The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-26


again, while a positive agony Of doubt and
uncertainty filed her heart. One mo-
ment she told herself that she would not
do so; the next, the overwhelming wish
TO know what this woman had to tell in
duced her to hesitate; and, finally, she
decided TO go downs tairs, and hear with
her own ears what the important COM
munication" might be.
With certain dignity and pride, of
which she was unconscious, she lifted her
shapely head little higher as she de-
scended TIE staircase to 90 to this inter
view. She looked a very handsome,
rather naughty. lady, with flush on her
usually pale cheeks, as she opened the
diniEg-room door, and walked into the
room; and so the stout little woman stand
ing there thought, examining her criti-
cally with her bold dark eyes.
Nora bowed loftily.
"You wish to see me-" she said.
Z eff yon are Miss Stewart of Rossmore,
do, answered the visitor.
Il am Miss Stewart"
ain that case wish to have talk with
you. You are the lady who was going to
marry James Biddulph last winter?"
eyes"
"When"-and the woman gave sort
of laugh-"some one unexpectedly ap-
peared and put an end to his love-mak-
ingl Mind, was sorry for him; he at
least believed his wife to be dead, and
that he was free to marry any one he had
fancy TO. Now, the question is, was she
dead, or was She not ?"
Nora slightly started; her face flushed
deeply and her lips trembled.
Are you," she asked, fixing her dark
IL L. /.
'the woman who went to him on the
night before what was to have been our
wedding dav?'
Eyes, went to him; but l did not
know till got to this place that he was
going to be married the next day. And
j offered, for a certain sum, not to dis
turb the happy pair, nor interfere with
the wedding;" and again she laughed.
+'But my gentleman did the high and
naughty; he went and told you; he put
off the marriage, and dragged one poor
woman out OF her grave, TO compare her
with another poor Yoman who some-
times wishes she was in it :"
Il do not understand youw
"The truth is, it ali hangs on question
of money, Miss Stewart. l suppose you
still wish to marry James Biddulph."
How dare you ask me such question" Z"
u,
kindling eyes, you who parted US ~
"Yes, parted you, but il you make it
worth my while-wen that parting can
soon be ended. You know the story, of
course; how James Biddulph married
long ago one of twin-sisters so like each
other that there was, in fact, no difference
between them? He tired of his wife, and
left her and when he got his uncle's money
she came down here to ask for her income
TO be increased, and he consented to this
on the condition that his marriage should
be kept a secret still2'
II know all this" said Nora, forcing
herself to speak = "all the shameful
story"
"Yes, shameful to your ears, no doubt, +"
retorted the woman bitterly, "who were
born in good position, and of good for
tune, and to whom men make honorable
love! But what about woman born OF
low estate, with no money, and whom Mr.
James Biddulph tried to make foOl Of
only she was too clever2 There are two
sides to every question, young lady, and
perhaps my story-or my sisters story, as
the case may be-was as shameful to
James Biddulph as it was to the poor
woman he married aud forsook."
81 will not discuss it, said Nora trem-
ling with emotion. "If you came here
only to talk of Mr.. Biddulph thus, should
rather you would 60 away"
Il don't wish particularly to talk of
him, nor abuse him, for that matter
Other men have tired of their wives be-
fore him, and other men will tire after
him; and my only reason for naming so
common an occurrence is that it bears upon
the little business between you and me
If Mr.. James Biddulph had lived
with his wife, you, in all probability,
would never have wasted thought upon
him. However there it is. He did tire
of her; and after he believed that he had
got rid OF her for good. he was going TO
marry you, until she, or her likeness in
the shape of her twin sister, stepped in,
and the marriage was stopped. You look
very much shocked, Miss Stewart, but it
is better to speak the truth"
THE truth" repeated Nora, with heav-
ing breast "What is the truth, then ?
Are you Mr.. Biddulph's wife, or are you
not9'
"Ah, that's my secret' and she laughed
her shrill laugh. "Come, young lady, I'll
be honest with you, though you may
despise and scorn me as you like. What
would you give-I mean, how much
rnoney-to know that James Biddulph
was free to marry-that his wife in reality
Is dead 2"
"How much money!" cried Nora, pas
sionately. Everything / have-every
penny--to know that-that this miserable
tie was ended foreverl"
"He i. so much 10 you as that" said the
woman, looking at Nora's excited face.
sAh, it's a queer thing love don't
want everything you have, though-you
would grudge that, can tell you, after a
month or two of marriage. No, shall be
reasonable. II you and he between you
will make up ten thousand pounds, will
swear am not his wife, that / took him
In. and that--his wife"-for a moment
she hesitated-'is lying here in the grave
nyard."
aBut-but Is this true? ?" asked Nora, in
h broken voice. "You are not deceving
\ue for money, as you deceived him, are
ku? oh, think what this is to me You,
pman-surely you must KNOW
e wrung her hands together in the ex-
tty of her excitement and doubt, and
lenced walking with hasty and ir-
pr steps up and down the room, and
pmanps eyes followed her.
here Is he" she asked presently.
Aere ?? said Nora, stopping abruptly.
2as gone to Monte Carlo to seek
me doubts arose in his mind he
o believe that you had deceived