The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-01
lie poor girls. You know he was mar


ten, II she had ever known, who was sup
posed to be the slayer OF Biddulph's wife.
well, this woman has cast up again"
What p said Jock, CLEAN OF sudden
hope and JOY lighting his brown eyes I;
then she did not die"
Unfortunately, she did not die when
James Biddulph, to do him justice, and
everyone else expected she did. 1t was
her twin sister, it seems, who was shot;
and this woman-this wife OF his-had
sent her twin-Sister down here to try to
get money from this stupid nephew of
mine; for how a man could not recognize
his own wife passes my understanding.
However, he did not; he had never heard
OF this twin-sister, and they say the like
ness between them is, or was, something
wonderful. 1t deceived James Biddulph,
at all events, and he believed himself a
free man, and thus became engaged to
Miss Nora Stewart"
"And-and this woman, this wife," said
Jock Fraser, with faltering tongue and a
sinking heart. for his eager hope that his
BOYS hand was not stained with blood had
faded quickly away, 'has reappeared?'
"He went home and found her waiting
for him last night at Dunbaan. He did
not believe her story at first; believed that
she was the twin-sister and that she had
come for the purpose OF extorting money,
which indeed she had But he had the
honor at least to come over here and tell
the whole truth to Nora Stewart. After
he was gone, heard the poor girl wailing
in bitter grief. and | stayed with her all
night, for the suspense was almost too ter
rible for her to bear. But ii is over now.
James Biddulph had the dead woman dis
inferred an hour ago, and saw these two
these twin-sisters-face to face, and he is
satisfied that he had been baselv deceived (;
that, in truth, his wife is living still"
at is terrible for Nora Stewart"
"Most terrible. and have sent for you
to act as you think right in this matter.
There can be no marriage of course now,
and the people in the house had better be
sent away as quickly as possible"
Jock Fraser did not speak; he cast down
his eyes, and his lips moved nervously.
'Will you do this?" asked Lady Bar
bara, quickly.
Lady Barbara Biddulph," said Jock.
now lifting his sad eyes to her face, sit
would be painful to me, under the cir
cumstances, to do this. Ask some one
else; say Mrs. Conway-Hope."
81 detest that woman"
"She is a relation OF Morals also. I can
tell her If you like"
every well, settle between you; and get
the people out of the house, and have all
these things"-and she pointed to the
idescake-"hidden away from the poor
girls sight"
While this conversation was going on
downstairs between Lady Barbara and
Jock Fraser. upstairs Nora and the doctor
were exchanging few sad words.
10 did no cpaa- n hnr urhan ha first
went into the room, but sat quietly down
by the fire, looking vaguely at the glow
ing embers, and thinking sorrowfully
enough OF the terrible wreck that bad
come to two young lives.
But presently Nora moved on the bed
and turned h-r head and looked at him.
= Are YOU there, doctor?" she said, witch
pathetic ring in her low voice.
ayes, my dear young leedy," he an
swered, rising anc going toward her; "and
how are We feeling now?"
81 want you to tell me about James
about Mr.. Biddulph," she said, lifting her
dark eyes to his face. where is he
now?"
"He's at my house; left him there till
/ came to tell We my i'll news"
Tell him from me-" said Nora, faint
color for moment stealing to her pale
D
this can make no change to nv heart"
The doctor heaved heavy sigh.
Fittings may change" he said, "for hui
man life is ay' uncertain-ike its joys and
/ woes"
"We-were so happy" said Nora, with
little tremulous break in her voice.
"Ay, that was plain to see. He Just
worshipped the ground We trod on, Mis-:
/ Stewart and he's broken down WI grief
puir fellowp
"But tell him, for my sake" began
| Nora, and then little sob choked her ut
/ terance
"Have We ma little token to send him p
| said the doctor clearing his throat to hide
! his own emotion-"a bit of ribbon, or &
flower, or something, just to show him a
kindness2"
Poor Nora looked around, and on al
sides little tokens met her eyes OF the
marriage which was not to be-white flow
/ ers, white ribbons, white gloves; she
| could not send him these, when black sor
/ row lay so heavy on his heart. But some
/ rings were lying on the toilet-table, valna
bic rings flung carelessly down last nigh
| in her overwhelming grief; and she asked
/ the doctor 10 hand her one of these, {
diamond ring she often wore.
"Give him this" she said, "and-anC
tell him the sender will not change; tel
! him"
At this moment the bedroom door opened
with a sudden jerk, and Lady Bah walked
| into the room, while the doctor hastily con
cealed the ring in his waistcoat-pocket.
But Lady Bab's eyes had been too SHARP
for him. She saw the glitter of the dia
monds as they disappeared into the doc
| tors pocket, but she made no comment.
"How are you now my dear?" she sale
| to Nora, approaching the bed.
81 feel little better, Lady Barbara" an
swered Nora.
"You look a little better; the DOCTOR
visit seems to have done you good"
"And as I've other puir sick folk TO lool
to, my leedy, I'll just take my leave fol
the present; but I'll drop in and see how
Miss Stewart is going on in an hour Of
twa," said the doctor, with rather guilty
look.
"All right; I will take care OF her"
So the doctor escaped with his prize
| thinking grimly TO himself as he went
that he was in truth a strange bearer OF [
| love-token.
'Of a. the queer emissaries o. Cupid, Tn
about the queerest, | think; but wha
matter, il 1t eases a bit their puir aching
| heartsp
CHAPTER LIV.
MANS DESPAIR.
He went straight home, and when h
entered his little parlor he found Bid
dulph sitting there with folded arms, anC