The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-16

| the place that was worth seeing.
Don't be frightened of him, Mrs. Ker,"
said Alick, with his peculiar smile; "he's
q very respectable man."
Mrs. Ker smiled, bridled and blushed.
Mr.. Fraser always has his joke, you
know" she said to Sandy, as she led the
way to her own comfortable sitting-room,
and there proceeded to refresh Sandy with
| Highland mutton and whisky, TO say
nothing of oatcake and delicious butter.
This is a charming place, madam"
said Sandy, pausing for one moment in his
repast.
1.-THE scenery's fine, but it's dull" an
| swered Mrs. ker, who had once been in
| Edinburgh, and loved the ways of towns.
But you'll haveneighbors, " said Sandy,
with his mouth full.
''Few and far between, as Il be saying is, ;"
replied Mrs. Ker. "Alr. Fr5ser's brother
lives across the loch, and new gentleman
has come to that side lately, Mr.. Biddulph; (;
but our nearest neighbor is Miss Stewart
of Rossmore."
"a young lady ?" asked Sandy.
"Oh, quite young lady, and consider
ed handsome, though she's too pale for my
| TASTE"
Perhaps she and Mr.. Fraser will be
making match of it" said Sandy, help
ing himself to a second time to oatcake
and butter.
"Oh, dear, mol She's too young for Mr..
Fraser, though he's fine man. They do
say she and Mr.. Biddulph are sweethearts; /;
only they's got up some sad stories about
him lately" and Mrs. Ker cast down her
eyes.
Another lady in the case?" asked
Sandy facetiously.
$50 they say. But, Mr.. Hill, you must
take little more whisky after your long
Journey"
"Not unless you'll join me, madam"
said Sandy gallantly; and Mrs. Ker, hav-
ing been persuaded to do so, became very
communicative, and Sandy heard all he
wanted to hear and great deal more.
Mrs. Ker's late husbands sister was up
! per housemaid at Dunbaan, and this
young woman had spent the afternoon of
the previous day with her sister-in-law,
and told Mrs. Ker all about the mysteri
Gus lady who had arrived at Dunbaan;
and the trees in the avenue which had
been felled by the masters orders because
"a queer, outlandish woman's name" had
been cut on the bark.
''They do say, indeed" Mrs. Ker went
on, waxing confidential, ''that old Donald,
the man.servant over there, heard this
| lady say that she was his welded wife,
though she was nothing particular to look
at, I'm told; and Donald said high words
passed between them. AT all events, he
got rid OF her pretty sharp, and Janet says
he has never been the same man to look
at since-so down-hearted and low"
"And what is he like, this gay young
party?" asked Sandy, whose spirits the
whisky had now raised to jocoseness.
"As fine man as / ever saw" replied
Mrs. Ker, who spoke with authority,
with a noble look about his face, and car
ries himself well and they say he has an
open hand. 1t will be a great pity ii he
has let this person get some hold upon
him"
''Such things are, Mrs. Ker," answered
Sandy, rather insinuating that he had been
the victim of female wiles.
Eyes, indeed" sighed Mrs. Ker.
But enough of this conversation. Sandy
felt he had'not wasted bis time, and when,
during the evening, he had quite talk
with Alick Fraser, outside the house, so
that no listening ear might have the bene-
fit Of his words, Alick was quite content
with the information he had acquired.
''This is enough to settle the fellows
pretensions," he thought grimly. "Tl
go to Rossmore tomorrow and have talk
with Mrs. Jock"
In the meanwhile Leonora Stewart was
enduring as bravely as she could the Sc
we're pain that at that time seemed almost
too great to be borne. The doctor from Ed
inburg, as well as DR.. Alexander, had
looked very grave when he was examin-
ing her right foot, and candidly admitted
to Mrs Jock afterward that he feared ''the
poor young lady might be slightly lame
for life" And when Mrs. Jock repeated
this to Mr.. Biddulph, who had called
shortly after the doctor left, she noticed he
grew very pale.
This touched Mrs. Jocks kindly heart.
"At all events" she said, 'but for you
! the accident might have been much worse.
Nora has told me exactly how it hap
pened-how you were urging her to leave
the hillside, when, without speaking, she
! foolshly quilted your side and mounted
on the loose bowlder that she expected
was solid rock. She speaks very highly
of your presence of mind IN such sud-
| den emergency"
"iYet l always feel as if had injured
her" said Biddulph.
"Injury is better than death, at all
events, Mr.. Biddulph."
THAT is so. l am glad at least you are
able to remain with her"
ooh, my good Jock is getting on very
well without mep' laughed Mrs. Fraser;
but she was pleased. What woman, or
man, indeed, is not pleased to receive
yelled compliment?
Yet, later on in the day, Mrs. Jocks
! kindly feeling towards Mr.. Biddulph again
veered round; for her brother-in-law,
Alick, arrived at Rossmore, armed with
his story against their new neighbor.
After inquiring about mora Stewart"
as he called her, and having heard the
doctors opinion, and also that Mr.. Bid
dulph had called, Alick impaired his
news.
II say, Jeanie," he said, "you should
give her hint about that fellow. There's
a very ugly story going the round of the
| countryside about him"
"About Mr.. Biddulph?' asked Mrs.
Jock
"About Mr.. Biddulph, no less. Folks
says Mr.. Biddulph is married, or that he
ought to be, and that lady has been to
Dunbaan and kicked up tremendous
row, and that Biddulph had to buy her
silence"
"Is this true, Ahck2" said Mrs. Jock
gravely.
"Quite true, I'm told. Nora Stewart
had best have as little to say to him as
! possible. Inever liked the fellow"
'If he is a married man, he has no
right to pay Nora Stewart so much atten-
ton. l shall certainly tell her what you
| have told me-"