The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-01


''Don't break down, for his sake,
my bonny lassie," half whispered the doc
tor, with infinite compassion and tender
ness.
Nora looked from one to the other with
such a pitious expression in her dark eyes,
that an unwonte moisture and softness
stole into Lady Bab's keen gray orbs.
MY dear" she began, little tremu-
lously, smoothing back Nora's hair from
her burning brow, if | were to tell you he
is not worth it, suppose you would not
believe me, so it's nc good my doing so.
But all the same think it, James Bid
dulph ought to be ashamed OF himself, if
he isn't.
ale is Just broken down wi grief, my
leedy," said the doctor, ''and he's ma to
blame"
''On, of course you'll stand up for him
men always do for each other" retorted
LADY Bah: "but | repeat, he ought to be
ashamed of himself to have allowed such
a creature as this ever to have obtained
any power over him."
"Ay, but fra Solomon downwards, my
leedv, what mon is Away proof against a
woman's wiles?" answered the doctor,
who was now engaged in mixing a COM
posing draught for Nora.
thought Solomon ought to be ashamed of
himself too" sharply replied Lady Bah.
''Pray do not bring him upP'
"Weel, but If the wisest mon ~
"Do be quick with that mixture, and
don't stand arguing there" interrupted
Bah. without ceremony. Nov drink
this, my dear, she continued, addressing
Nora, :" and try to get little rest. The
suspense is over now, and let me tell you
James Biddulph has had greater loss
than you have had"
Nora drank what they gave her, and
then leaned her head against Lady Bab's
erect, spare form.
''The woman he had the misfortune tc
marry is alive then, suppose, and her
twin sister was shot, and thus he was de-
ceived? ?" said Lady Bah in her quick way,
now looking at the doctor.
THAT is so, my leedy."
"And there was no mistake? He was
satisfied in his own mind that this was
so?''
'He was fully satisfied"
'Then We don't want to hear any horri1
details. Now, my dear"-and again she
turned to Nora-''lie down on the bed,
and your friend, the doctor here, will
stay by you until / return. It's bad
business, but it might have been worse,
ar1 we must all Try TO make the best o!
it."
Nora did not refuse Lady Barbaras re-
quest. A great bodily weakness seemed
TO come over her, as though the mental
strain had been too great for its frail tene-
ment of CLAY. She rose to her feet at Lady
Barbara's bidding, but sank back again as
if unable to walk. The doctor and Lady
Bah, however, assisted her TO cross the
room, and then Nora lay down on the
bed with deep and weary sigh.
And after Lady Bah had carefully COW
cred her with a rug, she quietly beckoned
TO the doctor to follow her one moment
from the room. When they were outside,
she had word or two TO whisper In his
ear.
"Who is downstairs ?" she asked. 'Is
that Mr.. Fraser therein. Fraser Of
Airdinn ?"
''Yes, my leedy."
"Wiil you, then, ask him to come to
speak to me alone for a few minutes
This wretched story will have to be told,
/ suppose, and as be is relative OF Miss
Stewards, and looks kind man, think
he isthe best person to tell it to-"
There's ma better fellow in the world
than Jock Fraserl Vera weel, then, I'll
send him to We, my leedy."
eyes, do; and when did you leave my
nephew, James Biddulph ?"
Hes at my house in Balla. Don't be
hard on him, Leedy Barbara, for his cross
is almost too heavy for mortal mon to
bear"
'T've no patience" began Lady Bar
bara; and then she remembered the
stricken girl lying inside the room, and
her voice sank into a whisper. "Tell Mr.
Erase to go into the dining-room, and
shall be there, and then you come back
4r - cb pnIIa1 in fha flirapfio n
of the bedroom door-''for she must not
be left alone"
Having thus given her commands
Lady Barbara returned 10 Nora, until the
doctor again knocked at the door, when
she quietly left the room, and, descend.
ing the staircase, made her way to the
dining-roOm TO have her interview with
Jock Fraser.
She found him waiting for her. Jock
was standing with an uneasy look on his
kind face, in the center of the ROOM and
his eyes and Lady Bab's alike involunta-
rily fell on a great white, massive struc.
ture towering on the sideboard.
This was the bridescakc, which had
been unF cked before it had been an
nounced by Lady Barbara at breakfast
time that the wedding had been deferred
at least for the day, and no one had liked
TO interfere and give any orders for its re-
moval. II stood there now, looking
strangely out of place somehow, and Lady
Rab glanced AT il with an impatient sigh
Good morning, Mr.. Fraser" she said
the next moment, exten ding her bOny
hand al little thought when parted
with you last night, 10 be forced this morn.
ing to seek such an interview with you as
this"
They have been saying in the drawing
room that Nora Stewart is too i'll 10 be
married today, Lady Barbara; but hope
it is nothing very seriousp answered the
kindly Jock, with genuine concern ex
press on his honest face.
ats about as serious as IL can well be
that's the truth. Mr.. Fraser, have not
thought much OF the sense of discretion
of your sex all my life, but did not ex
pect to be so utterly ashamed OF one o.
my own relations-at least of a younl
man who bears my name, for, thanh
heaven, he is no blood-relation OF mine
as am feeling to-day"
Jock looked more uneasy still.
SURELY" he began hesitatingly, "Norai
illness has nothing to do with Mr.. Bid
dulph-"
at has everything 10 do with Mr.. Bid
dulph. James Biddulph has caused il by
his insane folly, and pretty story il i
for a respectable woman TO have ~ tell Y
man. However the long and short of i
is that it must be told, and therefore
have sent Tor you. as you are relation o