The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-02
CHAPTER III.
ALICK fEASE3.

liands in somewhat cool fashion with
Mrs Conway Hope, and nodded to the
two voung girls. whom she had interrupt
cd practiciu- duet at the piano.
Indeed, can never tell where you
have been, smiled Leonora.
Il have been calling on your neighbor,
Mir Tidduiph: :" and Mrs. Jock was quite
quick enough to note the deep blush that
spread over Leonora's face at the unex-
pccted mention OF Mr.. Biddulph's name
"And dill you see him." she asked,
ncryouslv
O.! sag him. and got him to buy pig,
and nave invited him to dinner next
Tuesday"
~ whole host OF business, then?"
"And, moreover. ] like him, >" continued
Mrs jock; "he is good looking and gen.
tlcmanly. ] wonder If any one knew
anything about him before he came
here"
Il think" said Mrs. Conway Hope,
who hated to bc left long out of conver-
sation, and had not forgiven Mr.. Bid
daIph, nor Nora either, for prclerring the
moonlight to her society, that 4Ir. Bid
duph looks like man who had a past"
I'VE all have q past Mrs. Conway
Hope replied Mus jock, only good
deal depends on how we have spent it,"
eyes. indeed" And Mrs. Conway
Hope looked down AMI sighed, thinking
with satisfaction oi the exemplary nature
of her own lie.
However, there he is. as we find him, -
continued Mrs. Jock, in her downright
way. "a pleasant. good-looking man-an
addition 10 the ncighborhoOd; and l want
ali You good people to come and meet him
at dinner next Tuesday. What do you
say, Nora, my dear?"
II shall be very pleased, for one"
answered Nora
"And you, Mrs. COnway-Hope ,"
Il have Just one question To ask" an
swered that lady, with a curious little
snoring sound. which she deemed a
laugh, '-how are we to get there p"
"By boat, to be sure" said Nora.
"It will be dark. Nora. nv dear. [ am
sure Mrs. Fraser viii think it rude of me
TO advise you, but | do advise you not to
20"
Il am sorry I can't take your advice" >"
answered Nora, with smile, Il mean to
go
Then YOU uill leave one OF your guests
&: hota, said Mrs Conway-ilOpe, sink
ing back into her chair; 'but it is no
matter"
Ell you young people come, it will be
ali right, said Mrs. Jock unfcclingly.
"And now, Nora my dear, will yOu buy
one of nay pigs. -
Then Mrs. Jock repeated the sad story
Sic had told Mr.. Biddulph and Leonora
listened with quici, sympathy.
"Oh. how dreadful. Mrs. Fraser" she
said. ''Oi course will buy one Of them !;
but what else can [ do for the poor
woman
we must think OF that afterwards my
dear; at present J want just nice little
sum 90 help the poor creature in the first
bunt OF her trouble. ] am going To Alick
4ra-cr's after I leave YOU, though Jock
d0c~ NOT believe ] shall screw q sixpcncc
out oi hjm; but mean to try
Icauora iaughel. You must have
lunch first. at any rate she said, and
1ir~ Jock WAS nothing loath Tor the
Iaouutaiu air hai Hhettcd her appetite.
Bl,t she wa, soon ready to start again on
her travels, and after au atICctionate part
ins with Leoaora. and friendly one with
hcr young ha.i-couSiu's three guests Mrs.
Jurk lett .,oSSWore having, however,
voaudcl Mrs GpuVav-IIope'S suScepti-
Die vanity hv not asking her again to dine
at Aiulinu ON the following Tuesday,
though Mrs. Conway-llopc had already
declined 10 10 81.
">he Is very nice, isn't she" said Leo
nora. rs she rc-cntercd the room, after
seeing Mrs. Jock safety away from the
hail door
Eyes she is very nice" answered Mrs
Conway-lopc, her tone contradicting her
worlS ''hu, don't you think she is rather
loud. my DEAR"
Loud? Not in the least; she is a good,
warm-heartcd, mothcrly woman. How
can she be called loud2' replied Nora, in
dignantly.
"She struck me as being 50. bull may
be mistaken
Il really think YOU are mistaken" said
IeuJra. and Mrs. Conway-IIOpe gave a
little pc .sivc movement of her head. She
,yis thinking What a pity L was that dear
h0ra's temper was 50 quick.
y moment later LeonoTa left the room
and weGt upstairs 10 hcr own bedroom
and stood looking Uut over the misty loch.
She wds thinking oil what Mrs. Fraser
had told her ii M. Biddulph for Mrs.
jock had haif whispered 10 hrT, as they
left tiic iini.'@-rOom together, OF Mr.. Bid
dulpl's generous gftto the poor, bcrcaved
woman at Airdinn. And she was think
ing. too. oi that conversation relating 10
his past &C.: wondering about the mystic
rious warning that yesternisht had reached
lcI haud.
What couid IL mean? again LconOra
read and re-icad the strange message that
bad com" to disturb the dawning days Oi
anew sweet hope And suddenly Il blush.
tide 81 color. dyed the fair and clear
skin oi LenOra's face. She had thought
last night, when they had stood together
IN the moonlight Of telling Mr.. Riddulph
Of this secret enemy that had been so
swift 20 stab his reputation in the dark
But now, looking again az these mystcr-
ions words she remembered that she
could never do this, for they implied
what did not really exist, except i'm the
dccp-hi'lden feelings of her own heart.
Therefore she was toneue-tled; she
must meet Mr.. Biddulph as though this
thing bad not been she had best try to
forget It, But ieonora knew this was all
but impossible Still She must try. and,
having decided to do this. she presently
rcjoineG her guests. though her mind
wandered again and again to. the new
owner of Dunbaan, who was at this mo-
Gent ia terrible state Of mind, in which