The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-09
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DORA RUSSELL,


"Nothing YOU could do would surprise
me-" he answered coldly. "But, may l
ask, what is your motive for coming
here2"
Again the woman laughed.
81 came to look at your new property"
she said.
She was not young; she was not hand
some. She was dark, sallow, and rather
stout, with bright, gittering, smiling dark
eyes, when she was in a good temper.
Just now she was not in O good temper,
and the expression OF her eyes was not
smiling, but scornful and dangerous.
"You have nothing TO do with my new
property" said Biddulph; 'you regularly
receive your income. What do you want
more?n
''I want an increase of income for hold
ing my tongue"
"Then, you won't get it,"
"0h yes, shall IL is but just. Your
income has increased; so should mine"
"Your income is perfectly adequate"
"You may think so, but don't. A hus-
band and wife should be more on an
equality, you know, my dear" and once
more the woman laughed, while Biddulph
stood gazing at her with gloomy eyes.
$50 it was you then, suppose" he said
bitterly, who injured my trees"
''If you call carving the old beloved
name an injury" she answered scothngly,
II did it"
81 might again ask your motive, but it
is wasting my breath"
81 shall tell you without asking, then, |
wished to remind you of my existence;
my little elfsh playfulness was intended
as moral tap on your back. When a
married man goes boating with hand
some Young lady bv moonlight. it is quite
time he had some such reminder"
Woman" said Biddulph passiOnately,
his face flushing strangely "if you 90 on
ike this you will tempt me TO strike you
dead ~
ooh no, won't! If you were to strike
me dead you would be hanged, and you
are too sef-indulgent to like to be
hanged"
Biddulph muttered a curse between his
teeth, and turned away and went to the
window of the room, and stood looking
ont on the fair picture beyond without
seeing it.
"YOu have nice place here, but de-
testable climate" presently said the lady
at the fireplace.
Then Biddulph turned round.
'Natalie-h he began.
''Not the old familiar Matt, then pc
mOcked the woman.
'Natalie or Matt, which ever you like,
Will you listen to reason for a moment,
and speak reasonably ?"
Il shall be delighted; 1 am all atten-
lion"
'Reproaches between US are useless;
illusions to q miserable past are useless,
zoo. What do you want TO go away from
here forever-to haunt me no more"
What do l want? Well, to tell you
Inc truth, good many things. l lost a
pot of money last winter at Monte Carlo,
and I'm pretty fairly dipped in town, and
Just as was thinking what on earth was
to do l heard Of your windfall, and has
tened to Scotland on the wings of love-"
Il cannot pay your gambling debts"
ITS not my gambling debts-it's my
tradesmen's bills l want paid and l have
right as your wife TO expect you to pay
them"
'.Please do not allude to that right, :" said
Blddulph, cOldly and repressivelv; "you
know well the miserable circumstances
under which you acquired it."
YES; you found you had to deal with
a clever woman instead of a fool"
1--WE will not discuss it. How much
money do you want to go quietly away? ?"
well, let me see. For one thing, I
want my income doubled. A paltry sum
like four hundred year won't keep me;
can't really make it do. And then,
want two thousand pounds down."
"A modest request, truly! 1 cannot
afford it. Eight hundred year, and two
thousand pounds! I've not the money to
give you"
tlOj, no. 49,, bo,,o Ii,,o hoo, ,,,oI-;,,o.
inquiries, and 1 hear the old colonel who
left you this place, left pretty tidy sum
Of money as well; therefore you can per-
fectly afford IT. Come, Jim, you'll have to
pay, so you may as well do it with a good
grace; it's better than by going to Miss
Stewart at Rossmore."
Biddulph started as If she had struck
him.
ooh, you don't like thatp cried the
woman, tauntingly. you don't want this
last love of yours TO hear that your love of
long ago, that your 10ije, is still in existence,
while you pass yourself off as an unmar-
ried man. But she shall hear, if you do
not give me what l waut. l have given
her a slight warning as it is"
"What do you mean ?" asked Biddulph,
growing pale to the very lips.
"Just hint-a little message to disturb
her lOve-dream. Don't look so white;
pray don't faint. Miss Stewart knows
nothing get about me-"
81 pray heaven she never may !"
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
lizard words won't break me, my
deari" she said, contemptuously. came
for money, and if get what want L will
90 away"
Biddulph made no answer. He began
slowly walking up and down the room,
with 4 bitter, angry heart; and as he did
SO, the woman's eyes followed him, and a
softer look stole over her face.
You are very good-looking, she said,
after a while; "better looking than the
boy / married ten years ago"
"Your admiration might flatter me" he
said, Except for your eTrand."
II don't want to fatter you. 1t is inn
possible now that we could ever be
friends"
Perfectly impossible"
''But you are good-looking man. /
have got older looking, l suppose you
think"
"You have the advantageof being many
years my senior"
ANot so many years, after all; but, as
you say, we need not discuss it.
''No, It is a delicate subject" said Bid
dulph darkly. II was boy, as you say,
when an act Of madness gave you this