Bad Hugh

d so carefully around it to shield it from the cold, for instead of one there were two in that rift of snow-a mother and her child! That stiffened form lying there so still, hugging that sleep

r let Ad come herself. There's a woman dead, I fear.

measure at the mention of a-dead woman, was doubly so at

ing her own snowy pillow come in contact with the wet, limp figure he was depositing upon the lounge. It was a slight, girlish form, and the long brown hair, loosened from its confinement, fell in rich profusion over the pillow whic

o Miss 'Lina, who haughtily drew back from the little one when it stretched its arms ou

he first he had felt sure that the individual thrown upon his charity was not a low, vulgar person, as his sister seemed to think. He had not yet seen her face distinctly, for it lay in the shadow, but the long, flowing hair, the delicate hands, the pure white neck, of which he had caught a glimpse as his mother unf

her first sleep was Chloe's only response, b

t color stole into the hitherto colorless cheeks, and at last the large, brown eyes unclosed and looked into hers with an expression so mournful, so b

s the low response, the tone thrillin

coming near she answered: "If it's the baby

r opportunity to scan the beautiful face, with its delicately-chiseled features, and the wealth of lustrous brown hair,

ed, drawing back, "look, is n

bent down, but, upon a closer scrutiny,

id. "I wonder why I fe

ain the brown eyes looked up, and

is he here! Is

?" Mrs. Wort

t once, and when she did

rt. Willie was a baby then, and I almost hated him for a while, but he wasn't to blame. I

ughter exchanged glances, a

Willie's

n a wailing sob from t

ext question. The young girl looked

and Willie, and the driver said if 'twan't so late, and he so many passenger

s. Worthington's face, and

ing for? Whom did

was the frank reply; whereupon 'Lina

t so ever since Hugh ca

r authority than she generally assumed toward her imperious daughter, bade her keep silence while sh

such feelings for the gi

you," she said, leaning forwar

tears, sought the face of the questioner with a wistful eage

y have you come to my son on such a

did not know he had one. Oh, I'm so glad. And

aly to Mrs. Worthington, whose powers of co

r!" she repeated.

oment across Adah's fac

a mother's c

id Mrs. Worthington, and instantly a shadow st

as left at a bo

d you meet him? And

I've got. May I

and to this child," 'Lina re

e to be implicated. I must

ack her mother, who was starting i

he saw the look of agony pass over Adah's face.

ips. "I am as true a woman as either of you-look!" and sh

uncle's will at naught, and married some poor girl, whose pretty face had pleased his fancy. How glad 'Lina was to have this hold up

n the dingy kitchen, when 'Lina appeared, and wi

re, in a half-reclining position sat Adah, her large, bright eyes fixed eagerly upon the door through whic

sure herself that it was he, then with an imploring cry as if for him to save her from some dreaded evil, she stretched her little hands toward him and sobbed: "Mr. Worthington, was it true? Was it as his

astings, why

the latter of which Adah detected at once, and as if it had crushed out the l

or I'll surely die, and I'

d, quick-seeing mind had come to a decision,

alone fo

eliberately turning the key in the lock, Hugh advanced to her side, g

ling by the couch, he said, kindly: "Adah, I am more pained to

es not sound much like a man and wife," she rather unwilling

sight of that sobbing, trembling wretched creature, whose heart he had helped to

save me?" she said, looking up to

e held her in his arms as he would once have held the

hat letter ag

uel lines, in which there was still much of love

ll care for you, until the time when

ad placed in him by coming there, should not be abused, for he would be true to the trust, and care for the p

hould try? I thought of starting once, but it was so far; and there was Willie.

the letter contained man

o with it. I wonder where his people live

h shook her h

m?" Hugh asked quick

inued: "Once, Mr. Worthington, I went down to the river, and said I'd end my wretched life, but God held me back. He cooled my scorching head-He eased the pain, and on the ve

dah said this, but it quickly passed away and was suc

believe

do, you must, you will," and Adah s

f theSt. Helenahe had asked her a similar question, and anxious

hen you were about to drown yourself, why didn't He

God, he would not have left me so; but he didn't, and perhaps he says there is no God-but you don't, Mr. Worthin

as persons of your creed think everything is ordered for good, so possibly you were permitted to suff

d at once, "I cannot be a bur

he grew calm aga

hy I did not know, and I forgot where I put it, but as if God really were helping me I found it in my old portfolio, and something bade me come, for you would know if it w

?" Hugh asked, a

already sew neatly, too; besides that, a few days before I decided to come here, I advertised

ick as blackberries," Hugh said, and then in a fe

didn't, she must live meantime, and where so well as at Spring Bank, or who,

" he continued, with something like a sneer, for when Hugh got upon his favorite hobby, "women and their weaknesses," he generally grew bitter and sarcastic. "Now, there's the one of whom you are

t compared you with him-I have

ah was since

or anything of that kind," he hastened to add, as he saw the flush on Adah's cheek. "Hugh Worthington has nothing to do with that species of the animal kingdom, but as my Sister Adah!" and as Hugh repeated that name, there arose in his great

nting out his gold, was not a little surprised when, after his death, no ready money could be found, or any account of the same-nothing but the Spring Bank property, consisting of sundry acres of nearly worn-out land, the old, dilapidated house, and a dozen or more negroes. This to a certain extent was the secret of his patched boots, his threadbare coat and coarse pants, with which 'Lina so often taunted him, saying he wore them just to be stingy and mortify her, she knew he did, whe

se him, and merely nodding to his suggestions laid her head upon the arm of the lounge with a low cry that she was sick and warm. Stepping to the door Hugh turned the key, and summoning the group waiting anxiou

eams of fire as Hugh said to his sister, "not another word against th

ch," sneeringly

deserted her. There is a reason which I do not care to explain, why I should care for her and I shall do it. See that a fire is kindled in the west chamber, and go up yourse

something wrong, went up to reconnoiter, he found Hannah industriously pulling the tacks from the carpet, preparatory to taking it up

rpet, 'case it's ole miss's, and she won't have no low-lived truck tramplin' ove

ponse; "and you, woman, do you hear?-drive th

ed to having the stranger occupy a room wherein an ex-governor had slept, but Hugh's wish was law to her, and she answered that all was ready. A moment after, Hugh appeared, and taking Adah in hi

will pray for you to-night, when she

self arranging her pillows, which no

lded upon her bosom, as if already she were breathing the promised prayer for Hugh. Only in Mrs. Worthington's heart was there a chord of sympathy. She couldn't help feeling for the des

en you were a baby like him,"

Can't cheat dis chile," and, with a chuckle, which she meant

ne, and turning to her son,

worse than you imagine. Do

tions if not in words?-one sighing when his name is mentioned, as if he really were the most provoking son that ever was born, and the other openly berating him as a monster, a clow

ears, Mrs. Wor

ou. You are a dear child to me, dearer than the othe

eeling by his mother, he put his arms aro

d him steadily in the face, "is Ad

bomb had exploded at his side. "No! Are you sorry, mother, to find m

ried man, you might be happier, even if you did lose Spring Bank; and when this woma

sed Ned when I was in New York; and, as a proof of said resurr

tremendous a fuss," he thought; and, with a sigh to the memory of the lost Golden Hair, he turn

, for my sake? And when Ad rides her highest horse, as she is sure to do, will you smo

n Mrs. Worthington's voice; "I never pry and you never tell, so I don't know ho

an 'Lina. They'd be a county talk, she said; nobody would come near

, hadn't she better try and help herself a

as soon as it was uttered, but far too proud to take it ba

nding the painful interview, at the same time handing a candle to Hugh, who took it silently and withdre

ntary soliloquy, as he went up the stairs. "What did I want to twit Ad for? Confoun