The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-19


| down on short space of the deck of the
/ big ship these two had been walking
more than an hour, and the white light
shining on Nora's upturned face made it
| seem fairer than ever to Biddulph's eyes
/ Once or twice their arms had accidentlv
! touched as the ship swayed on the waters,
! and each time a thrill had passed through
BiddUlph's frame, as he involuntarilv
| bent nearer to her. Then, suddenly. the
moon became overcast, the sea darkened,
and o summer storm seemed about to
! commence.
Il hope it viii not thunder" said Nora,
half timidly.
'You are not afraid, are you?" asked
Biddulph, feeling at that moment almost
wish that a great storm should ingulf
them, il they might die together. 1T
| would be better than 10 separate now" he
thought, as he walked almost in silence by
her side.
''No, am not afraid; still -"
would you rather go below, then ?"
said Biddulph, making a great effort to
speak calmly.
"0h no; it is so tiresome there! One
has to talk"
''Take my arm, then; the ship is rolling
little-lt will steady you"
She laid her hand lightly on his arm; ;
but as they walked together he drew it
closer to him.
why don't you lean on me? Are you
afraid ?'
'0h no" answered Nora, with a smile
and little conscious blush.
Mora" began Biddulph the next min
ute, as though moved past control by his
own feelings, "there has been something
trembling on my lips for days-something
| would fain tell you and yet l shrink
from doing so"
You must tell me now, then"
do YOU remember" continued Bid
dulph, in broken voice, 'that miserable
night when / went to Rossmore to tell YOU
such tale that L should rather have died
than spoken the hateful words? told
you then my mind was full of doubt as to
the actual identity of the woman who
claimed to be the wife that had believed
dead"
q remember" answered Nora, growing
very pale.
IL thought that doubt was settled the
next day, when / saw the dead and living
woman face TO face-when the living one
said few words in my ear believed none
but Natalie Beranger could know. But
afterward-strange the suggestion was
made by Lady Barbara began again to
doubt. The likeness between these two
twin sisters was so wonderful, it was per-
fectly easy for either to assume to be the
one that it was most convenient, financial
ly, to be; and it was, OF course, more con-
venient to appear as living wife than a
distasteful sister-in-law. In fact, | have
thought and thought of this, night and
day, since parted with you, before went
TO America, and | have thought OF 1t con-
stantly since we have met again. Perhaps
l have no right to tell you this"
"No rightp echoed Nora, with parted,
quivering lips, looking eagerly up in his
lace; when this would make all the diff
ference between-"
She topped abruptly, and her eyes fell,
and her breast heaved. Her violent
emotion startled Biddulph, who had be-
come accustomed, as it were, to argue this
doubt in his own mind. But to Nora the
idea had never occurred since the doctor
had gone TO ROSsmore to tell her that
Bidduph was satisfied his wife still lived.
And nOwl Again she looked up in his
face with eager questioning eyes, and Bid
dulph felt her hand trembling on his arm.
40 me-" he said, laying his own hand
! on those SMALL quivering fingers, lit
would make the difference between a life
worth living for life which is not. 1t is
no use Disgusting the truth, Nora, and
this is about it, With YOU it is different,
know; you seemed happy and content,
my aunt told me, when was away-and
was glad"
Nora did not speak; she turned aside
her head, and tried to hide, as women do,
the overpowering emotion OF her heart.
Happy! She thought at this moment Of
the bitter pain she had endured, and the
1,rt, oh huh n
show this TO a world that SCOTS at un-
| fortunate or unrequited love. She had
| been calm, and very anxious not to make
| those around her uncomfortable, and
| Lady Barbara, perhaps, might have
| thought she was ''happy and content"
! but Lady Barbara, in truth, had done
nothing of the sort.
Il have worried-I have panied you"
! said BIddulph. remorsefully, the next
moment, for he saw how deeply she was
agitated. "Forgive me for being so sell
! fish; you know did not mean to disturb
| you in any way"
at is not that" faltered the poor girl;
''it is the thought"
All, she could not tell him, and yet he
knew 1t was the thought that their
| lives might no longer be apart, that they
might openly live for each other, as they
now did in secret which filed her with
such emotion she could find no words
And Biddulph, seeing this felt strangely
moved.
'T meant" he said, clasping her hand
| yet closer, "to return to England and see
this woman, even before we met again,
Nora; and l shall do so now the moment
we arrive there. Until then, | cannot
| give up the idea that 1 was deceived"
The last words were spoken in n very
| low tone, but she heard them, and a sud-
| den flood of Joy seemed TO sweep over her
! heart; and as the night wind passed and
kissed her pale cheeks, the lovely blush
which now so seldom stole there crept
back with hope.
And Biddulph's grave face, too, flushed,
and a new light lit his gray eyes, as they
walked there in silence together thinking
| of what might still be. Presently the
moon shone out again from amid the dark
and broken clouds, and the white rays
recalled to his mind his dream, when he
laid so sorely injured in the ravine, and a
| track of shining light seemed TO fall upon
him, and the angels face changed TO that
| o! the fair woman by his side.
"Do you know, l dreamt Of you, Nora, !"
| he said, his voice vibrating with deep feel
| ing, "whon spent that terrible night in
| the Yellowstone valley. / thought you
were an angel, first, sent TO comfort me,
and then saw your face-the face l loved
| best 10 see."
ain a dream ?" asked Nora, softly.
eyes. all in a dream-only a dream,
| Nora, for when awoke, that poor fellow,
Il