The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05
81 suppose you are jOking2" said Nora,

'I suppose you are joking?" said Nora,
with some gravity.
Indeed, no; never was more in earn
est" answered Glendoyne, stroking his
heavy mustache with his slender hand.
81 still believe you are joking; but il
you are not, / will tell you the truth, Lord
Glendoyne. You know | was very nearly
being married once. and thatit was broken
off through no fault of-Mr. Biddulph, and
l am not one to quickly change"
Nora's voice broke and faltered as she
uttered the last few words, and Glendoyne
was too gentlemanly to pursue the sub
ject.
~ can understand that" he said quiet
ly; and minute later he began to talk OF
something else, and parted with Nora half
an hour after without the slightest change
in his usually langIid manner.
And he continued to 90 to her house the
same as formerly, and Minnie Fraser
never imagined for moment that Glen
doyne had actually thought OF marrying
Nora Stewart Lady Barbara Biddulph,
however, guessed this, for she was a
shrewd wOman,~ but knew also how to
keep her observations to herself.
And she understood that, though Nora
bore herself so bravely before the world,
she was mot one to quickly change"
Lllllt lLluB5 lOlu Delt btld NtA
plainly that NoTa's love for James Bid
dulph had not grown cold during the long
months OF his absence.
Il wish that woman were only dead"
Lady Bah frequently reflected; bnt she
did not say this to Nora Stewart. Nora
rarely indeed mentioned Biddulph's name
to his aunt; she thought OF him too much
TO make him the subject OF commonplace
words.
And she began to grow exceedingly un-
easy at not hearing from him as time went
on. and also at receiving no letter from
Malcolm Fraser She had sent Malcolm
some money which Alick Fraser had given
her to forward to him, and no acknowl-
edgment oi this had arrived from him.
And about the middle of June Mrs Jock
Fraser wrote to Nora, anxiousiy to inquire
when she had last heard from Malcolm.
The last letter she had received was the
one written after the news that her mar
riage was broken of had reached Malcolm,
and to Nora's answer to this Malcolm had
vouchsafcd no reply.
Nora was Obliged to tell Mrs. Jock this,
but added that she expected every day to
hear from him. But days passed away,
and no letter came, and before the end OF
June Nora determined to return to Scot
land.
One reason for this decision was to
escape a prolonged visit from Mrs. Con-
wayHope. Though this lady had left
Rossmore in rage, she did not actually
mean to quarrel with Nora. She had
written twice during the season to offer
TO stay "a few days" at Nora's house, but
/ Nora had replied she had no spare room
at present. and Mrs. Conway-HOpe had
found it impossible 10 60. When she
heard, however, that Miss Gust had lett
an additional fortune to Nora, Mrs. Con-
way-Hope determined no longer to be re-
fused.
Nora received letter one morning, ask
ling if she might arrive on the following
day, as she was passing through town
and hated hotels" "If, my dear Nora, /
receive no answer to this, l shall expect l
shall be welcome" read Nora with con-
sternation, land shall hope to see you
about II on Thursday"
Nora received this letter actually at half
past y o'clock on Thursday. 1t was
dated two days back, but as Nora sprang
up to send a telegram to stop her, cab
drove up to the door, and "Cousin Marga-
ret" herself appeared, in her limp black,
an, three minutes later was embracing
Nora.
"Yor would get my letter yesterday" /"
she said as she pressed her gray-tinted
visage against Noras face. "Well, my
dear Nora, how are you? You are not
looking very we'll, but what could we ex-
pect ?" and Mrs. Conway-Hope sighed.
~ am fairly WELL" answered Nora,
quickly; "and hope you are well p
IL am fairly well also, though | must
say / have felt very m ch hurt not TO be
remembered in the will of Bessie Gust.
| cannot understand it; / am her own
cousin, and never neglected to send her
a Christmas card, and even an Easter one,
and wrote to her regularly. and natur-
ally expected some little acknowledge
ment OF all these attentions. l under
stand you have received a considerable
sum ?"
Fifteen thousand pounds" laughed
Nora, "and | never paid her any little at
tentions."
"She was a most eccentric person and
exceedingly disagreeable, and set up 10 be
so religious too, though l must say never
saw any practical results OF her piety."
"Poor old lady! we ought to let her rest
now"
But you can understand, Nora, I am
sure that naturally feel a little indig-
nant. think people ought to remember
/ their relations when they are making their
wills"
/ "But Aunt Bessie did, you know"
81 at least have no reason TO feel any re-
/ spect for her memory" said Mrs. Conway
/ Hope, severely; and Nora soon found that
/ the grievance OF Miss Gusts will was a
/ very bitter one.
Il made Mrs Conway-Hope more sour
/ even than usual, and was for ever ranking
/ in her mind. Even poor Minnie Fraser
| did not escape passing stab.
/ land how is your poor mother, Miss
Fraser?" asked Mrs. Conway-Hope, with
a meaning sigh.
''She is very well, thank you," answered
/ Minnie, blushing scarlet,
! "Ahl il was very sad" said Mrs. Con-
! way-Hope, shaking her head and Minnie
naturally felt this allusion to her unfortu-
nate brother very deeply.
"And that dreadful woman, Lady Bar
/ bara Biddulph trust, my dear Nora,
that you see nothing now of herr"
81 frequently see her." replied Nora,
with heightened color; Lady Barbara is a
great favorite Of mine"
Mrs. Conway-Hope raised her eyebrows
and her shoulders with an expression as
much as TO say that words would be poor
TO declare her feelings on the subject. In
| fact. she was so disagreeable all round,
that Nora confessed to Minnie Fraser, be-
fore the first day OF her visit was over,
that she really could not stand ii.
Set us leave town the day after to-
morrow, Minnie; and il she offers TO 90
| with us to Scotland, shall just simply re-