The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-02

A llllHh So
II do not suppose he would be offended.
l believe. by the expression of his face, ne
respects his own character and despises
the weakness and folly OF those around
him He has keen head, and not big
/ heart. \ happy man, call him, and
Biddulph laughed softly.
Leonora Stewart, at the other end
of the table heard that laugh, and her
! dark ewes met Biddulph's and she smiled.
"And how do you ike your neighbor,
Nora?" the next moment asked Jock Fra
ser at her side.
''AIr. Biddulph, what | have seen of him
ike very much"
"A remarkably good-looking fellow,
isn't he?'
''I think he is good-looking"
"Ah. ah, Miss Nora" and the kindly
laird shook his head ''yOu only think,
do YOU? | call it suspicious when hand
some young lady speaks with such reserve
! Of handsome young man.
Nora laughed.
You always have your joke, Mr.. Fra
SCI" she said, gOod-naturedly.
That is his joke aboutY' asked Alick
Fraser from the opposite side of the table,
who had been trying 10 hear what his
brother and Nora were talking of.
Never YOU mind. Aick," said Jock,
with twinkle in his merry dark ewes !;
dts about Young man. and so can have
nothing to do with old iogies like you
or ]"
There was a general laugh, in which
Alick joined, though it WAS plain by his
expression he did not like H.
"All right, old boy lie said; but there
was resentful look Ia his eye, as he
glanced at his brothers 'ace.
IL. a 4.
men rejoined the ladies in the drawing
room, the idea OF his age was still ranking
in Aiick FraSer's mind.
80 my brother Jock rad a stupid Joke
at my expense ut dinner?" lac said, ad
dressing Nora with his bard smile. But
the fellow forgets he 5 ten years NY
senior and more"
ii for ten Alick had said two he would
have been very much nearer the truth.
"It is Mr.. Fraser's fun. smiled Nora.
Rather bad fun for me, though, an
swered Alick, now trying to hide his dis
comiture.
Il have never had word with you the
whole evening" the next moment said
Mr.. Biddulph's voice, and Nora turned
round with blush and a smile, and for
got in an instant that such a person as
Alick Fraser existed.
Il am going TO ask favor" continued
BiddulDh.
''Shall say politely it is granted before
know what it is ?"
"Please say it is granted?"
every well; it is granted"
'Then, it is that | shall be permitted to
take you safely acrossSthe lOch in my boat.
Ii is moonlight and it is lovely, and |
want something TO soothe me, for feel
awfuly irritable tonight"
"Why don't you take to smokingY said
Nora, with a little laugh.
Smoking is all very well when one can
get nothing better, but tonight / hope 1
can. want you to take my mind away
from myself, Miss Stewart; away from
worries and troubles, and all evil things.
"And have YOU many worries and
troubles?" asked Nora softly, looking at
him as she spoke.
My share; perhaps uy ,,vseits. a
81 suppose there is no life without
them ?"
"None," said Bidduph abruptly, almost
passionately; "our evil deeds, and their
black train, come back to Us as surely as
we live"
"And our good dceds?"
81 have none"
"Ahl ] do not believe that" and again
Nora glanced at Biddulph's handsome
face, which. ut this moment, looked
gloomy enough.
But they had no time for any further
private conversation. Mrs. Fraser in
sisted upon their joining a. round game
which the young people were getting up,
and again BidduiDh found himself sep
arated from Nora. Ii WAS not until the
party MAS breaking up,and hats and wraps
were being called for, that Biddulph
. rather rointedly joined her Is they quilted
the house at Airdlinn, though on her
other side roung Malcolm Fraser was
walking with his stalwart steps.
They were not five minutes walk from
the loch, and, as they quilted the sombre
shade ofthc trees IN the avenue, scene
ol wondrous beauty was spread out before
them. The moon was at the full. and the
great mass OF water, the huge mountain
range beyond, the steep overhanging rocks
on either side, were all alight with the
white shining beams, which showed them
as plainly as the sun
Are YOU an artist Miss Stewart ~
asked Biddulph in rather low tone.
NO. Nature is too beautiful; | cannot
portray il.
"You mean," said Biddulph, smiling
'you have tried and failed.
THAT is about the TRUTH" answered
Nora, smiling also.
''No one can portray nature as 1t is,
said Biddulph slowly; "just rs no author
can give a perfect picture OF human
heart. We catch the salient points; this
! mans characteristic the dip Of yon noun
tain or yon hill But the million hidden
things the changing shadows OF the earth
and sky; the teeming changing thoughts
of each human soul, were never written
in ink or painted on canvas"
"You think that no mind, then, can
perfectly understand the othcr?"
81 am sure OF it. Are we not mysteries
to ourselves
Perhaps
But now they had reached the pebhly
marge on which the boatmen and the
BOATS were waiting to convey them across
the water.
81 claim your promise" said Biddulph,
taking Nora's hand and leading her to-
ward his boat
And as Malcolm Fraser saw this action
a flush came TO his cheeks and lrown to
! his brow.
"Are YOU not going with us, Nora?" he
! said. "Alr Bidduiph does not cross the
loch, YOU know
But Mr.. Biddulph does" answered
! Biddulph. with n little laugh, as Nora
paused moment. 81 mean 10 see Miss
/ Stewart safely TO ROssmore.
"Then," said Malcolm, almost rudely,
"our boat need not 20 too; there is plenty
/ Of room for the three ladies in one