The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-25
CHAPTER III.

,
the lofty headland where she lived she
| also could plainly see the Frasers' house
at Airdlinn. which was situated on the
! same side of the loch as Dunbaan, though
/ a considerable distance lay between them.
On the morning after her 'young peo-
pie" had dined with Leonora, about II
/ o'clock Mrs. Fraser of Airdlinn entered
| the breakfast-room of her house, dressed
/ for walking,
A tall woman, with rosy cheeks and light
! blue eyes, full form and stalwart step.
! She was dressed in homespun, and wore
| black hat, and carried a stout stick, and
| looked strong alike in body and mind.
Her husband, Jock Fraser OF Airdlinn,
as he was commonly called, was crouching
over the fire, unhappy man! with black
! woolen comforter wrapped round his head,
and a racking pain in his swollen, stiff
/ ened jaws.
"Jock, am going out" began Mrs.
/ about getting that poor helpless woman S
/ pigs sold, and | mean to 60 round and ask
! ali the neighbors to take one"
"Well, my dear, answered Jock, meek
! lv. lifting his brown ard usually humor-
Gus eyes to his wife - good-lOoking face
His expression at this moment, however,
was ANYTHING but humorous; there was
/ endurance in it, and nothing more.
"And l think continued Mrs. Jock,
! "that there would be no possible harm in
my calling on that young Mr.. Biddulph.
/ The young people met him last night at
/ Nora Stewards, and Minnie tells me he is
a fine-looking man. think snail call.
/ What do you say, Jock
Jock, who was past jealousy and all other
feelings of humanity but his toothache,
assented with a groan.
''Then / shall cross the loch and 60 on
to Nora Stewards, and from Rossmore to
your brother Alexis"
''That will do no good, groaned Jock.
"Well, shall try"
"You may try;" and for the first time a
! grim smile stole round MIR. Fraser's lips,
which, however was instantly suppressed
by sharp pang OF agony.
"PoOr old man." said Mrs. Fraser COM
miseratingly, and affectionately patting
her husbands broad shoulders. Il am
afraid the pain is very bad"
Jock found no words to reply; and Mrs.
Fraser having seen after his comforts
Though, indeed, be found none), and
alter doing everything she could for him
-ior she was good wii -strode away on
her errand of mercy, and tae unhappy
Jock was left by his tireside.
ing along with steady, equal steps through
a drizzling mist on her way to her new
neighbor's at Dunbaan. The path was
rough, and the air so thick with moisture
that on each blade and leaf hung a trem-
bling drop of dew, and before, around her,
and behind her, all was shadowland. The
mist wrapped everything as in garment,
but Mrs. Jock, nothing dismayed, walked
on by the loch-side, and guided herself
with unerring footsteps, until she arrived
at the grey mansion (which she could not
now distinctly see) where old Col. Bid
dulph had dwelt so long.
She found her way up the avenue,
through the dripping trees, and rang at
the house-door bell, and asked If Mr.. Bid
dulph were at home.
The grey-haired old an-servant, who
had lived with the colonel, answered that
he was.
"Can see him 2" said Mrs. Jock, pro-
ducing her card-case.
perhaps, madam, you would walk this
way" said the old servant; ~ will tell
Mr.. Biddulph you have called"
He ushered Mrs. Fraser into the un-
used drawing-room OF the house. Here
was a room where a lady's footstep had
never fallen before! A stiff, uncomfort-
able room. without grace or pleasantness
a room without a fire, or a flower, or lit
tie table. Had the grim old man, who had
furnished it to his taste, no memories left
of the time when he must have played by
his mothers knee? Or of the days when,
perhaps. he had sighed in vain at some
fairer shrine? Seemingly none. Not the
ghost of a weman's touch was here-not
the shadow of "a vanished hand"
As Mrs. Fraser looked round somewhat
/ LOT oil ho fol-
good-looking man entered the room.
81 am so sorry, Mrs. Fraser, he said,
courteously, that Donald has shown you
into this miserable room. Will you come
into my den, where at least have u good
fire."
"Have l the pleasure Of speaking 10
Mr.. Biddulph ?" asked Mrs. Jock, favora-
bly, regarding her new neighbor.
Il am Mr.. Biddulph," he answered, with
pleasant smile, leading the way as he
spoke TO the library, where he had been
sitting.
This was a very comfortable room; the
walls lined with books OF every descrip-
ton, from grave to gay, the curtains thick,
heavy and red, the furniture massive, and
| Turkey carpet on the floor.
81 am afraid the smell of smoke will an
noy you" said Mr.. Biddulph, AS he placed
| d ClldlT lOT NiSlJOI-
"Not in the least" answered Mrs. Jock
ga woman who has husband and son is
used to the smell of smoke; and speaking
of my husband, Mr. Biddulph, reminds
me to apologize to you that he has not
called on you yet, but he is suffering ter
ribly from toOthache."
''I am extremely sorry"
"Well, the truth is, he should have two
out; but you know what men arew
Mrs Jock said the last few words with
out the least semblance OF coquetry, and
Mr.. Biddulph quickly perceived this
"You mean," he said, smiling, ''that we
are an obstinate, bad-to-manage race; and
believe you are right"
Mrs. Jock smiled also, but still without
coquetry.
81 have come to beg" she said some
what abruptly.
Mr.. Biddulphs face did not lengthen.
''The truth is, she went on, 'that q
poor man about our place fell from the
hayloft last week and broke his neck, and
he has left widow and four small chill
dren behind him, and nothing of value
except five little pigs, and | am going 10
try to sell them among the neighbors, sc
as to raise a small sum for the widow"
at is very kind of you, Mrs. Fraser"
81 want a pound apiece for them; viii
you take one?''
81 shall be charmed TO become the pos
SCISSOR of little pig" answered Mr.. Bid