The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-30


can understand with little heart. Ny life,
IN fact, was spoilt, and as years went on
this tie became to me more and more bur-
densome. 1t grew, indeed, utterly loath-
some, and / never saw the woman | was
ashamed to think of as my wife. passed
at the bar, but did not care to practice;
any name l might have won, knew, was
already blackened for me, and | did not
wish for success, which might only serve
to drag to light this disgraceful story.
''My father allowed me an income of
eight hundred year, and this | always
shared equally with Natalie The money
was sent regularly through my lawyer,
and l never saw nor heard from her for
years. Then my uncle died, and l sue
ceeded to the property at Dunbaan, and
TO a considerable sum OF ready money. l
came down to Scotland, as you know, and
especially desired my lawyer to keep my
accession of fortune a secret, and I have
every reason to believe that he did so. Yet
one day, Miss Stewart, about two months
after l made your acquaintance, one morn
ing, after had dined the evening before
at your house, found freshly carved on
the trunk of tree in the avenue at Dun
baan, this Woman's name. | was over
whelmed, maddened and a few days
later she appeared at my house, and told
me what she had come for. She wanted
her income doubled, and two thousand
pounds. She had found out | had been
LETT money, and she had become a notori-
Gus gambler. I give her what she
wanted on one condItiOn-she was to 90
away, and not to utter single word OF
the tie between us.
'But here let me do myself justice. Miss
Stewart, you are the one friend whom l
have made here, and to you l meant to
cOnfide my secret. | meant to tell you, or
at least partly TO tell you, that day OF the
picnic on the hills. But you know how
that ended; then your illness interfered,
and the last time lsaw you-the time when
young Malcolm Fraser came in while |
was hereto my surprise, on leaving, /
found him waiting for me in the avenue,
and in insulting language he requested me
to cease my acquaintance with you, his
cousin, as l was a married man."
''Whatl" said Nora, a burning blush
spreading over her face; did Malcolm
dare TO do this ?"
''He dared to do this, and more. He abb
solutely struck me, but he got the worst
of that"
81 am ashamed, utterly ashamed of
him, Mr.. Biddulph. He is mad, stupid
boy"
'But this mad, stupid boys folly told
me one thing, that Natalie had broken her
promise, and | wrote and told her So
told her would reduce her income to its
former amount if this went on, and to my
great anger she answered this letter in per-
son. Miss Stewart, do you now begin to
understand? This unhappy woman came
down here, and wrote to ask me when /
could see her at Dunbaan; and to save
further scandal, asked her to meet me
in the Glen at Balla, where l hoped our
meeting would be unseen"
"0h, Mr.. Biddulph !" cried Nora, bend
ing forward with parted lips and clasped
hands.
81 went this Afternoon" continued
Biddulph, with some emotion-''went with
a bitter and angry heart, and waited in this
lonely, silent place; and as l stood wait
ing-Miss Stewart, / swear to God | am
speaking the truth-a ball whistled past
me, grazed my shoulder and tore my coat,
and the next moment Natalie's death
sArieks filed the air.
81 ran forward; l met her terrified,
dying. She died in my arms. She thought
1 had murdered her. 1t was a CHASTITY
scene; but my hand is guiltless OF her
blood. You believe this? Do not look so
pale; tell me that you believe me innocent
OF hideous crimew
II do, dow said Nora, with sort of
sob, stretching out her hand, which Bid
dulph took. ''But, oh, MIR. Biddulph, /
am afraid-afraid for you"
"You mean that ! shall probably be
accused of her murder? This, think, can
hardly be. / went to the Glen totally un-
armed. / walked openly through the
village of Balla, and my boatmen rowed
me across; and this poor woman was shot
with a rifle, and the ball struck, or rather
grHed, my shoulder tirst."
'-Still, Alick Fraser said-"
"What has Mr. Alick Fraser said ?''
asked Biddulph, with a sort of smile. "Do
you remember our conversation not long
ago about instinct and / told you Mr..
Alick Fraser was my enemy"
eyes," said Nora almost with shud-
der.
"And strange" continued Biddulph, 'T
felt as | stood waiting for poor Natalie, as
if something were about to happen-as if
q dark hour in my fate had come"
SEQ away, Mr.. Biddulph," said Nora
eagerly; ''this is why l sent for you
Alick Fraser said the police had been
communicated with. Go, before they
have time to do anything"
ana leave Jn6n 10 DlaCken my name,
answered Biddulph with some pride
'No; am innocent. / am not going to
run away, which would be very unwise,
YOU know, as | should be certainly
caught" :" and Biddulph smiled.
But Nora did rot smile; her dark eyes
were fixed on his face full OF anxiety.
at is more than good of you," contin-
ued Biddulph, ''to interest yourself in my
fate, and dare not trust myself to speak
of my gratitude hut when this dark cloud
is blown over, may l come and talk to
you again ?"
''Do not wait until the dark cloud is
blown over; come tomorrow, any day.
We are friends, and true friends are the
same to each other in the sunshine and
the storm. Perhaps you are right to stay
and face it; and-and what can they
really say?"
''Probably good many things; but now
you know the truth. and you can still call
me your friend"
"Yes, and am not one to change"
Biddulph bent down and kissed first
one of her trembling hands and then the
other.
II have something, then, to carry away
with me to my lonely home," he said;
and before Nora could answer him he was
gone.
ITO be continued nert 1Ueek.)
Den of Counterfeiters.
FoRT WAYNE, May Especial. deputy
II NU,1l-,,o,, aod n ,,ceea fro,,,