The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-06
CHAPTER XIV.
An UNPLEASANT WELCOME.

The next day Blddulph went to see
Nora, and to his great relief found her
alone.
81 have come here" ne said, trying to
/ speak lightly, as he took her hand, though
! he was in truth much agitated, "under
/ great difficulties, and really dreaded to
/ find any one with YOU"
"Why should you? You are always
welcome here" answered Nora.
'But when a man is conscious that his
/ movements are watched, he gets q little
nervous about the reception he may meet
! with-eXcept from such as yOu."
And do they still watch you?"
! "a remarkably pleasant-lOoking shrewd-
! faced constable crossed the loch yard or
| two behind me, and when | landed at
/ your pier another received me with the
/ most tender solicitude, and, l have no
doubt is waiting for me in your avenue.
Yes, am watched, and for this reason,
/ have not dared to come to you before, but
to-day | felt / must
"What matter is it?" said Nora, looking
at him with her dark eyes you are in
nOcent; you need not care what they do"
But a great many people-thanks to
/ our friend, Mr.. Alick Fraser, | believe
/ do not think me innocent. But, as you
/ say, try to tell myself it is no matter, but
/ all the same it is not pleasant"
/ You must lift yourself above it. !"
up among the stars, eh, Miss Stewart?
/ Do you know, last night | tried to do this
| stood looking at the vast luminous space
| of blue, and told myself that up there
they knew the truth, the bright twinkling
star-eyes, that have looked down OH all
! the ages"
"And did this thought give you peace?'
"a sort OF peace-of awe, rather-the
grand realities against the shams; but
still, to be suspected of murder, and of the
murder OF woman too, is rather rough
on one, you know"
you win not always be suspected
81 hope not; sometimes | believe not;
but in the meanwhile, repeat, it is not
agreeable. However - and Bddulph
looked at Nora and smiled-"yOu are good
enough, it seems, to believe in me and the
doctor"
'He is dear, true old man.
lie is more than that, ! think, If any
thing can be higher than to be absolutely
true in word and deed. But there was
something positively heroic" added Bid
dulph, half bitterly, ''in the doctors con-
duct both yesterday and to-day. In the
very face of Mr. Alcb Fraser, his richest
patient, no doubt, he yesterday put his
arm through that of the man Mr.. Alick
Fraser wishes to hunt to death and to-
day he followed the poor woman to the
grave whose end was so drear, and whose
life, Judging by the higher mOralities at
least was 50 unutteraby SAD"
''It is all unutterably sad for YOU"
"Unutterably sad and unutterably de-
grading. | have wished during the last
few days, Miss Stewart, that [ had never
been born"
This feeling will pass away; you will
go away from here"
Not" interrupted Biddulph, with
kindling eyes, as Nora paused, until it is
known who fired that shot in the Glen of
Balla. They shall not say l ran away or
shirked it, at any rate. ! have offered
three hundred pounds reward and if that
Is not enough l shall offer a thousand;
my father wishes me to do so now"
"Your father"
eyes; did you not know my father was
/ living? A close self-contained, clever
man, who seemed to give me very little
love in my youth and manhood, and yet
who is very eager to have this stain wiped
off my name | remember my mother
too, a gentle, dreamy-eyed woman, who
/ died when / was lad, beforehand Bid
/ dulph frOwned-"my life was spoilt.
at is not spoit," said Nora, her lovely
/ blush mounting to checks and brow; ''you
have had bitter, painful past, but it is
| past"
elbow noble you look!' said Biddulph,
/ fixing his gray, sombre eyes on her face.
! "You might lead a man on, Miss Stewart,
I to big deeds and big life-a life worth
living fOr"
! Nora's blush deepened, and her eyelids
/ dropped over her dark eyes.
81 did not know you ever paid compi-
ments," she said, with a smile.
! "NOr do /. ] was thinking If, in my
earlier manhood, any one had helped me
/ up, might not now have had an aimless
l career before me. But as 1t is"
At this moment the sound of carriage
wheels was heard, and Biddulph rose and
went to the window.
''Here is an arrival" he said in an
annoyed tone. 81 shall 90 now, Miss
/ Stewart"
81 ask you not to 90; ] wish you not to
| CO." said Nora, raising herselfo on the couch
and looking round at Biddulph.
But it Will be painful for us all.
"Mrs. Conway-Hope," announced Al
fred at the drawing-room door; and the
next instant, as Nora and Biddulah ex-
changed glance of half-comic horror. that
lady's gaunt, angular form made its APP
pearance, and she at once rushed up to
Nora and kissed her etiuslvely.
"My dear child 1 was determined TO
come at once. l have just heard this
dreadful story about Mr. Biddulph."
II think Cousin Margaret, you have
met Mr.. Biddulph before" said Nora sup
pressively; and upon this Biddulpb adj
vanced from the window to the center of
the room, and made grave bow.
"Mrs Conway-Hope's face at this mo-
ment was a study. As her short-sighted
eyes took in the fact that this man-this
man accused OF murder-was standing be-
fore her in Nora Stewards drawing-room,
she drew herself up to her full height, and
her gray-tinted skin grew grayer.
Il am very much surprised" she
said
"To see me here" answered Biddulph,
with little scornful smile.
"Yes-I an surprised" said Mrs. Con-
way-Hope, with marked severity.
''To see any guest of mine in my own
house? ?" said Nora, haughtily. "Mr. Bid
dulph is my friend and my inUited guest,
so why should you be surprised to see him
here Cousin Margaret"
Mrs. Conway-Hope did not speak for Il
moment; then she sank down on a chair
near, as if quite overcome.
81 shall say nothing" she murmured,
with dismal shake of her head.
II won't shock your feelings by my
l..