The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-08

he room, and ock at once went up to his
daughter
"Minnie my dear, we had best go home
now," he said. "Good-bye, Lord Glen
doyne;" End he held out his hand.
"But | am leaving Immediately also"
answered Glendoyne, taking Jocks hand.
II shall stay at the lodge for a couple OF
days; and before leave, may give my
sell the pleasue OF calling at Airdline, Mr..
Fraser?'
"We shall be pleased to see you" said
Jock; and he turned away, and, declining
all Mrs. ConwayHope's offers OF hospital
ity, he left Rossmore, feeling that it would
be impossible for him TO set down at
table from which the expected bride was
abse t, and lying upstairs in bitter grief.
But whatever might be the emotions OF
the other guests, they did not show them
in the same manner as honest Jock. The
Rev. Andrew Macdonald had been hidden
to the wedding breakfast and he did not
refuse TO partake of it under the altered
circumstances. He put on a pensive air,
indeed, instead OF a jovial one, 10 COM
mence with, but cheered up amazingly
after a class or two OF champagne, and ate
with unimpaired appetite in spite OF the
horrors he had gone through. Our Lady
Barbara Biddulph did not appear, =" for
which we have indeed much cause TO be
thankful" smiled Mrs. Conway-Hopc.
After lunch was over, for the word
breakfast" had been dropped by common
consent, Lord Glendoyne left Rossmore,
though the Lees entreated him to remain
over the day.
'Do stay out of compassion to u.s." said
Maud Lee. eve cannot start until to-
morrow morning, and how are we TO get
over the day with no one TO amuse us?'
II am sorry 1 cannot help you" an
swered Glendoyne, little grimly.
But after he was gone, she drew the
Rev. Andrew little aside, and listened
with no slight interest 10 the description
OF the weird scene in the kirk, which he
detailed at her request.
"And she il not pretty then, this wife,
nor attractive, nor young? How very
droll % cried Maud Lee.
"She is not, Miss Lee; she has none OF
those charms which we look for and find
in your SEX" answered the Rev. An
drew.
Poor Mr.. Biddulphl" I" said Maud, with
q little laugh.
lose lady endowed with fortune and
blow TO man"
"Well, he will just have TO make the
best OF it; and, OF course, Nora will marry
some one else."
"No doubt that will be so, Miss Lee; and
we must trust and hope that Miss Nora's
next choice will be happier one;" and
the Rev. Andrew smiled a complacent
smile.
And another man also smiled COM
placent smile when he heard that Nora
Stewards marriage was broken off, and
and that Mr.. Biddulph's first wife had re-
appeared on the scene. This was Alick
Fraser He had been invited TO the we'd
ding. but he had declined, and had pre-
tended he had a business engagement in
Glasgow, and had left Inismore on the
previous day, with bitter, angry and dis
appointed heart.
But he returned on the afternoon of
what he supposed had been the marriage
day, when 'it was all over" he told him.
sell; and, with a certain restless feeling
he could not restrain, he crossed the loch
and went TO Airdinn to hear chow it went
off," as he knew by this time his brother
and Minnie would probably have returned
from Rossmore.
He walked with his stalwart step into the
breakfast-room OF the house, and found
Jock and his wife sitting in the semi-dark-
ness over the fire.
$50 you've got back, Alick," said Jock,
rising 10 welcome his brother.
"Yes; found | could manage it, and sol
came home to-day instead of tomorrow.
Well, and how did the bride and the gay
bridegroom comport themselves2" asked
Alick, with affected jocularity.
Jock looked at his wife, hesitated mo-
ment, and then said, in rather low tone
"The marriage did not take place Alick.
Almost extraordinary thing has occurred"
"Whatp exclaimed Alick; and his
healthful skin paled a little, and then
flushed, and a great throb stirred his heart
at is dreadful story" went on Jock,
casting down his eyes and thinking of his
absent boy. "Yon poor woman who was
unhappily shot in the Glen of Balla, turns
dulph's wife, but her twin sister, and the
likeness between them deceived him"
''Then," cried Alick, excited beyond his
usual self-control, this fellow is still
married man, after all! How was it found
out? The scoundrell / dare say he knew
all the while"
"That's unjust to Biddulph, Alick. He
certainly believed his wife was dead, and
had never heard of her twin sister until
last night. It's a terrible business for
Nora Stewart, and the poor girl is just
broken down with grief,
"She'll get over that" answered Alick,
in his resolute way "She has had lucky
escape and will make wiser choice next
time;" and he smiled. He would win
her now, he was thinking, and this failure
of his, which he never could understand,
would come right at last.
And he could not hide his elation from
his brothers and his sister-in-law's eyes.
Mrs. Jock, watching him, began to under
stand it all. Alick had wished to marry
Nora Stewart, and thus had refused to be
present at her wedding, and now he would
try again.
CHI A rotrI.Io NrXNIrI