The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-01

ullu OldCh
''Have you seen herr" he said atlength,
while the doctor was trying to frame some
consolatory words.
81 Just have, then, and I've left her
MARIE composed than we could hope for,
and she babe me tell We that We are ma to
grieve."
Not to grieve" said Biddulph, starting
to his feet; when every hope of my life
is shattered at one blown Doctor" he
went on, excitedly, at seems too hideous,
too hideous TO be true, and yet it is true;
yon miserable woman whispered a few
words in my ear which none but she
could know"
Don't distract yer mind any mair about
the truth O. it, Mr.. Biddulph; we must
accept that. And Miss Nora Stewart, as
was telling We, knows it all; and she
sent we token by me-this rhg-and
she babe me tell we her heart would know
ma change"
These words greatly affected Biddulph.
He took the ring in his trembling hand
and again sat down, turning his face away
from the doctor.
THAT old leedy, yer aunt, left me alone
wi her for a while, and her first thoughts
were for We. Where were We she asked;
and she babe me say to We that for her
sake ye had ma to grieve; and there was a
look in her bonny dark eyes when she
spoke of we that a mons heart might be
proud to ha' won"
"But that's the bitterest of it all, the
pain to her; could bear it but for that
bear my own disappointment and unut-
terable shamel But to think of this girl,
this noble, gentle girl, utterly humans me-"
Its sare blow, ma doubt, and sarer
because it fa's on the bonny lassie who
loves We sa weel. But, mon, 1t must just
be borne like any other evil thing"
'It's easy talking"
"And dye think I've ma feeling too? I'd
rather ha' cut off my right hand, Mr.. Bid
dulph, than ha' gan wi the news l had
to carry to Rossmore to-day"
Forgive me; you are very good, very
kind, but grief makes one selfish, | sup
pose. And did she soy anything else2"
''The old leedy did not gi' us much
time; and she'd her eye on me, keen as a
hawks, as | slipped the ring into my
rallied sare at NOR folk fra Solomon down.
ward but there was soft CLINT passed DER
her face whene'er she looked at Miss Nora
Stewart"
Biddulph made no answer to this. but
began walking up and down the little
| room.
"There is but one thing left for me to do
in honor" he said presently, as though
half speaking to himself.
"And that is 2" said the doctor, and then
he paused.
To go away out of her fe, and out OF
her sight. | have no right to blight her
whole existence. l know her nature: she
would cling to me even now, as ne chung
to me when they called me a murderer.
/ But this must not be; l will see her again,
| nd for md
| she will forget"
His voice trembled and broke as he ut
| tered the last few words, and the doctor
| looked at him with the deepest pity.
! He opened his lips TO speak, when a
] ring came to the house door-bell, and be
1 approached the window TO see if it were a
! patient.
1t was lad with note; and moment
/ or two later the elderly woman, who was
the doctors sole domestic, raped at the
room door and put in her head.
''It's note for the gentleman, sir" she
said
The doctor held out his hand and took
the note, and, after glancing at the address,
handed it TO Biddulph.
And when Biddulph saw the handwrit-
| ing terrible look came over his face, and
he flung it passionately on the floor.
"This is too much! 70 he said.
"Is it fra"
''The woman who has blighted my whole
life, who has been its curse, its bane
You may read it il you like" he con-
tinued bitterly; sit will harp on one
string-'money, give me money to gamble
and to drink.
The doctor stopped down and picked up
the note, and would have again handed it
to Biddulph, but he would not take it.
"No," he said; "she hes done her worst
now, and | will never again speak a word
to her, nor read line she writes. l will
allow her the same income which she had
before | inherited Dunbaan-four hum
bred year-so that she may not starve,
but not penny more"
cts mair than enough; but the laddie's
waiting at the door for an answer, sa what
shall | say2"
"There is no answer; give him back the
note"
"Eh. mon, but if We do that, she'll be
| here before we can turn oursePs round.
III see her if it pleases We, and tell her
what We say, and what We mean to allow
her for her maintenance"
"Will you really do this? If you will
shall be greatly indebted to you and you
can give her some money"-and he put
his hand in his pocket and drew out some
gold and notes-"to pay her train and get
her away. Here is el0, and when she gets
TO London she will find el00 awaiting her
at my solicitors. And each quarter Gl00
will be paid her, nothing more nor less. "
Biddulph spoke briefly, harshly, and the
doctor saw this was no time to discuss the
matter further with him.
"Ill just put on my hat and go at once,
them" he said. "Will we bide here till 1
come OK ?"
81 don't want TO hear what she says; l
will listen TO nothing. But don't let her
come TO Dunbaan. Ii she comes there it
will be at her own peri"
"I'll get her away as quietly as / can.
Weel, then, guid-bye for the present, Mr..
Biddulph; and if ye're not here when l
return, III see we across the water before
nightfall."
81 will come here during the evening.
| | want to hear how -"
81 understand, said the doctor, nodding
his head and Their he left the room, and
Biddulph watched his tall, ungainIy figure
vending down the village, until he
stopped at the little hostelry where Nine.
de Beranger, as she called herself, was
supposed to be staying.
He asked TO see her, and found her sit
ting in the little parlor upstairs, with a
bottle of whisky on the table and two
empty saltwater bottles. But she was
sober enough. She looked up as the doc
tor raped at the room door, and smiled
and nodded her head, for she at once rec
ognized him.
| ,q annnose Won have come from that