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


| long visit.
| Lady Barbara has promised to act chaperone
whenever we shall require one" (she added
/ so do hope Minnie will come to me. VIII
| you, Jock and Minnie have lunch with US here
tomorrow, and then we can decide all our
/ plans, as we propose to start very soon.
Yours atiectonately,
LEoNoRA STEWART.
Nora sent this note over to Airdlinn,
and told the bearer TO wait for an answer.
Alick Fraser had been dining with his
brother and sister-in-law, and Mrs. Jock
| and the two brothers were still sitting at
the table when it was brought in, though
pretty Minnie had retired.
/ Mrs. Jock read it, and then looked at
| her husband.
at is from Nora Stewart" she said,
'and she wishes Minnie to go to London
with her and Lady Barbara Biddulph, the
end OF this week, and she asks Minnie Tor
long visit"
a flush came over Alick Fraser's clear,
fresh face as he listened TO these words,
and a look of pleasure into his brown
| eyes.
'It's very good idea, think" he said
at once, in his decided way.
81 think Minnie would like to go, and
perhaps her company would help to cheer
Nora" said Mrs. Jock.
"Miss Nora won't need cheering long
Jeanie," remarked Alick, cor l shall be
much mistaken. Dye know that Bid
dulph is going to shut up Dunbaan and
leave the county to-nlght-and good rid
dance tool"
Il heard he was going" said Jock
quietly.
LET Minnie go, by all means" con-
tinued Alick. "And as the child will
want some fads and finery, | suppose,
Jeanne, III give you cheque for fifty
pounds to smarter her up a bit, though,
for that matter, she's pretty face OF her
own and doesn't want much dress"
"You are really very kind, Alick," said
! Mrs. Jock, gratefully.
"Don't mention it, my dear. So you had
Gendoyne calling here yesterday, Jock
said2'
eyes, Minnie saw him; but l didn't"
answered Mrs Jock, with sigh.
"Humphl WE'LL settle about her going
| to town with Miss Nora tomorrow. am
/ glad Nora Stewart is showing such good
sense, and not making fool OF herself, as
| some girls would have done; though such
/ a disgusting piece OF business was certain
| ly enough to sicken any woman"
cts a terrible business" said Mrs.
| Jock, with little shiver.
"Pm told" went on Alick, 'that old
| Alexander, though he's very close about
| it, managed TO get biddulph's wife away.
and paid her a heavy sum to 60. Bid
dulph himself would not see hr, so he
sent Alexander. However, the country
sides rid of him at last, for l don't think
Mr.. Biddulph will dare show his face here
! again in hurry"
Alick Fraser could not, indeed, conceal
his citation at the terrible humiliation
| which had befallen the man who had
crossed his own plans in life. He had lis
tened to all the gossip he could hear on
the subject with unfeigned pleasure and
satisfaction. He had even sent for the
doctor, for some fancied ailment or other,
lfbut four3 ''old Alexander" "a he called
I him, very reticent.
"It's an unco' bad business. Mr.. Alick;
and least said is soonest mended, when
there's ma guide to tell" was all he could
draw from the doctors lips.
"Well, Miss Nora Stewart is well rid OF
| him." Aleck had said triumphantly.
cts hard to tell" replied the doctor;
and then he changed the subject, and
Alick felt that he could not very we'll pur-
sue it under the circumstances.
And this invitation to Minnie now
caused him fresh satisfaction. He would
| hear how Nora was going on, through his
| brothers wife, when she was absent, and
he would run up TO town occasionally TO
see ''the girls" he mentally decided, rs he
! crossed the loch from Airdlinn and re-
turned to his stately home.
When he entered the room where he
usually sat, he found a packet lying on
the table, addressed to himself, and a note
in Nora Stewards handwriting. He
| hastily opened the note and read the fol-
lowing lines, with no little excitement:
DEAR Mr.. FRAsER,-I return by the bearer
| of this note the magnificent marriage present
which you so kindly and generously gave me,
as my marriage is unavoidably broken oil
With kind regards,
remain yours sincerely,
LEoNoRA STEWART.
Alick Fraser read these words again
and again, and then he smiled and pro-
ceeded to open the packet and look once
more at his sapphire necklace.
| 1t was really a splendid gift, and he felt
proud of himself for having made it.
! Then he fastened it up again and re-
| directed il 10 Miss Nora Stewart, at Ross
more, and sat down TO indite a letter to
| her, which Nora found awaiting her land
the necklace) when she went downstairs
on the following morning.
DEAR Miss NORA (she read in Alexis clear
i handwriting, Please honor me by accepting a
| gift which was given as small token OF my
regard for you and admiration for your char
/ acter, which no circumstances can change.
was at Airdlinn last night when your kind In
vitatiOn for Minnie arrived which she was de-
| lighted TO accept Ii you are not ashamed to
be seen with a country cousin | shall run up
| 10 town sometimes, when she is with you, and
escort you young ladies to the theaters, or any
| other places of amusement you wish to 20 to !;
| and, with kind regards,
remain, very sincerely yours,
AIIcK FRASER.
Nora thought it was kind OF Alick Fraser
to send the necklace back, and stood look
| ing at the shining stones for a few mo-
ments, and then sighed deeply. She was
recalling the day they were first given to
her, and Biddulph's face as he stood by
her side and admired the gorgeous gems.
How happy she had been! But It's brief
possession TO most of us, drifting down the
stream of life, the rocks and shoals Of
| which we cannot see ahead, this perfect
| Joy. Noras had been but short-lived, but,
while it lasted, all the coming shadows
were hidden from her view.
CHAPTER xxx
A HAUNTING DOUBT.
Jock Fraser, his wife aud Minnie all
| lunched the same day with Nora at Ross
more. Minnie had been delighted to re-
4