The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-20


pity for the unhappy mother that she
could not resent it.
'This man has brought nothing but
mischief and trouble" went on Mrs. Jock.
'But ii he thinks he can make scape
goat OF poor Malcolm he shall find he is
mistaken. Did you hear this story from
him, Nora? / will hear the truth"
"Wail till Cousin Jock comes" said
Nora, gently, 81 can tell him better than
can tell you"
"Why? Am l not his mother2 is his
honor not mine? Answer me, Nora Stew
art, is it this man Biddulph who has been
blackening Malcolm's name?"
'No, it is not" answered Nora, lifting
her dark eyes 10 Mrs. Fraser's indignant
face. "Mr Biddulph has acted in this
matter, as he always does, with the great
est consideration and kindness"
"You think no one is like him, that is
the truth But here comes Jockl Jock"
she added, going up to her husband, who
at this moment raped at the room door,
"come in, and hear what Nora Stewart
has got to tell us; She says Malcolm
our MdIcolm--killed that woman in the
Glenp
Jock Fraser's brown face grew pale at
these words, and look OF fear came into
his brown eyes.
''Malcolm?' he repeated, looking first
at his wife, and then at Nora.
eyes, our dear boy; and she has got
him to go away-tO hide himself, instead
of facing such lie like man."
"What is this, Nora" now asked Jock
Fraser, still with that look of uneasiness
on his face.
"Oh, Jock, all this is dreadful for mep
answered Nora, taking her half-cousin's
hand in her own. 'But-but / acted for
the BEST when you hear the whole story
you will think | acted for the best.
where is Malcolm I" said Jock Fraser.
Ear away from here, L hope, Jock.
Do YOU know man named Sanford Hill
a man somehow connected with your
brother Ahck?"
"Of course | do. Sandy Hill---why he
is Alexis clerk at Glasgow"
"He has been down here, then" con-
tinued Nora, "lnd when he heard OF the
reward that Mr.. Biddulph and the sheriff
offered at the inquiry. at Balla for informa-
ton that would lead to the arrest OF the
person who killed that woman in the
Glen, he went about spying and listening,
rs far rs l can make out, and he heard
Rob Mackenzie talking to his brother"
Rob Mackenzie" exclaimed Jock Fra
ser, with a scared face.
"Yes; the poor lad was talking to his
wretch overheard him say he would die,
or something like that, before he would
betray Malcolm. But these words made
this Hill suspicious, and he followed the
two Mackenzies TO their cottage, and
he listened, and, oh, Jock, he overheard
the whole story, and-and he is going to
give information to the police to-dayp
'Oh, my poor boyw cried Jock Fraser,
much overcome. "Jeanie, my poor
Jeanie!" and he went up to his wife, and
took her in his arms.
But Mrs. Jock pushed him away.
"And even if this were so, she said,
trembling with excitement-'even il this
wretch did pretend to hear the boys Rob
and Tam Mackenzie talking, why should
we believe him? 1t is for the sake Of the
reward he has got up this story, and NAL
colin must come back and face it."
"And you told Malcolm, Norap asked
Jock Fraser, who was very pale. "You
sent for him last night, and told him what
you are now telling us?"
"Yes, l sent for him and told him. Mr..
Biddulph came here about half-past ten.
This Hill had just left him, and Mr.. Bid
dulph not to lay the information before
the police until the afternoon Of to-day.
Then he came here and told me; he
wanted to give Malcolm a start and-and
l sent for Malcolm, and he confessed it
was all true and went away"
As Mrs Fraser listened to these words
a CRY broke from her whitening lips.
"He confessed What did he contest"
she asked wildly "He did not mean to do
this-say he did not mean to do this, Nora
Stewart, or I'll strike you where you
stand !"
But Jock Fraser caught the uplifted
arm of the maddened woman.
"Hush, Jeanne do not talk thus, and to
Nora" he said. 81 am sure Nora would
mean nothing but kindness to Malcolm
| you know that. But if the poor lad shot
this woman by accident, it was foolish of
/ him to go away"
"Jock, take Jeanie out of the room for
few minutes" said Nora, almost family,
'and then you come back to me. II
should rather see you alone"
every well. Come along, Jeanie, my
| dear; and then Nora and will have
| talk together, and see what it will be best
/ to do" answered Jock Fraser, taking his
wife's hand and leading her to the door.
/ And Mrs. Fraser did not refuse to 90; she
looked half bewildered, and tottered as
she went.
Her husband led her gently outside,
and down the corridor from Nora's room.
Halfway down this corridor there was
couch, and Mrs. Fraser sank wearily down
on this.
'Ieaye me here but promise me, Jock"
and she seized his hand-"to tell me all
she has got to say"
"Of course, my dear; and Jeanie," he
whispered, bending over her, 'pull your
self together a bit, for fear any OF the
servants come past here. For the lads
sake, don't let any one see you are put
out"
She nodded her head, and sat there, still
and cold, while Jock Fraser returned to
tell him the whole truth.
"Now, Nora" said Jock, after he had
shut the door behind him, 'let me hear it
all, my dear. Whatever the lad has done,
it is better l should know"
So Nora told him, and Jock Fraser lis
tened in unmistakable emotion and when
he heard that his boy, the handsome
youth of whom he had been so proud, had
deliberately tried to shoot Biddulph, he
groaned aloud, and covered his face with
his hands.
This is terrible" he slid; cit will kill
his motherp
''But he will be safe. They will never
find him now he will be out OF England
tonight, before anything can be DONE"
"Safe~ repeated Jock Fraser bitterly;
"a hunted felonl And what are we much
better" he added, ''to let him gol /
should rather have died-ay, hundred
deaths-than seen the old name dragged
so lowp
ooh, dear Jock, take comfortp said