The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05

Poor dear Nora is terribly upset still,
evidently" she said, turning to Minnie
Fraser. "Do you ever hear anything of
the dreadful man who caused all this
scandal and trouble?"
II believe Nora hears occasionally from
Mr.. Biddulph; but it is subject that is
never mentioned 10 her" replied Minnie.
well, 1t is certainly an unpleasant one
for you all, said Mrs. Conway-Hope; but
later in the day she found she had gone a
little too far, for when she more than
limited to Nora that she was quite ready to
go with them the next day to Scotland,
Nora took not the slightest notice of her
scarcely veIled proposal.
1t Will be very inconvenieDt for me TO
leave here on Saturday, my dear Nora"
she presently suggested; II reckoned on
spending week or ten days at least with
you. Would you mind letting me remain
over Sunday at least?'
"Not in the least" answered Nora,
''only there will be no one in the house
but the charwoman, as l take all the SER
wants down with me-"
Gould you not leave a couple of them
for day or two?
Nora finally agreed to leave one OF the
housemaids: and Mrs. Conway Hope hav-
ing thus provided herself with free quar-
tNtS AOi - mCGh VI tMO-4Oi BIC lCalAl ndu
no intention of leaving earlier-she be-
came little more amiable; but both
Nora aand Minnie Fraser were still exceed
ingly glad to think that they would soon
be rid of her company.
They had fixed TO start in an early train
for the north, but before they lett town
Nora received very great shock. This
was caused by the letter Biddulph had
written to her from the hotel at Glendive,
to sell her OF Malcolm Fraser's dangerous
condition. He said as little about his own
injuries as possible, but Nora read his let
ter with pale cheeks and bated breath.
Instantly her mind turned to the extraor-
diuary coincidence that both Malcolm and
BiddulDh should be injured, and that
they should have met in the valley OF the
Yellowstone river, when Malcolm had ex-
pressed no intention OF going there "He
has followed James" thought Nora, with
that quick intuition of the truth which
women possess. "He is keeping some
thing back. Oh, this is terrible, too terri
blel"
She clasped her hands, and stood there
thinking what she should do. "I think
his parents should know at once" Bid
dulph had written, ''for | shall not dis
guise from you that the doctor here has a
very bad opinion Of his case. l shall try
to get him back to New York, and both
you and Mr. and Mrs. Fraser may depend
upon my doing everything that is possible
for him; but the injury to his spine is
very serious"
Had they fought, and had Biddulph
shot him2 Nora asked herself, with a
sinking heart. And how could she tell
the mother this, who had already become
so anxious about her son?
"Poor Malcolm-poor boy, poor boy!"
and Nora's tears fell fast. All her young
cousins hot faults were forgiven and for
gotten now, for Nora knew Biddulph
would not have written az he had done
If there had been much ground for hope.
And if Biddulph's hand had done this ?
But no, this could not, could not be!
Nora tried at first to disguise her agita-
ton from Minnie Fraser, who came into
the room while she was still standing
with bidddlph's letter in her hand, but
Minnie instantly perceived something
was wrong
"What is the matter, Nora ?'' she asked
anxiously. Nothing has happened at
home, has there?"
''No, dear" faltered Nora.
''Then, il is something about poor NAL
colm," cried Minnie. ''I see it is, Nora! 4!
Oh! what has happened? He-he-is
not"
'He has had an accident, and is badly
injured" said Nora, as Minnie paused.
"I've had a letter from Mr.. Bddulph, and
he has met Malcolm somewhere in the
neighborhood OF the Yellowstone valley,
and-and he is going to take him back TO
New York"
"Mr. Biddulphp repeated Minnie, and
her face flushed "Oh, Nora, what could
they have to do with each other2 Poor
Malcolm hated Mr.. Biddulph. There is a
secret in all this"
They've quarreled, and Malcolm has
been hurt Oh what will mother say
This will Just break her heart"
Minnie began TO sob aloud, and Nora
too was greatly overcome. That this idea
should have occurred TO Minnie also
seemed like confirmation of her own fears.
And Biddulph? Perhaps he was keeping
back his own danger out of tender consid-
Grafton for her, Nora now thought with
blanched cheeks and sinking heart.
"What shall we do, Minnie ?" she asked.
/ Telegraph for your father, or go homer
''Then poor mother would be left alone
\ il my father came here, and that would be
so dreadful for her. Let us go home, as we
intended, Nora, and then father will de-
4 eide what it will be best 10 do"
! They settled this, and went on with
| their preparations for leaving town in
silent anxiety and grief.
"Don't let us tell Mrs. Conway-Hope, u
/ Minnie said; and Nora spoke no word to
cousin Margaret" OF Malcolm Fraser
1 That lady, however, noticed that both the
! girls had evidently been greatly disturbed,
/ and that their eyelids were red and swollen
1 with tears.
81 hope you have had no i'll news, my
/ dear Nora2" she asked, curiously; but Nora
1 made no answer, and Mrs. Conway-Hope
/ instantly decided that her conjecture had
been right.
at is something about that wretched
Biddulph, dare say" she thought; "or
perhaps young Fraser. Oh, well, they
may keep their secrets if they like"
And they did keep their secret and
started on their journey without satisfy
ing Mrs. Conway Hopes strong desire to
with their hands clasped together in the
railway carriage and tried TO speak leach
| for the others sske) more hopefully than
they felt.
Father and mother are sure 10 90 Ia
New York." Minnie said; mother,
know, will not bear to think that Malcolm
| is very ill, and that she is not near to
nurse him"
"If they 60" answered Nora, with
heaving breast and a sudden flush dying
her pale face, 81 shall go, too. IL must
see poor Malcolm again"
'pfo see you would do him more good