The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13


away and never to return"
Then he remembered Nora's natural
anxiety and distress, and went back to
her, and found her looking so white and
i'll, he was greatly touched. He pulled
her couch close to the fire, he stirred it,
and knelt down on the hearth to try and
make it burn more brightly, and looked
up with much feeling at her pale face.
Il seem to bring nothing but trouble to
you all, he said.
"0h, do not say thatl she answered,
trying to suppress her tears. ''But for
you l could not bear this"
He took her hand, kneeling there with
the freight falling on his grave, hand
some features and gray, sombre eyes.
I'VE can't help ourselves, Nora, he
said, sadly. 81 did not mean to blight the
life of the poor lad. nor stain his mothers
bring evil on none, vet | have brought it
and not only on him." and the shadows
deepened on his face.
sit is through no fault of yours"
az have been wondering about this,
Nora-but may L call you Nora now, when
we are drawn SO close by this great trou-
ble?'
Yes; always cali me Nora," she an
swered, with faltering lips, and her hand
trembled in Biddulph's.
He felt this; he looked at her. and a
wave OF deep, yearning love swept over
his heart.
Il must not say what I would say" he
murmured, and he bent his dark head
down and laid his lips upon her hand.
"Say you forgive me, then, the i'll l have
brought on your young cousin. Oh, Nora,
but l pray not on youP
81 owe my life to you. Why do you
talk thus ?'
Because 1 know I was selfish. / had
not strength to tear myself away when l
knew l had no right to hnger by your
side. You knew this, did you not? You
gave some pity to my weakness? ?"
Nora did not speak; and he knelt there
still, clasping both her hands.
But suddenly she remembered Malcolm
Fraser, and she pushed him away.
ooh, don't let us forget that poor boy"
she said, "and his dreadful danger You
had better go away; it would only mad
den him TO find you here"
EYES," said Biddulph, and he rose.
"But l won't leave Rossmore until he is
gone; dare not trust you with him with
out help near. These windows look
straight down on the steep to the loch,
don't they?"
eyes"
''Then, I'll go now, and wait among the
frs there, and if you open one of these
windows and call l shall hear you. shall
be quite out of young Malcolm's way
there, and L shall feel happier if am near
you. And about money; 1 will give you
a check for any amount you think he Will
require"
1, ,,nl-flxv I crof
some money the other day; have nearly
a hundred pounds here; ;" and she opened
her desk.
They made up a hundred pounds be-
tween them and then Biddulph, looking
out, saw the boat returning across the
water from Airdlinn.
''Is he there?" asked Nora eagerly.
Eyes, there are two figures in the boat.
Nora, had better 90 now, but do not for
get that 1 am near you in case of need; /;
but if he goes quietly away l shall not see
you again tonight"
She clasped his hand without speaking;
she looked into his face as ii to gain
strength from his calmness.
"Good-bye," he said, almost in whisper; ;
and ne bent down and kissed each small,
cold, trembling palm in turn. ''Take
courage;" and the next moment he was
gone.
Nora never forgot what she felt as she
waited there during the next few minutes,
to break to her young cousin the terrible
fate he had brought on his own mead. She
never forgot when he entered, pale and
agitated with look in his blue eyes she
had never seen there before-a look of
dread, as If some haunting and pursuing
fear were always near him.
ID -. 1, l~fa1 ha mt IN
to her and took her chill hand. "You
sent fol me-what is the matter"
Then Nora rose, pale, almost staggering;
she opened her pale lips; she paused for
words.
Don't, for heavens sake, look like
that! What on earth is it? Do speak,
Norap'
"Malcolm," she answered tremblingly
and falteringly. "you must fly tonight;
you must go now. Your mad deed in the
Glen of Balla is known; there is no safety
for you here"
He started back as if she had struck
him, and every particle OF color faded out
OF his face.
'Who says this?' he asked, in hoarse
voice. "What have to do with this?'
Goods eve saw you fire the shot, NAL
colin, the blame of which you allowed to
rest on an innocent man. Do not deny it
it is known; there are witnesses coming
forward against you, and all that is left
for you now Is to fly"
He did not speak for a moments he
sank back on n chair as though utterly
overwhelmed; he covered his face with
his hand.
81 have money ready for you, went on
Nora eagerly, "and you must so straight
from here, and Alfred will row you down
the loch TO the station, and you must catch
the first train that passes, and make your
way direct 10 some port. You must not
delay an hour. Go to Liverpool, that will
be best, and start in some outward-bound
steamer. Wherever you go l will send
you money. Here is Gl00 pounds, NAL
colin; do not waste time now, when it is
so precious in useless regret.
Then he looked up, and his face seemed
10 have turned suddenly haggard.
"Rob Mackenzie has betrayed this,
then" he said, in a changed voice.
"No; but the horror of that dreadful
scene haunted the poor lad, and he ram
bled about it in his sleep, and his brother
listened. And when they were talking Of
il, another listener crept under the
shadow of night, close 20 their little cot
tage Wals-you know what poor place it
is-and this man heard the whole story,
and, for the sake Of the reward, carried it
TO Mr.. Biddulph."
Malcolm Fraser started to his feet with
fierce oath.
"WhGti he's in it, then, is he? The