Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 34, Number 21, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 June 1888 — Page 1

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31 $s J iittiiii

VOL. XXXIV NO. 21. INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1888. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR.

BY DORA RUSSELL, Author of "Footprints ix the Snow," "The Broken Seal," "Tub Vicar's Governess," "Annabel's Rival." CHATTER XXII. A SNOW STORM. BIDDULril also breathed a sigh of relief when ho heard from Nora's lips that her youn cousin was safely out of England, and that the police wero certainly ut fault. He heard this in the afternoon of the fame day that Nora had sent for Jock l'rasor, to tell him the news. r.iddulph had not eocn Nora since tho night of Malcolm's flight, and they met with some emiarrament. Nora was conscious that, i:i tho excitement of waiting for poor Malcolm, ehe had looked and talked to JUddulph as sh? had never done Ixfore. And he also felt that he had almost spoken of tho love which they both knew tilled their hearts. It is a strange thing, this knowledge this pilent and mysterious binding together of two souls; fr truo Iovo is this, though what the world mostly calls love is not. They met, then, these two, with a brief fluttering handclasp, a blush, and a little nervousness, which tho woman betrayed the leaM. Nora began eagvrly to tell Bidduiph about Malcolm to tell him how she had sent for Jock Frascr, and all about the mother's anguish and despair. "Thank God, the boy is safe, then," paid lUddulth; "for I have never been able to get poor Mrs. Frascr out of my mind." "It was really too terrible tosee her. And Jock said, when the police went to Airdlinn, he fhould never forget it. But hhe will be happier now, thanks to vou." "I only wi.h I could make her happy. I did not like the grim suspicion which Malcolm Eraser's mad act had cast upevn my name, but yet I declare, when my good friend the doctor told me of the piteous condition of mind and body to which this poor woman was brousht,"l thought it almost a pity that the blame did not rest upon me still, lor I have no mother." "lo not say so. It was shameful that it ever fell on you," answered Nora quickly. "It was unjust, at least ; but I shall bo. honest, anil I will not say that I would recall that poor woman again to life now, even if I could; but I will say I never would have raised my hand to injure her." "Of course not. And yet it vu.s a hea vy burden." "A burden almost too heavy to be borne ; a burden that grew and grew. But why speak of it? It has slipped away from me, and still left me-mv. He took a fdep nearer to her as he uttered the last word, and Ids eyes were fixed upon the jalc. lovely face, whifh possessed for him the subtle charm, the wondrous beauty, which he only found in her. And as he stood, over her fair cheeks crept another tint, and her whito eyelids drooped, and her sweet breath rose and fell with quickened throb. "Nora, you know what that hope is," he began, his deep voice broken bv the strong feeling surging through his heart; "you know- "" Nora was not destined at this moment to know, or, at least, to be told. The room door opened, and tho angular, black robed form of Mrs. Con way-Hope appeared, and Bidduiph naturally took a step backward in consequence. "Ah, Mr. Bidduiph, how are you?" said Mrs. Conway-IIope, holdingout her hand, and probably quite unconscious that she was in the way. Her fate in life, indeed, appeared to be to say things that were not needed, and to appear where she was not wanted. Some people are like this, and a cross grained sprite must certainly have attended at the birth of Mrs. Conway-IIope. "We have not seen you since you came that night, about this dreadful allair of voung Malcolm Fraser," continued the lady. "It is truly terrible, isn't it? And I am very sorry for poor Mrs. Fraser, though I must say sho was ridiculously froud of this young man, whom I confess always thought very ill-bred, though I had no idea, of course, what a dreadful character he really was." "I think, Cousin Margaret, we need not talk of the poor boy's faults now," said Nora, "But, mv dear Nora, the whole countryside is talking of theml Where do you suppose he has escaped to, Mr. Bidduiph?" "To some of the holes and corners among the hills, I flare say, Mrs. ConwayHope," answered Bidduiph, with an unmoved countenance. "You have heard, I suppose, Mips Stewart, that the lad Bob Mackenzie, whom my long-cared friend, Mr. Sandfori Hill, overheard relating this unhappy story to his brother, has also vanished?" "Yes, I have heard this," answered Nora. "Tho faithful loy is, no doubt, determined that his evidence shall not be given against his master." "But is this right, my dear Nora?" aked Mrs. Conway-Hone pensively. "I think faithfulness should cease with reterl. What do vou think, Mr. Bidduiph?" "I have a fellow feeling for erring pinners. Mrs. Conway-IIope, and therefore I think it tfiovtrt not." "And I think," said Nora, lifting her heal with kindling eyes, "that faithfulness is onlv shown when the lark clouds gather, and the storm is near." "And you too," said Bidduiph, looking at her, "would have gone out as this lad has done, to live a hunted life amid the rocks and caves, rather than swear away a beloved lifo. I can understand it, and Bob's dogdifo fidelity moves my heart po much so, that I mean to-day to Feck out the brother, and tell him that when Bob reappears I shall bo triad to take him Into rny service. I should liko an honesthearted fellow such as this always by my fide." . "He will prabably live to cheat you, then," smiled Mrs. Omway-Hope. "I have invariably found that, if you trust a person of this class too much, they always do." "Then I shall be cheated," answered Bidduiph, rising1, and holding out his hand to Nora. "May I soon see you again, Miss Stewart." "You can see me when you like to come," answered Nora: and again that lovely tint stole to her cheeks. "(iood-bye, then. I shall call to tell you how I get on with Mr. Tarn Mackentie." "He certainly is a coc looking man," said Mrs. Conway-IIote, after he was pone, going on vigorously with her knitting. "But did you notice, Nora dear, that he spoke with a certain latitude, a levity rather, about sin? I fear ho may

have had some very good reason for that concealed marriage of his" "Cousin Margaret would you very kindly reach me my book? I really do not wish to discuss Mr. Bidduiph," interrupted Nora; and with a sigh Mrs. Con-way-IIopo rose to comply with her request, and then again pensively subsided into her knitting, though occasionally giving a slight groan of disapproval as some unpleasing thought crossed her mind. In the meanwhile Bidduiph was wending his way through a thick mist to the little hovel, which Sandy Hill had not inaptly described "as very little better than a heap of stones," where tho lads Tarn and Hob Mackenzie dwelt. It stood a little oil" the roadway, and Bidduiph easily found it, and found, too, the elder brother, Tarn, and the ancient smoke-dried woman, their granddume, who was crouching over the log tire. The smoke was to thick in thecottago that Bidduiph did not dare to enter it, but beckoned the young woodman to come outsidu to speak to him, and then began to question him about Boh. But Tarn showed an extraordinary reticence when speakingof his absent brother. He knew nothing about it, ho declared. Hob might b with the young laird, or ho might not. Tarn pretended to be totally ignorant of the subject; but Bidduiph, acuto and observing, plainly saw the lad was keeping something back. "He's a line fellow, this young brother of yours," Bidduiph said, "before taking his leave, slipping a couple of sovereigns into Tarn's not unwilling hand. "When he casts up again, send him over to Dunbaan and I will take him into my employment." Tarn expressed great gratitude; and then Riddulph weut to the blear-eyed, shrunken old creature inside, who was bending over the smoking logs. He spoke to her, but her sense of hearing was totally gone; and it was not until lie put some silver into her claw-like hand that the slightest change of expression passed over her face. But when she saw tho money, her lips began to move and mutter; even on tho verge of the grave its touch could rouse her still. She tried to rise, and mumbled a blessing in words Bidduiph could not in the least understand, lor a moment or two he stood looking at her, this wreck of poor humanity, and then turned away, wondering if she had once been young and comely like tho grandchildren ehe had reared. As he walked down to the loch after parting with Tam Mackenzie, Bidduiph totiud the weather had changed. The wind had veered round and the loch was lark and troubled, and tho thick haze was lilting. Down tho gray hills the gray mist rolled away like smoke-clouds, ami tho outlines, lately so indistinct, stood out sharp and clear. But the 6ky was wild and unsettled, and tho boatmen prophesied a storm and made haste to cross the blackening water, which momentarily became more rough. And before nightfall the wind rose and began howling round the house at Dunbaan, and enow and sleet came dashing against the window-panes. Bidduiph grew restless, and went and looked out again and again, watching tho twinkling lights on the lofty headland at Bossinore. Ami Nora's fair face seemed before him, with the rose-blush on her cheeks, and the soft light shining in her eyes as ho had seen it to-day. Should ho nsk her at once? Make a sweet uncertainty into a yet sweeter bond? Then he pictured he'r sitting by his hearth, and sharing with him his daily life, and smilling at him with her bright smile. "There can be no change with us," ho thought fondly, "fori have given her all I have to give.' " 'Heart of my heart, were It more, More would bo laid at vour foet.' " He repeated these lines again and again, for their melodv suited his mood, and their swinging rhythm had caught his ear. Outside tho tempest blew ami tho snow drifted, but the man's heart was warm and full of love. He was free, he was happy, and the dark shadow s of his life had rolled away. But as he walked to and fro, excited by the hubbub without, a chill thought suddenly crossed his mind. Where was tho faithful lad Bob Mackenzie during this wild storm? Safe in the hovel by the hillside Bidduiph hoped, as he shrewdly fancied that 1'am Mackenzie was very well acquainted with his brother's whereabouts. Still the idea made him uneasy, and twice during the night, when ha awoke, he remembered the young gillie And the next morning the snow lay deep; the lofty mountain range across the loch white, and each individual holly leaf in the avenue, each blade of grass on the lnwn, white, too. It lay in 6oft undulating masses on the overhanging crags, and in the clefts and crevices, and on the storm-tossed tirs. A cold chill world; only the water dark, and the sky gray; all else wrapped in the white pall, atid a great stillness above and around. And it snowed all day. Not drifting, nor wind-blows now, but tho air thick with the Uoating feather-like fall, which came softly and gently, wrapping many a flock on the hills in "its chill and deathembrace. And as tho darkness gathered in for night, Bidduiph, who was standing smoking at the house-door, saw the lad Tam Mackenzie coming quickly up tho avenue, and beckoned him to approach him. The young fellow was breathless, and his face was white and scared. "Bo you want anything, my lad?" asked Bidduiph kindly. "Weel, sir, I'so made bold to cam'," anRwerrd Tam, touching his cap, '"cause puir Bob, the lad ye spiered for yester, is out on the hills, and I canna' find" him." "What! out in all tho Bnow last night?" asked Bidduiph. "Ay, puir fellow, he wad pane; an' he made me take a solemn promise. sir,I wad ne'er tell whero he lay hid. But I had been thar now, and I hao shouted, ami shouted, and gat na answer, an 1'bq sare afraid." "Then you knew whero ho was? Ho went, I suppose, to prevent giving evidenco against Malcolm Eraser?" Upon this Tam confessed tho truth, after, however, praving Bidduiph not to betray "puir Bob." it seemed that the police had come upon Tam Mackenzie in the woods at Ininmore, shortly after Sandy Hill had lodged the information against Malcolm Fraser with tho constables, and they had told Tam everything was known, and that ho might as well make a clean breast of it. Tam fell into the snare, and admitted the truth of Sandy's story; but when Bob came homo and heard this, ho turned deadly pale, and sworo his words should never be turned against "tho younj? laird." "Ho snatched his gun fra' tho wa sir," continued Tarn, tears gathering in his honest gray eyes, "an' tho young laird's bit picture which ay hung thar' an' said he'a be auto tho hills wiout' bito or sup. But I prayed him sare to tak' some wi' him, and tell mo whar' ho wad be. An' he did; an' I'se been thar' night onn!ght. till tho snaw cam' last night, an' Icouldna gan'. An' now, sir" and poor Tam put on a pleading air "I'bo madoboldto cam'

to ask ye to lend me the hound they say ye ha', which caraes fra' whar thev seek men in tho snaw, to seek puir Rob.'' "You mean tho St. Bernard. Of course you shall have tho dog; but you cannot go to-night. Tam wriggled his slim form about in evident distress, and pulled his cap off Iiis rough brown head and looked appcalinglv in Biddulph's face. "f could na' rest, sir," he said at length, "an' think on puir Bob perishing in tho snaw." Bidduiph looked up to tho sky, and in the west, where tho sun was sinking, hidden by the dense mas of snow-laden clouds, suddenly a pale blue rift had appeared. It lav, a streak of light, between two dark gloomy lines; but still it told tho storm was breaking, and, after a moment's consideration, Bidduiph xnado up his mind. "I will go with you," ho said. "Glen, the St. Bernard, would not probably follow you and might not obey you, and I, too, cannot lear to think of poor Bob without heln among tho snow." Tam could scarcely find words to express his gratitude. He meant to say Biddulph's kindness was too much; that "yer honor's lifo" was too vnluablo to bo risked for "the like o' them." "Come into tho house," said Bidduiph quietly, "and have some supper and some whiskv before we start. I shall have something too; and wo must tako food and brandy. When we get to tho other si J' of the loch, how far have we to go?" Bob had taken shelter, by Tarn's account, in a deep ravine near the head of the loch, with which both he and Bob had been acquainted sinco their boyhood. Hither Tam had stolen night aft r'night, when darkness had set in, to carry food and whisky tojhis 3-oungcr brother. There was a little shelter but the shelving rocks in the wild spot whero Bob lay hid, Tam told Bidduiph. And, to his dismay, on going this evening through the deep snow to their usual tryste, ho could seo nor hear nothing of Bob, though ho had shouted himself hoarse to attract his attention. Then he had remembered Hob telling him of a dog Mr. Bidduiph had, which he had bought from somo good monks, who kept this breed especially to track men lost in tho snow. And Tam had found courage, in his grief and distress, to go to Bidduiph to ask for tho loan of the St. Bernard to seek poor Bob. CHAlTEIi XXIII. A FAITHFUL HEART. Bidduiph never forgot the night when he started out amid the snow, with Tam Mackenzie by his side, to seek the young gillie. Tho scene was weird and wonderous in the extreme; for that rift in tho sky had spread and spread, and, as thev crossed the dark water, tho moon suddenly shone out amid tho heavy clouds, ami lit up the white world around them with indescribable beauty. It was a wild and dangerous journey,

he knew well. The deep defiles among I the mountain range would pn bably bei blocked with snow, and a constant danger would exist, too, of a heavy fall ot snow from the shelving rocks and precipices suddenly descending on them. But Bidduiph was strong and courageous, and had lcn deeply moved by the story of the lad's faithfulness; and" Tain Mackenzie thoughtonly of rescuing his young brother. They took with them thoi St. Bernard dog, (ilen a noble creature, rich ruddy bro.vn in color, with a broad breast and splendid head which denoted his race. Ho was of pure breed, Bidduiph having purchased him from a friend, who had actually bought him of tho good monks at the monastery from which he derived his name. Bidduiph had thought of taking some of the deer hounds and keepers, but Tam begged him not, as he was sure Bob would not be found, if he thought his hiding place were publicly known. They crossed the loch, then, alone, these two, in the glinting moonlight, and, avoiding passing through the straggling village of Balla, soon came to the foot of the vast mountain range beyond it, at the commencement of which is tho rugged and romantic pass known as the iJlcn of Balla, haunted for Bidduiph with such grim and ghastly thoughts. As they entered it, he involuntarily shuddered. Tho gloom hero was very great, in spite of the moonlight and tho white snow, for the towering crags on cither side left but a narrow strip of skylino visible. Bidduiph held tho St. Bernard in leash, and as they ncared tho fatal spot where the woman "had shrieked and died, the creature suddenly stopped, lifted its noble head, and emitted a weird and portentous howl, which rang echoing through the Glen, and produced on Biddulph's heart a strango startled feeling, almost of dread. He was glad when they quitted that dark defile and emerged again into tho silver moonlight shining on tho white hills. Tho scene was now of extraordinary beauty, and as they kept skirting tho loch, closo at tho foot "of the mountain range, the snowy peaks glittering in tho cold rays of light, tho effect was so marvelous that Bidduiph paused more than once, wondering and amazed. "We'll gan'in thar'," said Tam pressently, now pointing to another pass among the mountains; and as they entered this a fall of snow fell with a shuddering sound from one of the clilis just in front of them and completely blocked their path. To plunge through this took both timo and strength, and their way now became most toilsome and dangerous. Again and again snow-falls occurred as they winded among the hills, and struggled through tho deep drifts, and both Bidduiph and Tam becamo exceedingly exhausted. At last Tam mado tho welcome announcement that they were approaching tho spot w hero Hob had kept their tryste. "It's na far to gan now," ho said ; and it was not. They had reached a littlo secluded glen, where in tho summer timo tho tangled copse-wood and bushe3 grew thick, alfordiug splendid shelter for tho black game, which made it a favorite resort. Now all was cold, whito and desolate, and no answer camo when Tam Mackenzie onco more shouted tho name of his absent brothör. "Thar's tho bit supper I hao left," said Tarn, pointing to some food on a stone, from which he had brushed tho r.now on his first visit this evening to tho glen. At this moment tho moonlight was 6hining with remarkable brilliancy, and every object was as plainly visible as by daylight; and they saw that the food was untouched, and that Bob had at least not visited tho spot since Tam had been there. In one part of tho glen, a projecting, shelving crag formed a sort of cave, and Tam told Bidduiph that Bob said ho sometimes slept there. But a deep drift of snow had blown into his rocky cavity; and it suddenly struck Bidduiph that poor Bob might bo sleeping there now, in tho tili sleen of death. Ho lea the St. Bernard near the spot, and then unloaded him. Tho sagacious creature seemed to understand what ho was expected to do; stood still, sniffed the frosty air; grew restless, gave a low. short, inquiring bark, and then plunged into the bnow-urift.

Thero he again stood still for a moment or two, and then commenced scratching with his fore-paws, and barking, in a state of evident excitcmeut. Bidduiph and Tam now followed him into tho frozen mass, the drift reaching nearly to their waists; and still tho St. Bernard threw up the snow with impatient paws, and seemed each instant to grow moro eager. "Ah, poor fellow, I fear he has found him!" exclaimed Bidduiph. Tam, too, gave a cry, and scrambled to the place whero tho dog stood barking and scratching, and began with trembling hands to help to push away the snow. It did not tako very long. Beneath that whito pall tho young gillio lay sleeping, with a smile on his handsomo boyish lips, and a look of unutterable peaco in his half-closed eyes. "Bob I Bob!' cried Tarn, lifting up his brother's head; "wake up, inou, wako up!" But tho still white face showed no signs of waking, and the deaf cars heard not. "Let us carry him out of this," said Bidduiph, "and rub Ids hands and feet with whisky, and try to get somo between his lips; he may come round." So they carried him out of the snowdrift, and laid him on a plaid and pulled off his boots and rubbed his frozen feet v,ith spirit, and his stiff hands. One of these stiff cold hands was clutched round a little common frame, and when Tam turned the palm to tho light, he cried out it was tho "voung laird's" picturo that Bob held so fast. "Ay, he liked him too wool," said poor Tam, who was much affected ; "he's gi'ea his life for his I" They tried a long timo to recover him, but it" was all in vain. There lay Bob Makenzie, cold and dead; Bidduiph soon saw that this was so. He had "given his life for his friend." And as the moonlight fell on his whito face, it seemed to Bidduiph that tho boy smiled, as if proud to have died for tho 6ake of his dear master. "I'm afraid it's no use. my poor lad," said Bidduiph at last, as Tam was vainly endeavoring to bring some warmth into tho chill hands. "Tho question is, what shall we do? We cannot leave him hero alone." "I'll na leave him," answered Tam sturdily. "Are you strong enough to go back to Balla, and pet the doctor and men to carry him home?" asked Bidduiph. "I would go, but I should lose my way; you know it. Will vou try?" "He wadna' cam'." "Oh yes, he will. Thcro may bo a chance not a strong one that he could bring Bob round. Wo can do nothing more; and if we stay hero all night, wo too may perish in the snow." They finally settled this: Bidduiph was to remain to watch tho young gillie, and Tam to make his way back through the snow to Balla. Bidduiph wrote a note to Dr. Alexander in pencil, entreating him to come at once, and empowering him to offer any reward he chose to give, to induco men to accompany him, for the purpose of carrying back poor Bob. "I fear it 'is too late," he added, "but we must try." He gavo "this letter to Tam, who started off as fast as his legs eotiM earn' him, and Bidduiph was left alono in his white, silent, lonely place, with tho dead boy lying at his feet. It was a strango position, and strange fancies began to creep :r' B'ddulph's brain, and weird and gh stly f.'ories that he had heard in his youth, came back to his mind. Ho began to walk up and down, but still tho glon seemed haunted to him, and gnome-like and fantastic shapes appeared to his excited imagination to be creeping nearer to him over tho whito glistening snow. One tall lark shadow, ho could have sworn, stealthily approached. But a moment later this glided quickly away, and the nntlered head told his reason that this doubtless was some deer straying in search of food from tho neighboring forest. Then he went back and stood looking at poor Bob's face, lying there with its unchanging smile. He stooped flown and raised the hand which still held tho photograph of Malcolm Fraser in its rigid clasp, and laid it on the brave lad's breast. And as ho did this, tho dog (Hen, which had been moving restlessly about, went up and licked the poor boy's hands, aid then 'tis sad, but true, to "write humanlike he turned his attention to what ;ho dead had left behind him, and began inspecting with evident interest the food which Tam had brought for his young brother, who now had no further need of it. And Bidduiph did not rebuke him. Why should tho poor brute not have his supper, he thought, after his hard night's worlc? So Glen ato cold rabbit with relish, and then curled himself up and fell asleep on tho plaid besido Bob Mackenzie's still form, occasionally, however, rousing himself to look at his master, and once more lick the dead gillie's cold hand. "Would tho time never pass?" Bidduiph thought. Two hours had dragged slow ly away sinco Tam had left, and" the sky was becoming overcast, and there was no token of his return. Then small snow began to fall, and Bidduiph knew that, if the storm re-commenced in earnest, tho mountain passes would soon become untraceable. It was a gloomy prospect enough, but there was nothing to be clone but wait And presently ho began to think of Nora Stewart, and to wonder what she would feel it she knew he was standing faraway on tho 6now-clad hills. A moment later Glen sprang to his feet with a sharp bark. His acute ears had caught the sound of distant voices, and, with a great sense of relief, Bidduiph also soon heard them. Ho shouted loudly, and he was answered. Help had come then, and five minutes later the doctor, Tam Mackenzie and four men with lanterns, made their appearance in the glen; Tam running first. tip to poor Bob's body, and kneeling down beside it. "IIa' he stirred, sir?" he asked. "No," answered Bidduiph, sadly, and the men gathered round the living and dead brother with many expressions of feeling and sympathy. But the doctor, after warmly grasping Biddulph's hand, bade them stand back, and, kneeling down, felt tho young gillie's stilled pulse and laid his head over his heart. There was no bcatho was dead, and in a moment tho doctor eaw this. "Heisgano fra' our poor knowledgo," he said solemnly. "Don't greet, Tam, my lad," he added, laying his hand kindly on Tarn's shoulder, who seemed quite broken down with grief; "yer brother has died a noble death; may wo a' meet it as he has done!" And the doctor rose to his feet, passing his own hand as he did so roughly over his face to hido his tears. There was nothing further to bo dono then but to carry tho dead home, and the men had brought with them the means of doing this, and the fad procession soon started on tho perilous journey through tho snow. With great difficulty and toil at last they reached tho village of Balla; and when the question rose whero poor liob's body was to bo taken, Bidduiph. at once stepped forward. "Carry aim to my house," he eaid j "let

mv roof cover, for a few nights at least, this faithful heart." And they carried him acroM the dark water to the house at Bunbaan, and thero he lay in state. Such state as is not given by velvet draperv, nor any funeral parniture. He lay decked with something that money can't buythe poor boy had given his life rather than say a word to betray his youug master, and women came and wept and strong men sighed, by the flower-covered bier, where he slept in his unwaking slumber. And there was one visitor camo whoso own heart was sore and broken down with grief. Yet when Mrs. Jock heard the sad story of Bob's death sho insisted upon paying this last respect to the youth who had been so faithful to her son. Long she stood there, looking at the handsomo boyish features: and then she teat down and kissed his cold brow. "Good bye, mv lad," she whispered, and her tears fell fast "I will tell my Malcolm how well you loved liira." And tho sweet smilo on the dead faco seemed to grow sweeter still. They buried him two davs later, in the little kirkyard at Balla, and Jock Fraser, Bidduiph und Dr. Alexander followed him to tho grave. It was a eiinple ceremony, but very touching, for it was known that lying on the dead lad's breast still was the portrait of Malcolm Fraser, to whom ho had been so true; and outside the plain oak cotlin wero beautiful wreathes of white Mowers, ono sent by Mrs. Jock and the other by Nora Stewart. And it was by the side of the young gillie's grave that Jock Fraser fiit held out his hand again in token of friendship to the man whoso acquaintance had really cost them all so much. They were turning to leave it, when honest Jock held out his black-gloved hand to Bidduiph and eaid, with Bomo suppressed emotion "I have not seen you yet to thank you, Mr. Bidduiph, for a great service.'' Bidduiph warmly grasped the hand extended to him. "It was no service. I cannot tell you how intensely painful all this has been to me, on vour account, and Mrs. Fraser's." "It's been hard on the mother," answered Jock Frascr, with twitching Hps. "When Mrs. Fraser honored my poor houso by calling two days ago, to look once more on yon poor boy's face" and Bidduiph pointed to the still open grave "I did not like to intrude on her. I felt she would not, perhaps, care to see me." "Jeanie quite understood your motivo; but sho too desires to thank you. It's a pad houso to ask you to como to, but etill " "I thank you very much ; I certainly shall call." And once moro they shook hands, and then Jock turned away; and people said, as they looked after him, that the poor laird had grown suddenly older, and that he stooped, and that his kind eyes had ceased to smile. As Bidduiph was leaving the kirkyard, the doctor laid his big hand on his shoulder. "Weel," he said, "j-er not going to leave this sido o' the water, are ye, without calling on the young leedy at Kossmoro?" "I should like to call but-: " "I fancy, maybe, she'd liko to sec ye. And I'm sare grieved to tell ye," added the doctor, with a dry smile, "that Mrs. Con-way-Hopo is laid up wi a bad attack of rheumatics, and cannot leave her bed." "In that case," said Bidduiph, in a changed and lively tone, I shall certainly call on Miss Stewart; but really that old woman " "She's a bit trying, but she'll na troublo ye to-day ; and now good day to ye." And the doctor nodded and went his way, and Bidduiph soon found himself ringing at the house door-bell at Bossroore. It was opened by Alfred, who smiled a welcome. Yes, Miss Stewart was at home, he told Bidduiph, and had given orders that if Mr. Bidduiph called he was to bo admitted. And not many moments later Bidduiph was holding Nora's hand fast clasped iu his. "You have come," she said quickly. "I thought you had forgotten me." "And I thought you knew that never could be," he answered, looking into her lark eves. "I have heard, of course," faltered Nora, "of your great goodness, your bravery, your danger, in trying to rescue that poor" boy " "Thero was no goodness about it, though, perhaps some danger. Shall I tell you what I thought of when I stood alono among tho white hills?"

"Yes, tell me." "I was wondering if the snow came down and I was would regret me." buried there, if you "You you know I should " "But how much, Nora? As a woman regrets a passing friend, or the man sho loves?" She made no answer in words. Sho looked up for a moment into his face, and Bidduiph bent down and caught both her hands. "Am I so happy?" he said passionately. "Has tho one bright hopo of my life como true?"' "If you mean that I caro for you yes." Sho whispered the last word, but ho heard it, and, sitting down beside her, drew her head upon his breast and kissed her sweet lips. "1 will try to be worthy of you," he said ; "nothing pulls a man up like the love of a good woman. Say again, Nora that you care for mo that you love me." "Well, I do say it;" and she smiled. "And nothing shall part us?" "Nothing; I promise it." "Then, 1 havo got something to livo for nt last. You don't know how I love you, dear; how my life is wrapped up in yours. I could not bear to live, Nora, if anything wero to part us now." To be continued twjet veei.) Cleveland' Ke-electlou Certain. Detroit Tree Pres. That a nomination given under such auspicious circumstances is to he followed by a triumphant election no person in the full possession of his senses can doubt Four years ago, nn untried man, with his party in his own stute split up into war ri rice factions and with f1,000 assessuble spoils holders arrayed against him, Mr. Cleveland curried the country. To day he has the prestige of an exceedingly successful administration. Py his grasp of the political problem of the hour and his thorough committal to the fundamental principles of his party, he has become ia a most significant sense the party's leader. There is no longer an array of assessable republican spoils holders. The factious division which existed in his own state no longer exists; but there, as elsewhere, the party is united, earnest, enthusiastic. Against such a party and such a candidate, the republican party in its beat days with all its corrupt powers and forces, would havo found i; next to impossible to prevail. Broken and disordered as its ranks now are, and as they must be with any one of the possible candidates as a leader, it cannot hare the ghost of a chance to succeed. War Tariff Not Wanted, Shelby Democrat. If this country wn:d the war tariff perpetuated it should ar.d ?!! restore power to the party that enactd and that now defends it. Tli democrats enn never retain power by pretending to be a little less republican than the republicans on this question.

FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION.

An Address Issued Recently fcjr the Soldiers nnil Sailors of Cass County. The Cuss county soldier and sailors assochtion was organized a few days ago and hau a membership of almost two hundred. The object of the organization is for mutual protection and benefit. The following addre is unanimously indorsed and issued ly the association to the public: The undersigned, ex-oldir of Ca. county, Indiana, having with pulienre fuhtnltted to th wrongs thnt have tx'n perretrstel iia!nHt our unfortunate comrades, 13,)kj of wnoru are now In the jiuhlk 1 Tr houke. and 15,t0) v.'.oro of them, bides tho::1 'i'is of ni.iowi wJi orfiii4Q&, ara Ufpi out of ttio poor bouttis by thp iLaritv of icties f tho nation. ItcRaT'tlng th:. ouiiifiikn of things nn outran, not only on the trun who serrod 1 icir country and fared It from .iestrurwon, their wlJows and orphati. as well as con men humanity; and, whereas, petition after petition l.ns tteen üout nn to congress, aitkin that this st.ttn n iho papts of the history of our fair land rhould bercni.ve l, have been and remain unheeded. Our representatives In the senate and congress of the I'niW Mates have seemed to think mor of the upbuilding of this or that political party than they have of performing simple acta of juntice to those who preserved thein a nation, and, believing that petitions will In the future, like they hive la the pact, ho unheeded and unconsldert J, we now, in the name of common deconcy, humanity, patriotism und Juti s demand that the congres of tllu 1 'tilted Sute at race paw Uws on the following; subject, and k the soldiers and sailors, their sons and friends, all over the. land, unhout regard to pant political allülatlon, to help us iutWt on the demand being complied with a, onco, pron.i.-diiir that we will carefully scrutinize the ans of en u member of the conrr M of tho I nitf d tate, and if he fail us in this w fill aid in his retirement from public service: 1. A ceueral sent.o tension l-'II shoo'd he passed jrivliijt to of!i '"'dier and sir! ! pt-isi.in according; to his t,rni o) service, and ir..-luul.i soldiers' wl!-i-iad iep Jc::t children; that each pension should in all cases h in d'"'a 1 , any disability pension he may be entitled to lv reason of d Inability developed wuile in tho aervi.- or afterwards. 2. s con grew hns been so solicitous in looking after tho interest of tho bondholders and the men who loaned their money to the (roTernment. the bill Introduced Into congress by Den. A. I. Hovcy, and known as "the 40 jkt cent, bill." should he passed that Justice may be doue the men and their repre sentatires who olttrud or gave their lives to the country. 3. That the dependent pension hill, shorn of all technicalities which are intended by those who secured their insortion in the bill to render It worthless as a measure of lelief to thoie for whom relief was intended. V passed at once, and we hereby serve notice that :f it does not beeonie a law at this session of eonprosc the men who su nd ia in way k ill be held feepou- bia by tho people. 4. Bounties houla be e-ialized. While the government was not compelled to pay uiitiiies to any. yet when it attempted to do so, It should have boe.i done in a spirit of fairness, and with some idea of equity and right. It is now the duty of the congress ot the United Slates to right this infamous wrong. 6, As the capacltr of the soldiers' homes already firovidod is Insufficient to accommodate the helpers old veterans who can go to them, we demand that the bill now pending in the U. t. sonata for the establishment of a soldiers' and sailors' home at Marlon, Grant county, Indiana, bo passed and liecome a law, and as soon as possible said home be opened for the reception of those who require a shelter from, the storms of life. The above resolutions were signed and endorsed by 150 ex-soldiers and sailors. After which a resolution was adopted reqnestlnj; the publication of the above declaration of principles in the papers of this city, Tiik I.mxax apolis .mentis el and Journal and the A'atinnal Tribun. J. A. l'AVOir, Chairman. J. Y. BaLtor, Scc'y. It Went, All the Same. San Francisco Chronicle. They were seated as usual. I believe I di not need to explain. They had reached that confidential 6tato when, after months of anxiety and doubts and fears as to w hether fhe loved him or not, Laving found out that the was only too willing, he felt like hacking out. "Well, you see I am poor, dearest," "I don't care. It does not cost much to keep a wife." 'No, I suppose not." "Not when one loves, George." "No, I suppose not." "Ah, you wiink 1 am extravajstit. I am not It's all well when pa pays, you know. That's all right. IJut if I were your wife " "Dearest." "Yes, I ran be so economical. It doesn't really cost any rnor to keep two tnan one. "es, I suppose so; yes. Iut it depends u; ipon which one. "O, I can kt ep honse." "Yes, dearest, but can I?" "I can cook." "My love, I would not wish you to do any hard work. I M ould not wish you to soil your dainty hands. Don't you think, dear, we might live at the restaurant until until " "Until when?" "Until I could brace myself to eat what you cooked." Even that did not help him. Phc said, "All right," and laughed, aud the wedding goes. A 1'nrlor Incident. W. Itvrd Tatje, the slim and handsome ynuntj Thilidelphia beau and champion rttnateur high jumper, wan at a fashionable party the other evening. He was in evening dress at this small assemblage, and, of course, they talked to him about his agility. "I don't believe you could do it without springs in the heels of your shoest or some trick like that," said a bantering maiden, but seemingly half in earnest. "You don't really mean to say that you could jump clear over a man's head without mechanical aid of some sort?" "Oh, but he does," interposed a partisan of the athlete, "and if you will stand still where yon are I am sure he will jump over you." The pirl in question was probably no more than five feet two or three inches in height.and yet none of us supposed that Mr. Page, iu bis ordinary attire, would undertake to clear tho top of her coitlure, although his record is six feet four inches. lie accepted the challenge, however, and we nil stood aide, except the young girl. he held a rigidly upright, posture, as though preferring to have her hair kicked off by the jumper'n failure than to favor his feat by crouching in the least, l'ae took a start at the extreme rear of the lonij parlor, ran nimbly forward, sprang into the air just before reaching the human hurdle, went over her head without a touch and struck lightly on his feet. How was that for a parlor incident? Calkins' School Fund Loan. Laorte Argus. At last, after several years of continuous e'ort, the county auditor has found a purchaser for the famous Maj. Calkins' school fund swamp land that figured so extensively throughout the state in the gubernatorial canvass of 1SH4. It will be remembered that Maj. Calkins originally borrowed three hundred dollars from the school fund and k.ive a mortgage on a piece of bind in Johnson township for security. He failed to pay the interest or principal and it was found that the land was not worth the money loaued on it. The land was forfeited according to law, and re-appraised at $ 200 and put oa the market. It has remained for sale ever since at that price but until a few days ago there has been no bidder. It was finally sold to Mr. Fred llausheer for $200, on five rears time at 8 per cent, interest. The school fund is short $100, and the county is out the interest it has been paying to keep the fund good, and the tax-payers have the whole loss to settle. It is worth remembering that many republicans insisted all that the Argus said about Maj. Calkins' connection with the Bchod fund swindle was a lie. Notwithstanding these assertions, every word the Argtut ever said nbout it was strictly true, as the county records will abundantly demonstrate. Sihe Ueturnetl the Little Itottles." A west-side physician was recently called t attend an elderly Irish woman who was practically in destitute circumstances. The doctor did his best, however, and the patient recovered. he was very grateful, and as 6oou as she was able to go about called on the man who had saved her life. "Dear doctor," she said, "ye'v did me a power of good, an' I thank you. I've no money just now. but I've brought you back the little bottles," and she handed him a lot of capsules which had contained some of the most bitter drugs known, and which she had emptied and carefully saved. The lied Itamlani. Philadelphia Becord. The red bandana which has been to quickly taken as the standard of the democracy, and which promises to play a picturesque and conspicuous part in the comine campaign, first came prominently into public view during Judge fhurman'a service at Washington. It was a huge afi'air, of the brightest scarlet, and was generally stuffed into the breast pocket of his coat or into his hip pocket. The judge was

an habitual snuff taker, and after regaling him self wiih a big pinch from his capacious snuff box would pull out his bandana and sound A Uast that would shame an able-bodied baeaooc Another use to which the bandanna w&sjput wa somewhat malicious. When a friend, like Edmunds, Matt Carpenter, Conkling or Bayard, was talking, Judge Thurroan carefully refrained from sending out that distracting snort, but when some senator of smaller calibre watt speaking, especially one fond of spread-eagle rhetoric and Joquent nddresses o the gallery, the bandana woui i appear at seme particularly brilliant point and a blabt wouli ba Bounded that woi.'.d knock u! the flow cf elo- j quesce and scatter the sp 3 flue rhetoric j A Horte of Another Cfor. 1 Higtins is troubled Vh an over weeninjrl

curiosity aüjtit otrer poy:e s tk-i.urs, e"js .na Detroit" V Vren. lie inet Smithors in a rtreet car: d esu't know inithcra very well, but "me boy's" 1 din as it' he did. "Busv. th f he inouired, off-hd. "Yc. raid bnithers, delibT.:eIy. "Beeo 1 buying a ho fo .; wfe." "Have, eh? Well, let jive you tamoM points." "Oh, I've conceded a bar-r- "n." "Not without trying him! Vu lie sound ia j wind and limb?" "He appeared to be." "Doesn't balk?" "No-. I ctirss no!." ".Stand without hit Mr.-r?" I Y-e-e-s, I think so." 1 "Good gait?" 1 but here fmithors TW.r l ma croRun?, When be reached tho door In. called back to Higgins: "I neglected to nentic. 'he kind of horse raj" wife wanted. It ws a cl"'hs liore." Th (shirt M'oi-n Out. This vigorous little pech was made by a, farmer at a recent democratic county convention in Hiinois: "You may be surprised to see Bill Bledsoe here. If it ws a republican powwow I would need no introduction. For twenty years I have Toted the republican national ticket. I will 'o so no longer. Iain not hero because I lve the democratic party, tut because 1 love myself. Iam coniuced tbs.t the' tlcmoeratic tarl v cf to-dnv in the friei,.i nt tV laboring man. I was in the Uniou arajy anJJ fought all through the war. I came home a republican, and bavt- remained such until this year. The old, bloody shirt has played out vithme. It wilt not pay my taxes, nor will it raise the price of my farm products one cent, nor reduce the cost of the necesaries of life. 1 I am not badly mistaken 15,tW to 20,(xX) more farmers wdl do as I have done before the election in November enough, at least, to change the state of Illinois from a republican high.! tariffand high state tax camp to a reform tarut or farmers' protection state.'' The UiDdans. Kew York Star. There is Treat potentiality in your bandana. It has fluttered into sudden political prominence as if by its own volition. It has about its fold3 die grace cf an old-fashioned honesty. homeliness and democracy as rare as BiiH Franklin's, and is properly made the oriflnnim of a simple old hero like Allen Granberry Thurman. No flaming color, or polka dots, or varie-' gated squares can give it arrogance. An ui, changing stability of character has marked ifc from the moment the loom turned it forth io the days of our fathers. As that bandana was flaunted at foreign, courts by our homespun philosopher, whose very sneeze, provocative of iia use, was formidable to weak-kneed dynasties, so has Allen. Granberry Thurman waged war with it against political iniquities in many a heated canvas, when its soft swish across the forehead ab sorbed the honest sweat of natriotin toiL All Took the Blues. I Virginia viiy c .uierprise.j i A man not long since died a natural death; in Lundy. Tho circumstances "cast a gloom over the whole community." In case ox a man dying from the eCcc-U of a knife or bullet wound his death was to be attributed to his own lack of alertness and dexterity in drawing and using his weapon: but when a Lundy-' ite came to die a natural death nil the people were frightened. No amount of skill audi "soonnecs" with knife or pistol would be of avail aeainst death when it came to the natural way. It waf, evident that as one man had been taken ethers might be called, and a feeling ot depression and gloom schied down upon the people, visible iu the awe-stricken faces of all when they fully realized the fact that it was possible fur a Luudy man to die a natural ( death. , The Way to Uandle a 11 at. If you pass a lady, though a stranger, ia the hall of a hotel, on the stair, or if you do her any little service, sucdi as restoring her fan or glove, or if she makes any inquiry of you or you with her, raise your hat. A gentleman walking with an acquaintance raises his hat to those persons whom his friend fculutcs but does not bow. Gentlemen remove their hats in hotel elevator w hen ladies are present. Well bred men lift their lists to their wives) upon meeting them in a public place as defer eutially as to any other lady. lie Fights Women. Boston Herald.) When Got. Forakcr has a particular spite against a man, his impulse seem to be. to gratify it by assailing his enemy's wife. In the absence cf a wife, we suppose a mother or a daughter or a sister would do as well. This peculiarly chivalrous representative of modern, f politics is the first one to select old and younjf adies alike for bis opponents, and to have his controversies with Uicia in the face of th public. The Ilend Fnlertood. New York Herald. An extraordinary experiment was made at Bone, in Algeria, on May after the execution of a native who had murdered his brother and the Litter's wife and father-in-law. As the) heal fell from the guillotine a doctor took it up and spoke a few words. Various movements of the man's eyes and mouth seemed to shotv that the words had been heard and under , stood. A Sensible Farmer. Angola Herald. An old farmer, who said he had been a lifelong republican, told us the other day that ho had been watching the administration of President Cleveland pretty closely, and can see no cruse for complaint. He read his inessag carefully a number of times and for the life of him cannot 6co why Mr. Cleveland's tariff Tiew are not sound. The Mugwumps for Him. New York Times. Upon the president's record, and upon thai issue the tariil" wc cannot believe the judgment of the people at the polls will be other than favorable, nor ean we doubt that the independents of lf4 with substantial unanimity and with very large accessions will cast their ballots for the democratic candidate. Tho Willow's Shop and the Dire. New Orleans Picayune. The bright lights of a wicked dive are mncU more conspicuous than the dim lamps in a shop kept by a poor woman selling needles andl thread, but the little 6hop is always iconesl found by the inspectors and collectorsof li'jensa taxes. The little shop has no political influence The dive is powerful lias Renewed Ills Youth. Kansas City Times. The old Roman did not begin the campaign as a man who feels the inroads of decay, Standing in the open air at night and speakin to a large crowd is not what dying men try fo amusement. Thurman is as vigorous aa hi democracy, and that ia of the sol ides t order. Tho Leading; Newspaper Muncle Dcmorrat-Heraltl. We take pleasure in adding our testimony t tie excellence of TrE Indianapolis Sentint.! under its new mat n eraent. As the state organ of the democracy fit E Sestinkl is doing grand work, and is now the leading newspaper of the state. Overworked. Reeording Angel "There are a pood many complaint of wet weather down on earth." Weather Clerk "Can't help it. The Angel of Death is cverworked, and he says thos American citiej have cot to be cleaned some- i w J

t