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

Il tear she Will. The circumstances are
suspicious, 1 grant you; but there is no
direct evidence, as far as can make out,
against Biddulph. He ran out of the
Glen, bleeding and wounded, straight for
the doctor. His own story is, Alexander
tells me, that he was standing waiting for
this poor creature, when the shot that
killed her passed him, grazing his shoulder
somewhat badly as it went The police
are inclined to think it vas the stray shos
of some poacher, hear; and 1 think the
police are right"
You will think differently, / expect,
by and by, Jock" answered Ahck. i
am certain this fellow Biddulph IS the
guilty one; as | have otter said to Jeanne,
here, never liked him."
And Alick Fraser expressed this opinion
freely wherever he went. Nevertheless,
at the official inoRiry held at Balla, the
police had no proofs of Biddulph's guilt to
Law before the procurator-f fiscal, who held
it. except that Biddulph had undoubtedly
asked the woman to meet him in the Glen,
where she had met her death. DIR. Alex
anders evidence was taken, and Bid
dulph's own, who told his story truthtully
and plainly. He was standing waiting
for the lady, whom he had asked to meet
him, he said, when the shot grazed his
SlOQlQeF ana klil6u LCT-
"And you saw no one, Mr.. Biddulph,
that you think could possibly have fired
it?' asked the procurator-fscal.
Il saw no one: | shouted loudly for as
sistance when found the lady was badly
wounded. but there was no reply to my
calls. The person who fired the shot,
however. must have heard them.
You believe it to have been a stray
shot-an accident"
Il believe it to have been an accident;
at least such was my impression at the
time"
'.The lady, as far as you know, then, had
no one likely deliberately to attempt to
take her life"
ssAs far as 1 know she had not"
II was then proved by DR.. Alexander
that she had been killed by a rife-ball,
which ne had extracted from her body,
and that the wound on Mr.. Biddulph's
shoulder had also been inflicted by a rifle
ball. Biddulph had gone into the Glen
unarmed with rifle, the police had ascer-
tanned, as he had passed through the vii
lage of Balla, and several people had seen
him. In fact, the inquiry ended on the
first day pretty much where it began. 1t
was case of suspicion against Biddulph,
and nothing more. The procuratOr-hScal.
however, adjourned the inquiry for
week directing the police to make strenu-
Gus efforts to endeavor to learn who had
been the person who had LETT the larger
footprints in the upper reaches OF the
Glen.
There was quite a gathering of the
neighboring gentlemen in the little village
of Balla when the inquiry broke up, all
eager to learn how 1t ended; and when
Biddulph appeared, pale, naughty, and
with his head erect, one or two turned
slightly away But the kindly doctor slid
his big hand through the arm of the
suspected man.
.'l'll lust walk a wee with ye," he said;
and Biddulph turned round and smiled
understanding well the motive of the
friendly action.
They passed down the village together,
and on their way encountered the two
Frasers.
Alick gave a short little laugh, while a
stern smile fitted over his hard face. But
Jock stopped, hesitated a moment, and
then held out his hand to Biddulph.
Its a cold day, Mr.. Biddulph, he said,
and that was all; but when he rejoined
Alick. the younger brother shrugged his
shoulders and remarked disagreeably:
"You are not particular about your ac-
quaintances, it seems, Jock"
Il have no right to judge man who is
probably innocent" answered Jock,
quietly.
Mrs Jock had also been so moved by
curiosity to hear at once the result of the
inquiry that she had accompanied her
husband to Balla in the morning, but had
taken the opportunity, while it was going
on, to call at Rossmore to see Nora Stew
art.
Nora looked very pale, but her dark
eyes were bright and resolute as her kins-
woman kissed her cold cheeks.
''Wel, my DEAR" said Mrs. Jock, 81
thought | would come and see you, as
Jock and Alick are both at Balla, TO hear
how this bad business ends"
''It must be very painful for Mr.. Bidd-
with little naughty air that well became
her.
''It must be TERRIBLE bad as be is, feel
some pity for him."
"Bad as he is?" repeated Nora indig-
nantly. "Have you already condemned
him, then, Mrs. Fraser, OF what he is in
nocent"
'NIy dear, how can you tell he is inno-
ceut?''
Because have heard the whole story
from his own lips; because | know he
would have died before he had lifted his
hand to hurt the miserable woman who
has been the curse of his whole life"
Mrs. Jock did not speak for a moment; /;
she moved uneasily.
"Then," she said, after little pause,
''you have seen him-since this unhappy
AFFAIR.""
eyes, l have seen him; | sent for him.
l am not going to look coldly on the man
who saved my life because an unjust sus-
picion has fallen on his name"
'But, nv dear"
"I know what you are going to say
that he had no right, / suppose, not to
tell us all that, when almost a boy, he had
formed a connection; married a woman,
If you will, of whom he was ashamed
Why should he tell this unless he chose
He asked no one else to marry him, did
he? ] think you are all treating him
most unjustly, and for one mean to be
exactly the same to him."
''Nora, you are but girl
II am old enough to know right from
wrong, at least, and | know Mr.. Biddulph
has done no wrong"
''Still, Nora"
"Do not let us talk Of itany more" ," inter-
rupted Nora with decision. "How are
Minnie and Malcolm, Mrs Fraser?"
Minnie is very well, but Malcolm does
not get over that terrible fall of his as |
would wish him; ne looks very ILL.,"
Poor boyl" said Nora, thinking at the
same time the "poor boy" quite deserved