Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 34, Number 19, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 June 1888 — Page 1

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YOL. XXXIV-NO. 19. INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1888. ONE DOLLAR TEIt YEAR.

ßStrai7$eTßssa$e BY DORA RUSSELL, Author of "Footprints iv the Ssovr" "Tue Broken Peal," "The Vicar's Governess," "Annabel's Rival." Copyrighted, 13S8.

CHAPTER XVII. Sandy wins. BIDDTJLril looked eagerly tip, as Sandy Ilill.mado this surprising announcement. "What?" he Paid. "Yes, Mr. Diddulph," continued Sandy, approaehins nearer to Biddulph, and lowering his voiee into a mysterious whisper; "but might I be bold, sir, beforo I commenee my story, as to see that we have no listeners?" And Sandy looked at the door, which was slightly ajur. "Certainly. Ik pood enough to shut the door, and then fit down and tell me all you know." Sandy went to the door first, and peeped out; then he drew a chair close to Liddulph's, and sat down on the edge of it. "I want you to understand first, please, Mr. Eiddulph," he began in alow and confidential tone, "that in coming here tonight, in one way, I am making a sacrifice o my feeling3; but in matters of business we must put feelings into our pockets." "I do not in the least understand your meaning." "Xot yet, eir, but you will come to it. Let usfirst have a clear arrangement; I am a man of business, and I like everything on the square. The sum of one thousand pound3 U to be paid down, then, by you to the person who brings such information to you that the police shall be able to lay their hands on the party who shot the ladv in the tilen?" "Have I not eakl so?" asked Biddulph, impatiently. "That i-j "arranged, then; the next thins, perhaps, that I lud best explain, Mr. JJiddulpl , i3 who I am and how I happen to be mixed up in this business." "I shall be glad to hear." "I manage Mr. Alick Eraser's business affairs in Glasgow," began Sand', with rather a grand air; but a hasty exclamation from Biddulph stopped him. "Mr. Alick Eraser! lie is not mixed up in jour coming here to-night, is he?" asked Biddulph sharply. "So, Mr. Biddulph, he is not not in any way mixed tip; in fact, he would have stopped me it I had taken him into my confidence. But a sense of justice, and a sense of what is due to a gentleman in your position, sir, has induced me in this matter not to consider Mr. Eraser exactly." "Well, if he has nothing to do with it, you can go on." "I shall go on, sir, for he has not. To Fut things in proper order, Mr. Biddulph, must return now to yesterday afternoon, when it became known in the village of Bai la the handsomo reward you had offered for the discovery of the murderer of the lady. It created an excitement, sir. The iolice were excited, and I shall not deny that I wa3 also. I may here mention, Mr. Biddulph, that it has long been my desire to start in business on my own account, and that want of capital has alone prevented me. I thought to myself, here is a chance of capital, it I can only hit the right nail on the head. I determined to try. I tried to hear what the police were whispering to each other, for 1 have long ears; but they took good care I should hear nothing, for they are very artful, are the police. But as I 'kept moving about sir, among the people, with my cars open, I may fay, two lads passed me whose words I thought very bigniflcant," "This was in Balla?" "In Balla, sir, about 7 p. m., when it was growing dusk, and the people wcro ptill talking all around about your offered reward. Said one lad to the other, as they passed me, 'But just think, Hob, what this money would do for us.' The other replied, Tor all that, I wouldn't have it on my conscience; and I won't break mv word? t "Mr. Biddulph, these words struck me. I'm sharp, and the manner of both the lads was very earnest. They were young fellows of between eighteen or" twenty brothers, by the likeness between them and were dressed, one in gamekeeper fashion, the other as a workman or woodman. Well, I followed them not close, you know; but I kept them in sight, and presently they went into a little thatched hovel, not far from the ro idside, on Mr. Alick Eraser's property. I hung about till it was quite dark, and then 1 crept on my hands and knees round a little hillock at the back of the cottage, until I got close up to the mud walls. It was little better than a heap of stones, sir, and there were plenty of chinks that I could put my ears to. and my eyes also, for that matter. They had a good log fire on the hearth, and they were cooking something in a cauldron hung over it that smelt uncommon well, anyhow; and an old wife, deaf and smoke-dried, was sitting smoking. I listened; what do vou think they were talking about, Mr. Biddulph?" "How can I possibly tell?" said Biddulph. "About yourself, sir quito free-like. May I make so 1-okl as to tell you exactly what they said?" "Of course you can." "Well, sir, the one they called Rob said it was a bad job from beginning to end, and that he wished you had never como into the country side. 'It's played the. veradeil wi the young laird,' ho said; 'he's a changed mo'n.'" "With the younglaird?" asked Biddulph Inquiringly. "Meanwhile young Mr. Malcolm Eraser, sir, a Isoon discovered. Then they talked on about a set-to that you and Malcolm Eraser bad had together, and said thero wa ill blood between you, and tho like. 'Still,' said the one they called Tarn tho elder brother -'tho voting laird had na right to make a inuir-cock of the puir lee.lv.'" "What?" cried Biddulph, with some escitoment. "That Mas what Tarn said, sir; and then lie began hammering on again alout tho money. With stich a sum they could tako a farm ; they could go to Australia and become rich men, and a hundred tilings besides. Tarn kept saying all this over and over again, but Bob said very little, and sat with his head hanging down. Then suddenly ho looked tip, and spoko quito tharp-like. " 'N'a, I won't,' ho said ; 'I won't bring tho young laird to tho gallows for a' tho pold that o'er was coined ! Don't talk nao inuir about it, Tarn, my mind's made up; and luko here,' he added, drawing some, money out of Iiis pocket, 'hero's five sov

ereigns the puir fellow brought this morn, and he told me it was a' he had ; and he promised me we should never want for naught, and that he'd get the laird to pi' ns a bit holding as soon as he could. I'll keep his secret, and yo must keep it, Tarn ; I could nao lie in my bed if I thought I'd twined the rope round his neck him I ha' known sa lang.' "Mr. Biddulph," continued Sandy, growing quite excited with his narrative, "I have repeated word for word what he spoke, but I need not go on with all they said. They got their supper out of tho cauldron over the fire a fat rabbit and the stone jar of whisky from the cupboard, and badn t thev a set-to, and the old dame, who could not tear a ßingle word, along with them ! And Tarn agreed to keep the voung laird's secret as well as Rob; for Rob reminded him he had made a solemn promise to do so, and that he would never have told his brother, except that Tarn had heard Rob rambling on in his sleep about the poor lady's dying shrieks, and had laid one thing to tho other, and had thus found it out." "And what else did they say?" asked Biddulph, who was very pale, as Sandy paused for breath. "A deal, sir, and my verv blood ran cold to hear him. Rob said that he and the young laird were on tho high hills above theGlen of Balla, when they espied vour boat crossing the loch through young Mr. Malcolm's field-glass. They were returning from the deer forest at the head of the loch, and had sat down to drink some whisky irom their flasks, when they saw you, and Rob said Mr. Malcolm's face grew black as night at the sight. Rob was carrving tho young laird's rille, and they had not had a chance of a shot at tho deer all day, and the rillo was loaded ; and as Sir. Malcolm watched you through the glass land at Balla and enter the Glen, tho verv devil himself, Rob said, seemed to get hofd of the young laird, and his face grew just awful to behold. Then he snatched the rifle out of Bob's hand, and swore he would have a shot at you ; and Rob went down on his knees and prayed him for tho Lord's sake to let you alone. But he sworo he would, and ho ran down the hill with his rille in his hand, and stood among some birch wood; but Bob stopped where he was, and turned his back, and wouldn't look, as he did not wish to see his young master commit murder. "Well, sir," continued Sandy, his verv hair apparently standing on end with horror, and his round eyes dilating, for Sandy hated the very name of firearms, "tlrt next minute Rob heard the rifle-shot and the lady's awful screams. He'll never forget them, he said, to his dying day ; and as he stood terrified, young Mr. Malcolm ran back to him, with the rifle in his hand, and murder in his eyes! 'I've shot them both,' he said; and "lie called you and the lady, sir, such ill names, I could not take upon myself to repeat them in your presence. But he gave tne rifle back to' Rob, and thev crept together out of the Glen, through tlie high hills, and back to the head of the loch; and Rob swore to the young laird that he would never betrav'him. So that's my story, Mr. Biddulph," added Sandy, drawing out his rod silk handkerchief and mopping his face; "and I think you'll agree with me, I have laid such information beforo you that I am entitled to the offered reward in full." "I quito agree with you, Mr. Hill," answered Mr. Biddulph. And then he rose from his chair and began walking slowly up and down the room, with his eyes cast upon the lloor. Of what was he thinking? Eirst a sort of stern triumph tilled his heart, that his cruel deed had been brought home to the headstrong vouth who had twice attacked him, ami Ins own feet had become entangled in tho

sn :ire he had spread for Biddulph. But ddenlv, Sandy furtively watching him, su

saw Iiis expression change. Biddulph stopticd, bit his under lip, and then looked quickly at Sandy. A swift thought had darted" into his mind a most painful thought, for Biddulph had remembered Mrs. Eraser, and the mother's fond, almost passionate love for her only son. How often had he seen her eyes soften as she looked on her boy's face; and this blow, he knew, would be most terrible to her. Again Biddulph resumed his slow pacings to and fro; he was trving to think what it would be lest to do, how he could "temper justice with mercy," in the trying position in which he found himself. "And when do you propose, Mr. Hill," he said at length," addressing Sandy, "to lay the information you have acquired before the police?" "Eirst thing in tho morning sir," answered Sandy briskly', "I prepared the whole statement beforo I came here this evening, as I did not wish to come until the dusk, as one never can tell who is watching one. I think I shall be justified also, sir," he added, clearing his throat, "in applying for the 200 offered bv the sheriff." "You will become quite rich, Mr. Hill," said Biddulph, a little grimly. "I shall make a good use of the capital I have acquired, I hope. Mr. Biddulph. I proiose, sir, to start in business on my own account at once; and I am sure, Mr. Biddulph, if you would care to entrust mo with anv commission you will find mo strictly honorable and honest, sir the last penny accounted for, after a fair per cent, has, of course, been deducted." "I shall not forget your obliging offer. And about this thousand pounds when do you want it?" Sandy's face fell. "I understood," he said after a few moments' pause, "that it was to be paid down." "Immediately upon the information having been given to the police, eh?" "That was what I understood, sir." "Well, come hero to-morrow morning. 1t me see say aboui 12 o'clock, before you have been to tho police. I want to go over the whole thing myself beforo you apply to them, so that there is no screw loose. Hon't mention this to a sotd until I have seen you again; and if you como here, ns I said, to-morrow at 12, I shall have your check for 1,000 ready for you ; but only, remember, on the condition that you have not gone first to the police." "Of courso 1 shall do exactly as you wish, Mr. Biddulph," said Sandy, opening his round eyes wider, and rubbing his hands tog' ther. IIo was too sharp not to fcrceive that Biddulph had so mo motive or deferring the time of laying tho information beforo the police ;"but, of course, Mr. Biddulph must bo responsible for tho consequence of this. "There is only one thing, sir," ho added, determined to make this point clear. "If this delay should causo anv accident in tho courso of justice say, if Mr. Malcolm Eraser should get off beforo the police lay hold of him I cannot bo hehl accountable." "Certainly not. You have done your part, and you shall have your money. And now tell me, what is tho surname of your friend Rob, tho faithful gillio who would not betraf his master?" "His name, sir I ascertained all particulars this morning is Robert Mackenzie: tho Uvo brothers are Thomas and Robert Mackenzie, and their father and mother were farm servants with Mr. Eraser at Airdlinn, and they Loth died together

about the same time, at least of fever, and Mr. and Mrs. Fraser of Airdlinn were very kind to these two lads, and the 3'ounger one, Rob, has always been a sort of attendant on the young laird since they were boys. Tom is the one for the polico to tackle, sir, so as to get the whole story confirmed. The other, Rob, won't split on his young master until he i3 forced to do so." "A loyal heart 1 And who is the old dame who enjoyed her supper with them?" "Their grandmother, sir," answered Sandy, with a grin, and wriggling himself on his chair in appreciation of Mr. Biddulph's supposed joke. "And she's deaf as a post, sir, and very old ; and ThomasTarn is employed on Mr. Alick Eraser's property as woodman and the like ; and Rob gets work at Inismore, too, occasionally. But ho spends the principal part of his time with young Mr. Malcolm Fraser on the hills ;"but he'll do that no more;" and again Sandv grinned. "No." said "Biddulph briefly. "And now, Mr. Hill, will you take some refreshment? The night is waxing late." Sandy took the hint. "I'll go now, sir," he said, "and shall have honor of waiting on you again tomorrow morning at 12 o'clock precisely, bringing all necessary notes and information. And since you are so obliging as to oiler me a little refreshment, sir, I'll not refuse a drop of whisky, which I'll make bold to ask your butler for as ho lets mo out. Good evening, Mr. Biddulph" and Sandy bowed low "and I wish to express to you, sir, the full satisfaction and gratification that mv visit has given me." "All right; Ell expect you to-morrow. Good night." "Good night, sir. My humble and grateful thanks, sir. Again good night;" and with another bow, Sandy was gone. CHAPTER XVIII. A LATE VISITOR. About half past ten o'clock on the same evening that Sandy Hill had visited Dunbaan, in Nora Stewart's drawing room at Rossmore two ladies were sitting, feeling decidedly tired of each other's company. They had been together all davf and the day had seemed very long. Nora was charmingly dressed in a tea-gown of palo bronze plush, lined and trimmed with very delicate blue. She certainly looked a very handsome woman as 6he lay there, pretending to read behind her shaded lamp, but she also looked a little wearied and disappointed. She was disappointed ; she had lully expected that Biddulph would have called during the afternoon, and she had donned her new tea-gown in this expectation. And now she was mentally blaming Mrs. Conway-Ilope because lie had not done so, and this made Nora feel rather unamiable. "We have not had one visitor to-day ; not even the doctor!" presently said Mrs. Conwav-Hope. "No,'' answered Nora, somewhat alv ruptly. "The scenery is certainly beautiful hero in summer," now said Mrs. Con way-Hope, putting aside her knitting for the night; "but at this season one requires a little more social intercourse than one can expect to find in the Highlands. Have you decided yet, Nora dear, when you start for town?" "I have not thought of it yet. Surely that was a ring?" The two ladies listened, and a minute later Alfred, the footman, came into the room with a card. "Mr. Biddulph is in the hall, madam," he said, addressing Nora, "and he wishes to know if he can see you for a few moments, though he is sorrv to disturb you so late." "Certainly. Show him up," answered Nora. "Shall I retire?" asked Mrs. ConwayIlope, with affected jocoscness, for she had not the least intention of going. "Just as you like," said Nora; and the next moment Biddulph was in the room. He looked pale and grave, and went up straight to Nora's couch and took her hand. "How arc you?" he said. "And will you forgive me for coming at this unreasonable hour!" "I I thought you would come to-day." she answered, with a pleased, bright loos. "How aro you, Mr. Biddulph?" said Mrs. Conway-Hope, now going forward with her claw-like hand outstretched. "I must congratulate vou." "Thank you," said Biddulph, a little grimly, bowing over her hand, while Nora's face grew crimson. "Our good friend, the doctor," continued Mrs. Conway-Hope quite playfully, "told us how everything missed od" yesterday satisfactorily. 1 know tho sheriff."" "Then you know a very agreeable man," said Biddulph. "Miss Stewart," ho added, turning again to Nora; "I am going to make a very unusual request; but can I see you alone for a few minutes, on business?" "I am in the way, then, it seems?" said Mrs. Conway-Hope. "In that case I shall retire, (iood night, Mr. Biddulph. I shall see you, Nora my love, later on in jour own room, I suppose?" and Mrs. ConwayHope bowed, and disappeared. "Vou will wonder why I have asked this," said Biddulph, going up close to Nora, and speaking in a low and somewhat agitated voice. "Miss Stewart, I am sorrv; I fear I bring you ill news." "What?" said Nora, with a littlo start, and looking at him ongcrly. "lias anything happened to youf" "Not to me ; but you are sure no one can hear us?" And Biddulph hastily crossed the room and opened tho door, and as he did so there was a rush of a silk garment, and some one made a very quick retreat up tho stairs. "I just fancied that lady wan listening," he said, as ho went back to Nora's side: "und what I've got to say nono but you and I must hear. You aro fond of your cousin Jock Fraser and his wife, are you not, Miss Stewart? Will vou try to savo them from a terrible grief?1' "A terrible grief! On. Mr. Biddulph, not surely about that unhappy boy, Malcolm?" Biddulph's eves fell. "Unhappily1 he said, "about that most unhappy boy. Miss Stewart, I have como to ask you to do to-night what in tho eyes of tho law is wrong; but for his mother's sake-" "What has ho done?" asked Nora, growing very pale ns Biddulph paused. Eor a moment ho hesitated; then ho said slowly "What he allowed mo to lc suspected of doing: Malcolm Eraser's hand fired tho shot that killed poor Natalie in tho Glen Of Italia," "Malcolm I But what motive had lie? And Oh! I understand now! Mr. Biddulph, is thisniurJrf ' "It's an ugly word, but I fear there is no other name. Motive? Shall I tell you his motive. Ho did not mean to kill tho poor woman, but to kill wr." "Oh, this is too dreadful!" cried Nora, f reatly agitated; and, forgetting her inured ankles In her great emotion, she rose all trembling from her couch. But Biddulph caught ber hands and gently forced her back.

"Take care," he said. "Yes, it is dreadful, but you must not excite yourself and make yourself ill ; I want you to show all your courage to-night, for Mrs. Eraser's sake?" "Tell me about it. Tell me how do you know !" asked Nora, with heaving breast and parted lips. "Ho you know a lad named Rob Mackenzie a gillie, an attendant on young Malcolm ?" "Yes, I know him well; he has often been here. IIo is devoted to Malcolm." "And he has a brother?" "Yes, and an old granddame. They live on this side of the loch because their elder brother is employed by Alick Eraser. What have they to do with it? Surely Rob Mackenzie has not " "Betrayed his master?" said Biddulph, with a 6ort of smile. "No, the young Gael is true to the core. I offered a thousand pounds for information that would lead to the discovery of the man who killed yon poor soul in tho Glen, and this lad knew this and spoke no word. But a man came to mo to-ni;Jit, another sort rf man, and sold the secri t. And now I will tell you the story" Then Biddulph toTd Nora what we already know told all the details which Sandy Hill's long ears had heard, and Nora grew paler and p der as she listened. "Then this means," she said, grasping Biddulph's hand in her cold, trembling ones,"t hat that Malcolm will be arrested ; that it is murder?" "It means that M.dcolm will be arrested, unless he can get away." "Ami can this be done?" said Nora, again starting up. "Oh, Mr. Biddulph, try to save him, though he has done you this great wrong! 1-or my sake, for his mother's sake." "Eor your sake and for his mother's sake, I have come here to-night. 1 have thought it all over; tho dreadful consequences to that kindly household of this boy's madness tho" mother's terriblo grief! I cannot help him being arrested if he stays in Scotland. The reward, and the sheriff's reward also, is justly earned by this man; but, if we can manage it, he will have twelve hours' start before the information is lodgi l with the police. In these twelve hours, Miss Stewart, he must fly." "Oh, let us send for him now, then ; let me write!" "It will, I think, lie best for you to send for him here. Is tljere any one in your household on whom you can really depend?" "I think on Alfred, the young footman." "He looks ail bom St fellow. Well, could Alfred row across he loch alone to Airdlinu it is n fine moonlight night and bring young Malcolm back with him? And will you write atew urgent lines to him, telling him thai he mud come, and he must never go hack. I have brought my cheque-book wit'i me; ho will want money, and he must g) to America, Australia out of the way, at least, and go at once, or nothing can save him." "I will write. Will vou reach me mv desk? Oh, what am. 1 to say?" asked Nora, who was terribly agitated. "Tell him that you must see him at oner; that something dreadful has happened, which makes this an absolute necessity. His conscience," added Biddulph grimly, "will perhaps make him guess your meaning. Aud do not t jl him I am here; I would go for him myself, only I know his fiery and uncontrollable nature might make him commit some fresh act of violence and folly. But you can influence him, for one tiling. I gl ve him some pity ; ho likes you too well;" and Biddulph's voice faltered. "1 wish I had never Fpoken to him. I loo I-id upon him us a bdv, a brother." "But ho did not look upon you ns a sister. But we must not waste time. Will you write your letter, and I w ill go and seek out Alfred, and make it worth his while to hold his tongue?" "How how good you are !" said Nora, her dark eyes dim with tAars. "Do you not think I would spare yon any painT a.sked Biddulph, bonding over her. "See, your paper is uil ready for you, only be sure to mako your letter urgent enough." He placed the note-paper before her, and fut the pen into hor trembling hand ; then ic went to seek Alfred, and came to a satisfactory arrangement -with that young man. "Miss Stewart's cousin, young Mr. Malcolm Fraser, has got into somo trouble," he told Alfred, "and'ho must keep out of the way for a while. You have to give Miss Stewart's letter into his own hand

and bring him here, and vou shall have ''0 for your trouble. But you are riot to tell him" I have been here, as he and I do not get on together; and keep the boat ready for starting again when you come back" here with him. You must row him down tle loch in time to catch tho first train in the morning." Alfred was quito agreeable, but thought ho ought to confide in Buhner (Nora's maid, and his sweetheart), but was too reliable to do this without leave. "There is a young woman, sir," ho said, nn ingenuous blush stealing over his comely countenance, "whom I would liko to mention it to before I go, if you havo no objection." "I havo tho very greatest objection," answered Biddulph, "and I can have no voung woman mixed up in the matter. 'The young woman will forgive you," he added, with a smile, "if you buy her a present with part of tin; twenty pounds vou uro about to earn ;" und Alfred, perhaps having some knowledge of the weakness of the female heart on the subject of pretty gifts, determined for once to do something without consulting his Palmer. He left Biddulph to get the boat ready, and Biddulph returned to Nora, who looked up anxiously from her letter as ho entered the room. "I have written all that I dare," sho said ; "will vou read it? Have you seen Alfred? AV'ill hego?" "That is all settled. No, I will not read your letter. You havo put it strongly enough, 1 hope?" "I havo told him I know that ho is in great langer; that lie must como bereut once." "That will do. Now seal your letter, and I will take it down to Alfred at tho boat-house. He is a smart young fellow that." Nora mado no answer; she was cold, pale, and trembling. Tho wholo thing seemed too frightful tobe true, and yet sho knew that it was true. The letter was soon ready, and soon, also, Alfred was rowing as noiselessly as possible from the littlo pier below tho house at Rossmore. Biddulph stood and watched him go out of the shadows on to the broad breast of the loch, where tho moonlx-ams lay cradled on tho dark tide, it was so still that each dip of tho oars was heard with remarkable distinctness ; and as Biddulph's eyes followed tho lessening boat, be thought sadly enough of tho blight Rs errand was r.bout to cast on the once happy household at Airdlinn. "And I suppose they will think I havo brought this upon them," ho reflected gloomily. "Straneel had 1 never come to Bunbaan, this mud boy might havo lived to Ins an honored man. But there it is. Our actions draw others down sometimes liko a quicksand, and wo cannot save

them. All that is left for him now is to go away and never to return." Then he remembered Nora's natural anxiety and distress, and went back to her, and found her looking so white and ill, ho was greatly touched. lie pulled her couch close to the fire, he stirred it, and knelt down on the hearth to try and make it burn moro brightly, and looked up with much feeling at her pale face. ""I seem to bring nothing but trouble to you all, he said. "Oh, do not say thatl" she answered, trying to suppress her tears. "But for you 1 could not bear this." He took her hand, kneeling there with the firelight falling on his grave, handsome features and gray, sombre eyes. "We can't help ourselves, Nora," he said, sadly. "I did not mean to blight the life of the poor lad. nor stain his mother's cheeks with tears. I would willingly bring evil on none, yet I have brought it and not only on him and the shadows deepened on his face. "It is through no fault of yours." "I have been wondering about this, Nora but may I call you Nora now, when we are drawn so close by this great trouble?" "Yes; always call me Nora," she answered, with "faltering lips, and her hand trembled in Biddulph's. He felt this; he looked at her, and a wave of deep, yearning love swept over his heat. "I must not sr.y what I would say," ho murmured, and he bent his dark" head down and laid his lips upon her hand. "Say you forgive me, then, the ill I have brought on your young cousin. Oh, Nora, but 1 pray not on you !" "I owe my life" to you. Why do you talk thus?" "Because I know I was selfish. I had not strength to tear myself away when I knew I had no right to linger by your side. You knew this, did you not"? You gave some pity to my weakness?" Nora did not speak; and he knelt there still, clasping both her hands. But suddenly she remembered Malcolm Eraser, and she pushed him away. "Oh, don't let us forget that poor boy," she said, "and his dreadful danger! You had better go away ; it would only madden him to find vou here." "Yes," said Biddulph, and he rose. "But I won't leave Rossmore until he is gone; I dare not trust you with him without help near. These windows look straight down on the steep to the loch, don't they?" "Yes." "Then, I'll go now, and wait among the firs there, and if you open one of these windows and call I shall hear you. I 6hall be quito out of young Malcolm's way there, and I shall feel happier if I am near you. And about money; I will give you a cheek for any amount you think he will require." "No, for he would see your name on it. I have thought about that. Luckily I got some money the other day; I have nearly a hundred pounds liere;" and sho opened her desk. They made up a hundred poundä between them; and then Biddulph, looking out, saw the boat returning across the water from Airdlinn. "Is he there?" asked Nora eagerly. "Y'es, there are two figures in tho boat Nora, I had better gr now, but do not forget that I am near you incase of need; but if he goes quietly away I shall not see you agaiu to-night." She clasped his hand without speaking; she looked into his face as if to gam strength from his calmness. "Good-bye,"he said, almost inawhisper; and he bent down and kissed each small, cold, trembling palm in turn. "Take courage;" and the next moment he was gone. Nora never forgot what she felt as she waited there during the next few minutes, to break to her young cousin the terriblo fate be had brought on his own head. She never forgot when he entered, pale and agitated, with a look in his blue eyes she had never seen there before a look of dread, as if some haunting and pursuing fear wero alwnvs near him. "What 13 it?" he asked, as he went up to her and took her chill hand. "You sent foi me what is tho matter?" Then Nora rose, pale, almost staggering; she opened her palo lips ; she paused for ords. "Don't, for heaven's sake, look liko that! What on earth is it? Do speak, Nora!" "Malcolm," she answered tremblingly and falteriugly, "you must fly to-night; you must go now. Your mad deed in the Glen of Balla is known; there is no safety for vou here." ifc started back ns if 6he had struck him, and every particU of color faded out of his face. "Who savs this?" ho asked, in a hoarse voice. "What havo I to do with this?" "God's eyo saw you fire the shot, Malcolm, the blame of which you allowed to rest on an innocent man. Do not deny it it is known; there are witnesses coming forward against you, and all that is left for vou now is to ily." lie did not speak for a moment; he sank back on a chair as though utterly overwhelmed; ho covered his face with his hand. "I havo money ready for you," went on Nora eagerly, "and you must go straight from here, "and Alfred will row you down the loch to the staiion, andyoumustcatch the first train that passes, and make your wav direct to some port. You must not delay un hour. Cio to live rpool, that will bw best, and start in some outward-bound steamer. Wherever you go I will send you money. Here is 100 pounds, Malcolm ; do not waste timo now, when it is so precious, in useless regret." Then he looked up, and his face seemed to have turned suddenly haggard. "Bob Mackenzie has betrayed this, then." ho said, in a changed voiee. "No; but the horror of that dreadful scene haunted the poor lad, and he rambled about it in bis sleep, and his brother listened. And when they were talking of it, unother listener crept, under" tho shadow of night, closo to their little cottage walls vou know what a poor place it is and this" man heard tho wholo 6tory, and, for the sake of tho reward, carried it to Mr. Biddulph." Malcolm Eraser started to his feet with a fierce oath. "What! he's in it, then, is he? Tho man who has blasted my whole life!" "Yet ho came hero to-night to try to savo you ; knowing, too, that it wasiü life, and not tho poor lifo you did take, that you tried to destroy when you fired that latul shot. Malcolm, you havo wronged Mr. Biddulph as few men havo wronged the other, for you let the blame of your sin fall upon him, and yet be has donoyou no injury." "No injury!" repeated tho unhappy young man, in a tone of such intense misery and passion that his words seemed to pierco Nora's heart. "Is it no injury, then, to destroy every hope, every joy of a human life? Nora, this is what this man has clono for me. You knew well I loved you loved tho very ground you trod on, and have kissed your shadow a hundred times ns it fell upon tlie grass. Is all this nothing? From tho time I

knew what love was, I have loved you, and then this Biddulph came between us he a married man ! "But Malcolm you are mistaken ; Mr. Biddulph never sought me in that way he never " "Oh, I know!" interrupted Malcolm Eraser bitterly, as Nora hesitated : "he did not ask you tö marry him, I dare say, because he could not ; but for all that he tried to steal, and did steal your heart away from me ! Do vou think I am blind ? And I grew mad. 1 sent him a challenge and the coward would not go to Erance to fight like a man ; so I will not deny it I meant to shoot him like a dog!" "Hush, hush! do not talk thu. Malcolm, you are wasting time. Have you no thought for your mother, and her terrible grief if anything were to happen to her only son? Here is the money; take it, and then go quietly away. You can always write to me here or in town, and you can have more money whenever vou want it, only do not delay." "Have you no pity for me?" he presently asked, standing before her with his blue eyes lixed on her face with strange wilfulness "none for my wasted love and wrecked life?" "Y'es yes, I liave," answered Nora; and she held out both her hands, and her tears fell fast. "Kiss me, then, once," he said, in broken accents ; "kiss me before I go." She bent her head forward and kissed him, and he sank down upon his knees. "Forgive me ; and, Nora, kiss my mother for me ; tell her" and a sob choked lüs voice "tell her not to grieve. If I live I shall see her again and you, too, my one and only love!" Ho left her a few moments later, and Nora, utterly overcome, tottered to the window and watched the moonlit water. And presently a boat shot out from the shadows and gilded on through the silvered tide. It was bearing her young cousin into exile ; bearing far away from kith and kin the fiery, passionate heart that had loved her too well. (To be continued next vecl:) The ltlue anil Gray. Chicago Ilerald. Assist. Adjt-Gen. Walker, of Indiana, has at least succeeded in making himself conspicuous, something he never diu m the war. by virtue of his brief authority he forbade the members of the "Blue and Gray" organization taking part in the grand army memorial services on Decoration Day in Indianapolis. One can hardly realize that any human being could be guilty of such contemptible narrow-mindedness, and yet there is such a being, and his name is V alkcr. The "Blue and Gray" is an organization which, as its name implies, is composed of union and ex-confederate veterans. It seems to be an adjunct to the prohibition party, and a large number of its members are in attendonce on the national prohibition convention. Some time ago the grand commander of the organization wrote to the committee having charge of the memorial services in Indianapolis, suiting that a number of the members of the "Blue and Gray" would be in that city ou Decoration Day, and would be glad to participate as individuals in the ceremonies. The committee answered substantially that they would be glad to have them. Walter, hearing of this, interposed, and declared that the "blue and Gray" should not take past. A more unbecoming thing was never done. The fact i the grand army is deteriorating in places. The small potatoes are getting to the top. Men who did most of their lighting with their mouths, nn:n like the Tuttles and Deems and Walkers, have had too much to say in that organization in recent years, and the consequence is it is drifting away from the high ideals of its earlier years. The good, wise and patriotic members must assert themselves or they will he continually humiliated by just such outbreaks as this of Walker's. Why should not the "Dlue and Gray," even if all were confederates, be permitted to join iu doing honor to our patriot dead? It is a scandal upon the good name and fame of the grand army that these things should occur, for though they are the irresponsible action of such holiday soldiers as Walker, they reflect upon the whole order. Detter disband if such leaders are to be kept at the front. What Protection Costs tho I'nrmer, Chicago Times. The tariff taxes for the current year, according to the latest official figures, will amount in the aggregate to fc21,0OÜ,(KiÜ- The number of inhabitauis of the country is about OO.UUO.OOO. Therefore the tariff taxes for the year come to about $3.70 for each man, woman and child in the land; or, counting five in a family ou an average, to about $18.00 to each family on the average. The farmer can easily compare that sum with the amount of bis state faxen. Hut this is not all. There is reason to believe that where the tariff tuxes take $l$.5oa year from the average farmer for the support ot the national government, they take from him at least three times that amount in payment of the artificially increased prices of the articles of home manufacture that he has to buy for the use of himself and family, or for the purpose of carrying on his farm. Is'ow, if that is so, the tarilf costs him no less than $74 a yenr, of which only $18.50 goes to support the government, and even of "that fractional part of tho whole the government does not ueed more than one-half. The farmer may not be convinced that this is so. Hut he cannot deny that if it is so he is so personally, and very deeply, interested in the question of tariff taxation. JIo caDnot deny that the question may be to him one of success or failure in his business.

Where Will the "Sonp" Come Front? Chlc0 News. The most interesting, as it is the most deplorable question brought forward by the posMl-le candidacy ef Judge Grcshani, is "where would the money for the campaign come from?" The significance of this question is unmistakable. It means that more than ever before republican success is a matter of money "s an, us it was called in the shameful campaign oflS.su. If Grcsham is nominated, where is the fund for the light iu New York and Indiana to come from? Was there ever a hither tribute to a possible candidate, or a more humiliating confession for a party than is implied in such a query? Among five hundred odd political leaders at Buffalo, there were, perhaps, five for Greshaiu, und their advocacy of the Western judire waa everywhere met with tho inquiry: "Where would the money come from with Grcsham as the candidate?" Gresham's friends had nothing more to sny, whilo such patriots us Tom 1'hitt, Jake Hess, Johnny O'Dricn. and rx-cul-lector of tho spoils, Judgo W. JI. lUbtrton, sin ill J triumphantly. Out here in the "woolly West" there is a different view of this matter. It is considered that if the republican party can only win by tlie grace of the money kings of Wull-st., it doer vis defeat. A Formidable Party. Bonton l'ost.( In the gathering at Indianapolis of more than one thousand delegates, representing every stute in the union, to nominate candidates for president ami vice-president who by no possible combination of circumstanced can lie elected, there is more to be seen than an aimless and hopeless ambition. No man of a practical torn of mind expects that tho policy of the government ever will be based on the principles declared by the prohibitionists. It is doubtful whether members of that party who give the subject reasonable thought themselves havo any mien anticipation. lSut if the third party cannot rule, it is fast approaching, even if it hod not already reached, a position from which it can arbitrate and in a measure Influence the fortunes of the two great contending parties. From a beginning which was too insignificant to be taken into consideration in an estimate ot the elements in national politics, the prohibition party has grown to dimensions w hich are truly formidable iu view of the narrow margftin or pluralities In the popular vote by which our presidents ate elected. How About the Ilallroads? Bnstou Herald. Jay Gould Ua't so very sick. It is the storkholders in hit railroads who are not expected to recover.

MUST BUY, OR CAN'T SELL Cnles "We Import We Cannot Export JL ut for Protectionists to Crack. Thomas G. Shearman in New York Press.) I quite agree with you and Prof. Cairnea that every transaction in commerce is a private and separate transaction and that the Amerieaa who buys from Euro e does not stop to inquire whether Europeans are buying from Americans. Dut, as he must pay "for his goods, he buys a bill of exchange, and he cannot pet that bill uul csu some other American is at about the same time sending abroad va equal amount ot American productions. If ft were possible for American importers to cairy en business with out other Americans exporting American produce at the Bame dine, uicn all our ün porta would le paid for ia gold. This in the course of ten years wotdd amount to $7,CUc,0,U(Xi, and there is not bo much golj as that ia all the wc rid. Jt is, therefore, in the znojt literal sense, an absolute impossibility for Americans or any oher peop'e to continue the business cf importing f r ten years while exportin;: nothin but jjold. Vet we and all oüicr civdied nations have heca importin? fpods steadily for huutrevls of years, and shall conuiiue to do to for hurd.eds of years to coce, and you cannot name any country, even a gold-producinir one, which ev r continued for ten years to import merchandise and export nothing but gold or silver. Tuere never wa any such country, and there nover will be. Vou say that these tacts can be explained by "the accidental ciromnstam-e of a mutuid demand between the United S.ates and foreiga countries." That accidental circiimstäuce always accidentally happens every c'ay in every year. We always want goods which are made by some foreigner, iii.d some foreigners want some goods made by tis. If by an accident whirh never will happen until the world is destroyed uo foreignTS should want auy of our goods, then, whether we want the goods of foreigners or not, we shall not be able to pay for them, ard therefore wc shall rot get them. The flood of for-' eign roods will cea-;e to come in the moment that the Hood of American goods ceases to g out. PR0HI3IT10N IN INDIANA. Why the Sonttment is Orowlng What It Will Result In. Logansport l'haros. Tlie prohibition sentiment is steadily gro win J and party lines arc constantly becoming weaker. The third prty movement promises to well nigh annihilate the republican party, and we predict that before another presidential campaign the prohibition party will absorb the re publican party, and that the fight for sneces will be between the democratic aud prohibition parties. The logio of events poiats to 6uch a conclusion. The prohibitionists cannot succeed until they capture one or the other of the old parties, and everything indicates that the republican party, having no issue to preseni to the people other than the continuance of needless taxation, is tlie one that will be captured. The lawlessness and hoggishness of theliq-aor dealers have a great deal to do with the sentiment that is rapidly formipp acrainstthe liquor traffic. The provisions of our 6tat law requiring the closing of the 6aloons on Sunday and at 11 o'clock at night are openly and notoriously violated. The men engaged in the business of ' selling liquors thus plaee themselves on record as doners of the law whiclv they pive bond to respect. Will stich a condition of aßliir be tolerated, forever? We think not. The notorious violations of law wi;l in time so stir up public sentiment acaint the violators that more stringent and repressing laws will surely follow. Even if prohibitory laws are not enacted, the weak places in our present laws will be so strengthened as to forbid the wanton violation of them. As long as the liquor dealers persist in violating the Liv, the stronger will the prohibition, seutiment beo:n. It is spreading over Indiana with wonderful rapidity, ana ita adherents are as zea'ous a set of men as ever ealiited ip aaj' ea'ise. The Demoerary aud the Soldiers. Muncie Democrat. Scarcely a day pnsses but that our attention it called to cases where gallant soldiers who were incapacitated from manual labor by reason of their service during the war have been trying for years to secure that which they were justly entitled to, but met with little or no success until the democracy came into pow er. A cs in poiut is that of Mr. Frank McClelhin of Hamilton township, w ho is unable to work, and has been an almost help less invalid for more than twenty years. Eor a period of eighteen years he was allowed tha pitiful sum of $4 per month, such being th rating given him by a republican pension hoard. Hi rating was increased to P month by a board ot the same charcter, politically, and he drew that amount for three years. Under a democratic board of pension examiners ho was jriven a rutin? ef per month, the disability having been the same lor tha entire period. It is gratifying to know that poor I rank has been drawing $) per month, lor the past ten mouths. Had Grover Cleveland not been elected and the republican party been continued in power, the probability ia that the poor invalid to w horn vre refer, would have died before he had been allowed tail which was jut-tly his due. Triplet Seventy-One Years Old. From the Macon Ti'legraph.l "There stopped with me la.st week," said Mr. Tom Dame yesterday, "an old gentleman named Lawrence Hammond, of Jones county. He is seventy-four years obi and is jet strontr nd hale. His presercc here reminded me of the remarkable history of a portion of his family, lie has three brothers who are triplets. They were born in Jones county, and about the time they reached manhood they wandered apart; one w ent to Monroe county, where he still lives, and two went t Missisippi. Eleven years era the three brothers met and celebrated thcif sixtieth birthday. I was present, and, as yoil may imagine, it was a remaikabie and i:it resting occasion. On the "J.fcl of lat February they w e re scvcnty-cnc years old, and all of them were 6tout, healthy men. They were in Macon at tha last state fair and stopped with, me, and if w live they will be here at the next state fair. The two iu Mississipi arc Jt se and Thomas and the one living in Monroe county is ltn. It isn't often you strike up with such caes, ia it?" Mr. Ianrencc Hammond was in the city yester day, and one would hardly suppose he is scv cuiy-four years of jit.'O. The l'emnl hutvrnjjo l'lank. Ixxilsviüe Tiuifs. Judge Fontaine T. Fox has returned from tha Indianapolis convention. This morninjj a r porterol the 77i.nsked him how he happenel to let a woman mtTrajo plank get into a prohibition platform. .Judire Fox said : "I don't know what t''t plank means, and I don't believe anybody els know s what it im ans. The w oman sttfl'raista themselves haven't found out yet that they don't know. It whs a corapnimim plank, the idea of woman snilraje being bitterly opposed in the convent! n and in th eanvus. lor th first time nn organized opposition to the female auftrage inside of the party has k'nown that it pnsocNscd nny power. You may say that tha prohibition party is not a party of womaa suffragists. The Lait I'llcker. LvaimTille Courier. Tho action of th (J. A. lw filarial at Indianapolis, forbidding the blue and the gray to taka part in the Hecoration day ceremonies at Indianapolis to-day, is the last flicker of the Came of war in time of peace. Indiana no longer responds to the spirit of hatred, nor does tha (J. A. It. in this part of Indiana. Uut whether the grand army does or does not approve, the bloody hirt will be iramjdod in tho dust ia this glorious year of pibilee. The demoniaa rpiritft in the organization will find themselvf i powerless before the mighty sweep of public opinion, more potent than urtnies, or politicsl parties, or congress, or legislatures, because it compels nil ol these to bow to the majesty of tho people's will and pleasure. Mr. It) mini's I'opulnrlty. I.alor Finudt. Mr. Bynum has amplo cause to be prond ef the endorsement he has received et the hand of Ids party. He has a remarkably strong holi upon tho people of the Seventh, district, irre pective of party The Happy Oillclal. Puck. My on, the only man hi this world who ona truly be called happy the public ofi'ieer who can, by the same act, crtorm a clear public duty and graUiy grudge a.uinst a poiilicai enemy.