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

Biddulph frowned and bit his lips at
this hooking question.
"You named price," he said the next
moment, ito Miss Stewart; that price,
great as it was, would give to be certain
ly assured that was free. But you must
prove this; for Miss Stewards sake, can
not accept your word, even your oath
alone"
What do you mean by proving it?"
Il mean you must 90 into some details
of your past life; bring forward some wit
ness to prove that you are Natalie's twin
sister, and not Natalie herself, as | believe
now you only pretended you WERE"
The woman laughed her strange shrill
laugh.
said.
L. is for Miss Stewards sake, / repeat
this has cost her enough pain already,
cruel pain, and do not wish to add to it.
Surely you have some friend whom you
can bring forward to prove your words 2"
Again she laughed.
81 have borne Natalie's name lately, oil
course" she said-'the name she took
when you refused her yours-and have
been known as Madame de Beranger
since my income depended upon this, as
you are aware Her friends have been
mine naturally, and mine hers. One of us
was known to be dead; but the one who
had the rich husband who would not
acknowledge her was supposed to be
alive. had to play the part had chosen,
you knoww
"And you will swear that you were act
ing-swear that you are not Natalie Ber-
anger, but Josephine?"
q will swear this for the sum l named >
"Who was your husband? Is he dead p
She shrugged her shoulders, and laughed
aloud.
81 am happily rid of him" she said.
"What was his name?" persisted Bid
dulph.
"Why do you want to know?"
81 want to trace your past history-to
find out that you are not deceiving me
again"
81 don't want my past history traced
out. My life has not been quite bed OF
roses, can tell you; but l am ready to
swear you are not my husband-ready to
swear took you in for the sake of getting
Natalie's income, as / had none of my
own. Therel Will that not satisfy you !
1t will the young lady, / am sure, for she's
so desperately fond OF you that she said
she would give her whole fortune to
know that you were free"
Biddulph's face slightly flushed.
"And you will go to her and swear that
I am ?" he said-"swear before her friends
that you deceived me when you pre-
tended my wife still lived2"
ST will swear this-you know what
forP"
eyes, I know"
"And you will give me this money be-
fore do this?"
81 will give you half of it, and my bond
for the rest"
"All right. 1 can bring forward a
friend, if you like, too, who will swear l
am-Josephine."
"You had better do this. When can
you bring forward this friend? ?"
LET me consider-this is Tuesday He
can be down to this benighted region by
Thursday. He lives in town; he is half a
Frenchman."
every we'll; on Thursday afternoon,
then, will you and this friend 90 to Miss
Stewart at Rossmore, and there declare
that YOU never were married to me; that
you assumed your dead sisters name for
the sake of money; and your friend will
bear you out in this? ''
1T is settled, then; you agree to my
terms and will keep my word"
''Good day then until Thursday" and
Biddulph bowed grayelY and slowly left
the room.
Goodbye. my brother-irl-ldlD P' cried the
woman in hooking tones as he left her
and somehow her words had a false ring
to Biddulph's anxious ears.