The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-12

MIN since MS acclueuLs asheu Nora
81 mean that when | found Mr.. Bid
dulph in one of the ravines OF the valley
of the Yellowstone river, that the vital
spark was about as nearly extinguished
as il ever was in mortal man.
"You never told me this, said Nora,
looking at Biddulph, while little quiver
passed over her face.
''Yes it was So" continued Dalton. ST
am not emotional, but l must confess
almost gave up hope when my eyes first
fell on your white. nay. CHASTITY face, Bid
duph He looked twenty years older.
Miss Stewart, and for a moment or two
almost failed to recognize my travelling
companion"
"Don't talk about IT," said Biddulph,
quickly; "it's like horrid nightmare,
best forgotten. Do look at that eccentric
hat, Miss Stewart-there, on that pretty,
fair girll"
He thus changed the conversation; but
for few minutes afterward Nora looked
very pale and grave. Then she tried to
shake off her feeling of depression, and
talked brightly to Biddulph and Dalton,
until they returned to the hotel for lunch.
Jock Frazer Joined them at this meal but
Mrs Jock still refused to leave her son.
"I want to read TO him this afternoon"
said Nora to Jock Fraser, "and then Jeanie
will lie down and have a rest"
"Thank you, my DEAR" answered Jock;
and, after lunch was over, he took Nora
10 MalcO ms room, who smiled and held
out his banda she went in.
"He looks better this morning, don't
you think, Nora? 2" said Mrs. Jock, anx-
iously.
"Yes," answered Nora, with faltering
tongue. For as the bright sun-rays fell
-, ,>,Il,J ,.oup1 fona ~, tho damn
brow, and bright, restless, sunken eyes,
Nora saw only too plainly that for Nal
colin Fraser there would be no improve
ment upon earth. But how could she tell
this to the fond mother2 Mrs. Jock had
had bed made up in the dressing-room,
and grudged every moment when her
ewes could not rest on the beloved face.
But Nora persuaded her to lie down, and
then began reading to poor Malcolm, who
lay very still, except when his cough dis
turbed him. Nora had chosen sensa-
tional story of adventures by sea and
land, such as, ia his young days, Malcolm
Fraser used 10 love, and by-and-by she
paused and asked him how he liked it.
81 have not been listening to the story,
| think, Nora" he answered, with bis wan
smile, 'but to your voice"
"Would you rather, then, that just
talked to you, de T Malcom2" she asked,
gently laving her book down on the bed.
81 think should like that best" be said.
'Is mother asleep?" he asked, a moment
later; and Nora rose softly, and looked
through the dressing-room door.
ayes, fast asleep" she whispered, when
she went back to Malcolm's bed
"Poor motherw he muttered. mora,
and he stretched out this thin baud and
took hers. al won't get better, you
know, and want you to be very kind to
mother after am gone"
"Oh, Malcolmr'
"I hoped might gat better once" he
went on wistfully; though to lie
like useless log all my life seems almost
worse than death-at least, since l have
seen you again"
"DOnt talk thus. please, Malcolm"
at doesn't matter much when am GO
ing to die, you know" he answered,
with little break in his voice. "Do you
remember. when | went away that night
at Rossmore, that said if lived should
see you again? We did not expect it
would be like this, did WEI"
"No, indeed"
''I meant TO go back to see you, If it
cost me my life, for you were more to me
than iie-but you knew this very well.
'You pain me 50 much by saying
these things, Malcolm"
81 won't any more, then; only, want
you 70 understand. / want, ! suppose,
to make you think of me a little more
kindly after am dead"
II do think of you most kindly" and
she took one of his restless, twitching
hands, and held it in her own.
Because You don't know all, perhaps.
Nora, shut the dressing-room door very
gently, so as not TO wake mother. I've
got something to tell you-somethIng she
must never hear"
Nora silently obeyed his request, and
then went back to his side, and again took
his hand.
al don't like TO die without you know
ing the truth" began Malcolm. Some
day Biddulph will tell you. and should
rather you heard it from me-and-and
knew something OF what felt"
"What have you to tell me, dear Nal
colin? ?'
"Nora, when heard you were going to
marry Biddulph, / was like man pos
sessed with an evil spirit, Think l
wandered about the city here until ]
could stand it no longer, and then de-
termined to blow out my brains, and end
it all"
"But why go back to this now?"
because want you to understand
for my father and mothers sake-Bid-
dulph and agreed not to tell the truth
but / know you will hear it; as | said,
should rather you heard it from me"
''Then you and Mr.. Biddulph fought,
Malcolm?' asked Nora, in q lower tone,
growing very pale.
II meant him to fight, but he would
not. i followed him from place to place,
after heard that his wife had cast up
again; and | was determined to fasten
quarrel on him, and TO avenge the insult
he had cast upon you--
"I cannot stay to listen to all this, NAL
colin, interrupted Nora, rising, and trying
to draw away her hand.
But he held it fast.
'I won't trouble you long" he said, $50
have little patience with me now, Nora.
l want YOU TO understand how was wild
with misery, or never should have acted
as did. Perhaps Biddulph did not mean
to deceive you, but thought at least that
he did, and so l followed him, as told
you, from place TO place; and at last we
met, and / wanted him to fight. had
brought my revolver, and | meant that
only one Of us should hve-and that would
have been bestp
"And what happenedf" asked Nora,
with pale, parted lips.
ale would not fight; and pointed my
-o,,ol,.o- - b,vn opI he etrIpk II Out Of