The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05

ing them each heartily as he handed them
out. He was glad TO have his little Minnie
back again, and he was fond OF Nora Stew
art; but presently he noticed that Nora
looked very pale and sad, and that Minnie
also seemed ill at ease.
"You are both far too tired, he said, in
his kindly way. "If it wasn't that mother
would like to see you, Minnie, l would ask
Nora to give YOU q bed, and not take you
across the loch tonight"
"Come with us to Rossmore, Jock, :" said
Nora; "I've got something to tell you"
Jock Fraser's brown face instantly
flushed, and an anxious thought for his
son crept into his heart.
Nothing about" he said. in a low,
panied tone. and paused.
swat until we get to Rossmore," whis-
pered Nora, and scarcely a word was
spoken by the three in the short drive TO
Nora's home. When they reached it,
Jock Fraser drew Nora into the dining
room and closed the door behind them,
as the servants were bringing in the lug
gage.
what is it, Nora, my dear?" he asked
anxiousiy. "Not surely about my poor
boyY
"Malcolm has had an accident, Jock" I"
faltered Nora, "and-and Mr.. Biddulph
has written 10 tell me about it. / got the
letter this morning"
"Biddulph? ?' repeated Jock, in great
surprise and agitation.
'Yes; they met, il seems, somewhere
near the valley of the Yellowstone river,
and it was there Malcolm's accident oc-
Cured. But you had better read Mr.. Bid
dulph's letter-this is it" and Nora put
IL ipfn his hand and CCarpalV dared fn
look at the fathers face when he read the
words, which seemed to him like a death
sentence TO his only son.
"My God p he cried, and grew pale, and
his hands trembled.
"We must try to hope" said Nora, who
WIS deeply moved; che is young and
strong. BY this time l hope he will be
back to New York, and the doctors there
may be able to cure him"
But Jock shook his head.
"Who will tell his mother" egoaned.
"Oh, my poor Jennie!"
''He must have fallen down some cliff,
Isuppose."
''But how did he get there? ?" asked Jock
with his white, dry lips. Where did
Malcolm get the money to 60 on such a
long and expensive journey, and why
were we not told? There is some secret.
Nora; Biddulph is keeping something
back"
"Your brother Alick sent him some
money through me" said Nora.
"But why should you 90 TO the Yellow
stone valley? And Biddulph, it seems
he is hurt too. Nora, can these two have
foughtP
Nora did not speak; she looked up in
Jock s face, and he saw what she feared" "
ooh, my poor boyl" said Jock greatly
overcome; and he turned away his head.
He was too just man to blame Bid
dulph, even if this were so; it had been
his rash, headstrong son who had brought
this on himself, Jock at this moment felt
convinced.
"Mr. Biddulph, I am sure" said Nora,
would never willingly have injured Nal
colin, but Malcolm wrote to me in very
bitter terms about him after my marriage
was broken Off and he may -"
"Have forced Biddulph to fight him ?
Yes" and Jock covered his face with his
hand and then sat YEARLY down.
"Dear Jock" said Nora, with tender
pity, laying her hand on her half-cousin' S
shoulder.
Then Jock looked at her, with his wet,
brown, pathetic eyes.
"It's his mother I'm thinking of, Nora.
God knows both our hearts have been
nigh broken as it is, but this will finish it,
think; it will kill his mother.
at may not be so bad"
"Biddulph would never have written
this"-and Jock pointed to the open letter
lying on the table-''if he thought the
lad would live. But we must 90 to him,
if he's alive still. I'll take Jeanie to
New York, but we must telegraph to Bid
dulph first. Where did he stay?
cat the Fifth-ave. hotel, in Madison
square, and he will, no doubt, return
there"
"I'l telegraph tomorrow, then"
"And, Jock, if you and Jeanie go to
New York, should like to 90 with you,
said Nora. Il, too, should like to see
poor Malcolm again"
Jock did not speak; again he lifted his
! eyes and looked sadly into her face. He
was too shrewd not to know Nora's
motive for wishing to go with them. "Its
not for the poor boys sake" he thought,
laird knew that Malcolm's love had all
been wasted.
"Well, my dear" he said, a few mo-
ments later, and he rose, IL must go to
poor Jeanie now. Keep Minnie with you
tonight; Jeanie and l will bear it best
alone"
! Nora had no heart to detain him, nor to
speak any more consoling words. She
went with him to the room door, and
| kissed him.
''It can do anything, Jock, send for
me-" she said, in low tone; and he
nodded and went away with bowed head
and pallid face, to tell his wife the mourn
| ful news.