The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-03
CHAPTER LIV.
TRUE LOVE.

There was a quiet marriage about
month after this, but not at Rossmore.
Nora was married from Lady Barbara
Biddulph's house in town, that lady es-
pecally desiring that this might be, "As
suppose, James," she said, with her usual
brusaueness of manner to her nephew.
that there is no fear of third woman
laying claim to you"
Biddulph having assured his aunt that
this need not be dreaded nor anticipated.
Lady Barbara wrote a kind letter to Nora,
and also invited the doctor to be present
at the ceremony.
This invitation gave the good man great
pride and pleasure but much perplexity.
For one thing, he had a secret fear OF
Lady Bab's sharp tongue, and for another,
some of his poor patients at this time were
sorely in need of his aid. Finally, he
decided not to go to the marriage, writing
TO tell Lady Bah that such things are a
bit out of my way" at the same time
thanking her for the honor she had done
him, and wishing that all Gods best gifts
should be given TO the two, ''who were
about TO share, and thus tighten, the bur
dens of our mortal life"
He also gave gift to the bride before
she left Scotland-a gift about which the
halo of an old romance still hung; for in
the days of his young manhood the doctor
had bought this pretty, simple pearl ring
meaning to give it to the girl he then
silently worshiped, when fame and
fortune came 10 him.
Fame and fortune never came to him,
and his love welded another, not even
knowing of the faithful heart she had
won. But the doctor made no second
choice, and for thirty years the ring never
saw the light.
1t panied him even now to look at it.
though he had often thought of this I'M
used love-token; but few days before
Nora left Rossmore, he arrived with it in
his waistcoat pocket, and presented it to
her with a blush and sigh.
81 bought it lang ago" he said, with
simple pathos, when / had my dreams.
too, maybe, Miss Stewart; but no
woman's hand has ever worn it-and
though it's puir thing amang all yer
gauds, still If yen take il, and my blessing
alang wi it"
He turned his head abruptly away, alb
solutely to hide that his eyes were dim
with tears; and Nora, seeing this, caught
his large hand in both her own.
81 shall always prize it." she said
earnestly, "and l shall never forget,
doctor, all the true kindness you have
shown to us in our great troubles"
(Which, with Gods good grace, are, l
pray, ended" answered the doctor, rev.
erently, for the mans heart wss full of
simple, pious faith.
But all Nora's neighbors did not give
her such good wishes. Alick Fraser heard
the news of her second engagement to
Biddulph with secret but bitter anger. He
sent no present this time, but left Scot
land; and few days later, Nora, with
a little surprise and amusement, received
letter from Maud Lee to announce her
engagement to "our country cousin"
Alick, in fact, hid his disappointment as
best he could and his offer to Miss Lee
was accepted with pleasure and alacrity.
She had always intended 10 marry a rich
man if she possibly could do so, and was
delighted to have succeeded. They were
married shortly after Nora and Biddulph-
two people who knew nothing of each
other, and cared nothing; who married
for mutual convenience, and therefore, it