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

which Biddulph had penned in his despair,
her tears fell fast. He would never part,
then, with the token she had sent him OF
love that could have no change. The
doctor had turned away his head and then
walked to the window, while Nora read
and re-read the brief lines that to her
seemed so precious. The cruel blow
their hearts unaltered, and to the woman
this thought brought immense consolation
and peace.
"When you see him." she began, and
the doctor turned round at TIE sound Of
her voice, "tel him" went on Nora, that
/ can see him tomorrow; that l shall ex-
pect him to come"
"Ye'l scarcely be weel enough to-mor-
row, Miss Stewart, ii ye'll excuse me, to
go through any further excitement"
"0h! but you don't know how much
happier | shall feel, doctor; and, you
know, we must just get into the way of
seeing each other, and meeting like
friends as we used TO do-and we must
| forget the rest"
The doctor made sort of groan in re-
| ply TO this proposition.
We can't help this great misfortune
that has come to us, and so we must try
to make the best Of it, and help each
other to bear il"
Still the doctor did not speak He
knew Biddulph meant to leave Nora, and
he knew that he was right to do this; but
IL seemed hard to take the poor girls one
consolation away from her.
81 like his aunt, Lady Barbara, so
much," continued Nora, "and she has
been so good to me. When we go to town,
OF course, shall see her often"
"She's tough shell wi good kernel"
said the doctor, though own I'm wee
| bit in awe of her ladyship."
"Oh, she's very good; and, doctor,
want TO ask you something else. This
this woman"
'The woman James was tricked into
marrying when he was but q boy" said
Nora, more firmly. Is she gone yet? Has
he seen her again ?"
"He'll see her ma mair; but he sent me
to see her, and she's wrangling sare about
the money"
"Shes a wicked womanl But hope
she will go away; should breathe easier
if she were away. She might do some
harm to James,"
Not she, my dear young leedy; it's ma
for luve o Mr.. Biddulph she's put up an
appearance, 1 can tell ye. She wants
money, and nothing else."
ooh, tell him to give it to her, doctor,
and get her away Ii she wants more
than he has in the bank, can lend him
or give him good sum. He will be ever
so much happier il she were out OF this
place."
"She won't be here lang. Weel, Miss
Stewart, I'll ha' guide news for Mr.. Bid
dulph tonight; ye're better than hoped
to find We"
Yes; and tell him to come tomorrow"
said Nora, as the doctor shook hands with
her before taking his leave. And scarcely
was he gone when the poor girl locked
the door, and fell down upon her knees,
holding James Biddulph's letter still in
her clasped hands.
The first shock was over now, the first
bitterness, and, true to the sweet woman
illness of her nature, Nora determined to
make the best of a most painful position
for his sake.
She would be his best friend and COM
forter she told herself; and in the long
years to come their regard would know
no change. They might never marry, but
the bond between them could not die.
She was thinking this, kneehng there
still, when a little knock came to the
locked door, and, supposing it was Lady
Barbara, Nora rose from her knees and
unfastened tho door, and outside Mrs.
Conway-Hope was standing who sprang
forward and at once caught Nora in her
arms, and crushed her forcibly against her
angular form.
my poor stricken childw she gasped
out. "Oh, Nora, what have gone through
this day-what misery, what terrible dis
tress, thinking of you, feeling that you
had no support"
Nora drew back, and endeavored to re-
lease herself from Mrs. Conway-Hopes
arms, but it was not easy to do so.
81 have been forbidden to enter your
room," continued that lady; "told /
should not do so by Lady Barbara Bid
dulphl And | think, considering who
she is-her connection with the unhappy
man who has brought all this misery and
shame on a respectable family-that her
lips, at least, ought to have been closed;
that she ought not have interfered to part
you and mel
'I did not wish to see any one. Lady
Barbara has been most kind to me" said
Nora.
II can understand your not wishing to
see any stranger, Nora; it is but natural
that you should shrink from all the pain
full remarks that must necessarily follow
| the terrible occurance OF to-day But am
| stranger2 Why was |, your near
relation and friend, not permitted to
mingle my bitter tears with yours?"
please do not talk any more about it,
| Cousin Margaret. 1t cannot be helped !;
we must Just try to make the best of it,"
at is terrible, too terrible" cried Mrs.
ConwayHope, with dismal shake of her
| head.
"It is most painful, of course, but what
| is the good of talking of it? l mean to
try to bear it as bravely as / can"
81 pray you may be able to do so; we
must try to be resigned at least. And, my
dear Nora, hope you will soon get Lady
Barbara Biddulph out Of the house"
"0h do your" said Lady Bab's voice,
who at this moment entered the room, and
had heard the concluding words of Mrs.
! Conway Hopes speech.
Mrs. Conway-Hope started and looked
up, and there stood Lady Bah, erect and
| grim; and Mrs. Conway-Hope's eyes fell
somewhat abashed.
81 did not expect" she said, "that any
one was listening TO my private converse
ton with my cousin"
"And did not expect to find you in this
room, when you were positively forbidden
by the doctor to enter it, and / told you
SC" retorted Lady Bah, who disdained to
defend herself from the accusation OF in
tentionally listening, of which she was cer-
tainly guiltless.
"Nora, is this true2" asked Mrs. Con-
way-Hope, tragically. "Did DR.. Alexan-
der forbid me to enter your room?"
"He forbade any one to do 80 but Lady