
Jock, clasping Nora's hand, while tears
rushed into ner blue eyes. DAY and
night l think of him, you know" she
went on; "and want you to send him
this twenty pounds, dear, that l have
saved out of the housekeeping. Don't
tell Uncle Alick this, though Alick has
been very kind lately-since our great
grief-but this is just a little present from
his mother"
Every well, dear Jeannie," said Nora,
whose eyes also grew a little dim. In
truth, it was impossible for any one whose
heart was not cold to look unmoved now
at the faces of Jack Fraser and his wife.
There was always shadow in Jocks kind
eyes, and care and anxiety expressed on
every line of Mrs. Fraser's once iovial
features. One thought, indeed, was ever
present in her mind-her sons danger
and sad days and sleepless nights soon
write their story.
"And have brought letter for you TO
send to him, Nora. / dare not post them
here, of course; but when you get to town
can write often to him, can't II shall
send them under cover to you, not Min
ME, on account of the name; and God
bless you, my dear, for being kind to
him!"
"0f course shall do anything for him
that 1 can"
And, Nora, want to say also" said
Mrs. Jock, with little hesitation, chow
how much have felt for you during this
dreadful"
'Please, Jeanne, do not mention it," in
terrupted Nora, quietly but firmly, though
sudden flush passed over her pale face.
Il wish it never to be mentioned to me at
all-and will you tell Minnie this-let it
be as if it had never been2"
''She is brave girl" Jock Fraser told
his wife, " hen Mrs. Jock repeated this
conversation to her husband on their way
home,
"And yet can tell by her face how
swered Mrs. Jock, "Alick thinks she
will soon get over this; but she won't"
''She is behaving splendidly, at all
events; and like that old dame, and pity
Biddulph from the bottom OF my heart.
But Mrs, Jock, with the unreasonable
ness of loving woman, could never quite
forgive Biddulp, since indirectly through
him all this misery had fallen on her be-
loved son. She had been secretly jealous
OF, and had grudged him his happiness
with Nora. when no shadow seemed TO
lie between their lives. And now, though
she grieved for Morals pain, it must be adj
mitted she did not regret her engagement
was broken of.
'He is good-looking, clever man, she
said to Jock; but, TO my mind, the whole
thing is too absolutely revolving. A man
has no right 70 marry a woman and for
sake her. as Mr.. Biddulph confessedly did.
IL he had been true, oreven an ordinary
husband, our boy would not have been in
exile now"
you are prejudicedwoman, Jennie !"
answered Jock, with a smile; but the next
moment he sighed and turned his head
away. He, too, knew that Riddulph had
cost them all very dear; how dear, the
poor laird never talked of, even TO his
wife.
In the meantime, the unhappy man
whose misiOrtunes had become strangely
mixed with those OF the family at Arid
linn, was passing through one OF those
dark phases of life when we ask ourselves
in bitterness, Why were we born?
Biddulph could not bow to the rod, nor
accept the terrible punishment which his
own early fault had brought down upon
his head. He saw his life blasted, he be-
lie Jed unjustly, ana their was anger as
we'll as grief in his heart. And strange,
though he had expressed no doubt at the
time, that suggestion of Lady Barbara's
that there might still be some Uncertainty
about the identity OF his wife required
again and again to his mind. 1t came
like the whispering OF an evil spirit tempt
ing him. The woman had said few
words in his ear that none but Natalie
could know, self-argued Biddulph. "But," "
suggested the knocking voice that would
not be gainsaid, Ito such women nothing
is sacred these twin sisters might have
no secrets"
He tried to force himself not to enter
tain this idea, but tried in vain. IL came
again and again, clothed in different
words, but the essence was the same. 1t
unsettled him, and made him yet more
impatient of what he deemed an unjust
fate. And he was in this condition of
mind when he received n note from his
aunt, Lady Barbara, to tell him that Nora,
Minnie Stewart and herself were TO arrive
in town on an evening she named.
Lady Barbara had thought it proper to
WTlOc ILLS % buatO DluuulpA ullkuL lcdNc
England before he had any chance of see
ing Nora again. But he he did not do
this. He went TO Kingscross station at
the time when the train from the North
was expected to arrive, on the night Lady
Barbara had mentioned, and he fingered
there until it came in.
And he saw Nora again. Shrinking
back in the shadow, he watched her pale
face, which, though wearied looking had
a certain serenity of expression which his
now never wore. And he saw her smile,
too, and put her arm through Minnie
Fraser's, while Palmer and Alfred were
claiming the luggage, and his aunt was
personally inspecting the safety of her
own.
He stood there, looking at the woman
nearest to his heart, cut off from her by a
tie OF which there was still doubt That
familiar spirit Of his told him this very
distinctly in the busy station, and urged
LIES happiness on bubble of honor
He made a step forward. Should he
speak to her, feel her little hand in his
for one brief moment? Again Nora
smiled, and Biddulph resisted the tempta-
ton.
"Why disturb her peace, he thought
half bitterly; 'why fill her heart with the
burning, unsatisfied questions that are
distracting mine?"
But later during the same evening, he
called on Lady Barbara, who lived in one
OF the small streets leading out of Park
Lane. He found that lady sitting in her
little drawing-room, and when his name