The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-03

had taken place, he found her now lying
cold and still in death.
Long the doctor stood and looked at the
changed face, at the half-open, blank
dark eyes, which now smiled scorn-
fully no more. At last this
checkered life-a life whose dusky
shadows none could know-had ended,
like her twin-sister's, in q violent and
sudden death. She had been struck on
the head by some heavy instrument and
her skull was broken, and the splinters
had pierced her BRAIN The weapon with
which the cruel deed had been COM
mitted was not difficult to find. On an
old iron poker in the fender there was a
bloodstain, to which adhered some coarse
dark hair. The man she had brought to
confirm her story true or false) had
murdered her, probably in rage at her
breaking down in her evidence, and then
had disappeared, carrying Biddulph's
check with him, which, however, was
never cashed, nor the murderer ever
found.
1t was a dark end to a dark life, and
with sigh the doctor turned away, going
out into the night with some very solemn
feelings in his heart. Then he looked at
his watch, and a kindly smile stole over
MS rugged features.
"It's unco' late" he muttered; "still I'll
game to Rossmore, and tell the bonnie
lassie the news; she may as well sleep
WI light heart as heavy one.
And when Nora heard-heard there
was nothing now at least to part her from
one whom she loved so weli-like fool
ish woman, she broke down, and for a few
minutes could not keep back her tears.
'Nay, We must ma greet, said the doc
tor, patting her on the shoulder, as if she
were child, with his big hand. We'll
ha' a wedding after a now, and I'll dance
reel at it myself if ha' leg to stano
onW
Doctor" said Nora, pleadingly, looking
up at the face of her old friend with her
dark eyes, "would you mind-its shame
to ask you when it is so late-still, would
you mind going tonight to Dunbaan, to
tell him?"
"Weel," answered the doctor, with a
little comieal shrug, al II be ma doot vera
welcome, SO I'll just game"
And though the hour was late, and the
night dark, the kindly man crossed the
lOch with the tidings that were to give the
gloomy owner of Dunbaan relief too great
for words. Biddulph was standing smoking
on the terrace before his house, with
folded arms and restless, miserable
heart, when the tall form of the doctor
emerged from the mist and approached
him.
"Weel, Mr.. Biddulph, I've brought a
message for We" he began.
"A message ?" repeated Biddulph, quick
ly.
DAY, fra the young leedy at Rossmore.
She babe me tell We she'd be pleased to
see We in the morn" Then he told what he
had really gone to tell, and Biddulph
lisened with deep emotion, and in silence
wrung the doctors hand.
This ends all doubt, then" he said a
few moments later. 'Thank God, at last
l am free"
Need we 90 with him on the morrow to
Rossmore, or tell of the meeting which
took place in the shady garden, during
which at first few words were spoken :?
They met, these two, like those meet who
together have escaped some great peril,
and clasped each others hands in silent
JOY. For to both the passing away OF the
tar between them-a bar uncertain,
doubtful, Biddulph ever afterward main
tained-was a release from a haunting
shadow, grief which only could have
ended with the womah's death, whose de-
ceit, or that of her twin sister, had dark
ened Biddulph's life.
And her secret died with her. Whether
the woman that Biddulph had welded long
ago persisted in the Glenn of Balla, or by
the hand of her sO-called friend, remained
among one of those unanswered prob
lens of which human life is so full. The
mysterious likeness between the two sis
tiers made it, in fact, impossible to tell the
end of which doubtful and dishonored life
set Biddulph free.