The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-26

'T came down to have talk with James
Biddulph. There's no harm in that, is
there?n
Maybe there's not; I Gamma take upon
myself TO say"
"But Miss Stewart tells me he's at Monte
Carlo-gone to seek me there-and I'm
waiting on in this lively spot till he re-
turns"
"Miss Stewart" repeated the doctor,
you've not been troubling Miss Leonora
Stewart, surelyw
I'D business with her; 1 called upon
her, that's all, )" answered Madame de Be-
! ranger; and her eyes fell
"Ma'am, ye've not broke yer solemn
promise, surely" said the doctor sternly.
"Ye've not game TO her WI the lying
words We promised never to speak again,
when ! gat the money for ye fra Mr.. Bid
dulph?"
"A1y good friend, mind your own busi-
ness-that's my advice to your And she
gave the rcd sunshade an angry shake.
But this is my business-the business
of any honest mon! Did We not promise
me not to come here to disturb the young
leedy's peace?"
''The young leedy. as you call her, seems
very well able to take care Of herself, and
hold herself pretty high, considering all
things Bah My friend, don't bother
your head about her leave us to make our
own bargains and settle our own affairs.
Some day, maybe, we'll astonish you."
II believe ye're after ma guide. If
aught l say can ha' any influence wi
"It has none," laughed the woman, as
the doctor paused. "There-don't begin
to preach Good day to you; Pm tired OF
standing;" and again she waved the red
sunshade, again nodded, and went on,
leaving the poor doctor gazing after her
with a very troubled face.
Gay, she's an iii tiker' he thought dis
consolately. "She's game to Miss Leonora
Stewart for ma guide, I'm certain; and the
puir lassie wi name to gi' her counsel.
I'll away myself and see what the hussy
has been up o." and as he came to this
conclusion, the doctor turned his pony's
head in the direction of Rossmore, and,
having arrived there, found Nora looking,
he thought, excited and anxious.
He sat down and said very little, for he
was thinking how he could broach such a
painful and delicate subject; but after a
little pause Nora herself did this.
Doctor" she began, and then hesi-
tated; ~ wish to ask you about some
came here the other day"
"Ay." answered the doctor, nodding his
head gravely.
"Have you heard" went on Nora, with
deep blush, "that the woman who-who
called herself Mr.. Biddulphs vile is down
here again?"
"Ay," again said the doctor, with an
other nod. 'Ive just met her, and was
sare grieved to see her face
Did she tell you anything?" asked
Nora, eagerly. "She told me that she had
once spoken to you-about"- Nora's
breath came short-''a doubt which has
crept lately, too, into Mr.. Biddulph's mind.
He thinks he may have been deceived
that this is not the woman he married,
but the twin-sister."
Nora forced out these words in dis
jointed sentences, with her eyes fixed on
the doctors face, who looked sadly down
as she spoke
''She's ma gude," he said, with a solemn
shake of his head; "she's lying tongue
of her ain, Miss Stewart, and wad sell her
vera soul, believe, if she could get bid
der"
'Then you think" faltered Nora, with
chill feeling of disappointment creeping
into her heart
al think she's come here for money, and
will say anything to get it. Ha' naught
to do Wi her, Miss Stewart"
"But," said Nora, rising excitedly, "you
said these two-the dead and living sister
were so like each other, no one could
tell the difference. You told Lady Bar
bara this. What if she deceived James,
then-if it is his wife who is really dead !?
Oh, doctor, think what this would be to
tLs!'
She stood before him with clasped
hands and pale, parted lips, and the doe
tors small eyes grew full of pity.
''My dear young leedy-" he began,
and then paused; he was, in truth, afraid
to speak, for he saw how deeply Nora was
agitated.
'Tt was Lady Barbara herself" she con-
tinued a moment later-"and you know
how shrewd she is-who first put the idea
into Mr. Biddulph's mind that he had
been deceived. And why should he not
have been, doctor? Was it not more
likely that the wife should come down to
see him than that she should send her
sister? / cannot but think that the
man who broke off our marriage, who
made all this misery, was the twin-sister
whom James had never seen."
"Yet she swore she was the wife in the
house of God, Miss Stewart" said the doc
tor, with a sort of solemnity stealing in
his voice, ''there, VII her dead sister lying
before her; and l looked in her face and
believed she was speaking the truth, and
l believe it now
'But it is impossible to say"
at is impossible, ma doot; for these two
the living and the dead--were cast,
seemingly, in the same mold. But true
words ha' ring in them that false ones
ha' not, and it seems TO ne"
"Yet," interrupted Nora, almost impa-
tiently, as the doctor hesitated, "Mr. Bid
dulph has begun to doubt. and Lady Bar
bara doubted, and l own that do"
The doctor gavo sort of groan, and
again shook his head. Then he rose and
held out his large bony hand.
"Its bad business fra first to last, he
said. "Weel, good day, Miss Stewart; if
there is anything l can do for ye, just drop
me line."
"We must wait until Mr.. Biddulph re-
turns; but l cannot help thinking you
may be mistaken"
"Ah, poor lassie," thought the kindly
doctor, alter he had taken leave of her,
and was vending his way amongthe hills,
'it's hard TO dash her hopes and his, for
it's plain TO see what their hearts are set
on That vile hussy will name a price,
and he'll be ready to pay it. God help
them, for it's sare strait"
CHAPTER Ii.
THE HANDWRITING.
II was but natural that this interview
with the doctor should only further un-