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

! graph wires; IL was lying on the toilet
a table OF handsome young woman
when she went up to dress for dinner,
before entertaining party of her friends
and neighbors, and this strange commune
cation concerned one OF these guests.
It was an ordinary enough looking let
ter that Leonora Stewart lifted so care
lessly and opened with indifference. She
thought il was some account, and vet the
envelope was thicker and the writing diff
ferent to what is common TO tradesmen's
bills. II contained only few lines, but
as Miss Stewart read these her face first
flushed deeply, and then grew extremely
pale. The words that caused this emotion
were very brief:
''lf you have any regard for your future
happiness and reputation, have nothing
further to do with James Biddulph"
The girl read and re-read this message
with a beating, troubled heart. Who
could have written it? Who could dare
to write it? she asked herself again and
again. She thought OF the people staying
in the house-Maud and Alice Lee; of
her dead fathers cousin, Mrs. Conway
Hope; but they had scarcely seen Mr.
Biddulph, certainly could know nothing
OF his life.
Then she rang the bell sharply, and her
maid appeared.
Palmer" she asked, pointing to the
letter on the dressing-table, "did you put
that letter there -
'.Yes. miss, 1 d1d,'' answered Palmer;
"Alfred gave it to me, and, as you were
having tea, 1 thought | would not disturb
you, so L laid it there"
.Where did Alfred get it? Go down
and ask him, please.
Miss Stewart read the disquieting words
again in the absence of her maid, and
when Palmer reappeared she looked
eagerly round.
"Well? ?" she asked.
"Allred says, miss, that lady rang at
the hall door, and desired him to give it to
you at once"
"A lady? What sort of a lady? Ask
Alfred what the lady was like"
in a short time Palmer once more re-
turned.
''He says, miss, she was quite the lady
youngish lady"
"And-did he know her by sight? Was
she one OF the people about here?"
"No, miss, be says not; she spoke like a
south country lady"
Leonora Stewart asked no more ques-
tions.
Help me to dress, she said; al am
afraid I am late" But before she de-
scended to the edrawing-roomt to receive her
guests, she carefully locked away the mys-
terious letter, taking care that her maid
did not see where she placed it.
Then lalso after Palmer left the room)
she went to the looking-glass aud stood for
a few moments examining her own face
A handsome woman, with her white skin
and dark hair and eyes, in which there
was a certain nobleness of express
sion that betokened lofty soul. There
was, indeed nothing small or mean in this
young EnglishwOman, who had but re-
Gently inherited the Scottish home in
which We find her. She was the daughter
and only child of the late Anthony Gust.
a Well-known London lawyer, and his
Scotch wife. Janet Stewart it was from
her mothers relations that LeOnora Stew
art had come in possession ofthe small es-
tate and large house OF Rossmore, which
stands on the very verge OF one of the
most beautiful locbs In the western High
lands.
But there was a condition attached to
this bequest, which came from her late
simOre. LeOnora was to become a Stewart
also If she inherited the old laird 5 scantv
acres, and the girl was quite ready to do
this. She knew well the beautiful and ro-
mantle home that was to become hers; for
each year, when the yellow corn was
Jippening on the braes, Mrs. Gust had
taken her only child to visit the old house
where she herself had been born. And
these visits had filed Leonora's young
heart with an almost passionate love for
the blue lochs and wild mountains of her
mothers land.
Thus she became Miss Stewart of Ross
more when she was girl OF about TWENTY
two, and Mr.. Gust had also left her a
moderate fortune. She was not rich, but
still very far from poor. Her fathers
cousin, Mrs. Conway-Hope, widow of
small means, had proposed to live with
her when she came into the Scotch prop
erty, but Leonora had declined.
i shall always be pleased to see YOU, to
stay with me, Cousin Margaret, she had
answered, with a smile, "but as a visitor. :"
"But the world, Nora; you ought to
consider the world" said Mrs. Conway
Hope, with much gravity, for she was dis
appointed at not securing permanent
home.
$50 do consider IT,"
1uen, are you not TOO young, dear, not
to have a chaperone constantly living
under your roof?"
~ shall always have friends with me-"
"Ges; but mere friends are not to be de-
pended on, Nora. / never knew, until
poor Conway left me, how sad and dreary
It is TO have no enc TO love and cling to.
We could be SO happy together, am
sure"
Nevertheless, Leonora did not accept her
relations proposal; but Mrs. Conway
Hope was frequent visitor both ut Ross
more and AT Leonora's small house in town.
And she was staying at ROssmore when
Miss Stewart received the strange message
that had so greatly disturbed her. But
JcOnOra did not make confidante of her
fathers cousin on the subject.
And as she entered her drawing room
to receive her expected guests, she found
Mrs. ConwaysHope already seated there
\ gaunt, grey woman this, with tall
shapeless form, and manner that Jared
on your nerves somewhat like discord.
ant sound.
''Well, DEAR" she said, rising as Leonora
appeared, and looking at her serutinizing-
~ with her shOrt-sighted eyes, land are
YOU ready? So you've got on your new
s red plush. Well, it's a handsome mate
rial, but am afraid the color does not
quite become you. It makes you look SO
pale"
81 am sorry you don't like it, Cousin