Bad Hugh

and one pair of eyes beamed on him a welcome. His new code of morality worked admirably. Mr. Howard himself was not more regular at church, or Alice more de

ar-sighted, treated him most shabbily at his back, acc

at it seemed, roused herself and more than once remonstrated with her brother upon the course he

he and Mrs. Johnson stumbled upon a confidential chat, having for its subject John and Alice, Anna said nothing against her brother. She merely spoke of him as kind and a

e village, greatly to the surprise of the inhabitants, who remembered his former contempt for any one who could settle down in that d

in Snowdon?" Mrs. Johnson asked of her daughter

ndicate as much,"

You have looked so for some time past. What is it, mo

should be troubled about my

d she answered frankly: "I don't know, unless-u

le, she admitted, but still there was something lacking. The mask he was wearing had not deceived her, and she would have liked him far better without i

tears, "you do him injustice, and he has been so kind to

him?" was Mrs. Joh

eringly. "I do not believe I l

not for the world have concealed a thing fr

any gentleman I have ever met.

rs. Johnson murmured. "I am glad there is no engagement. W

I do," Alice

er treasure nearer to her, she continued: "You have made me very happy, and

at last evening they ever spent together alone. The indisposition of which Mrs. Johnson had been complaining for several days, proved to be no light matter,

the park, turned in the direction of the cottage, where they found Mrs. Johnson even worse than they had anticipated. The sight of distress aroused Anna at once, and forgetting her own feebleness she kindly

't know as I can stay after all, though I might write it here, I suppose as wel

Alice asked; a

, Anna told of the advertisement seen early last winter, how queerly it was expressed, and how careless John had been in tearing off the n

address was burned," Alice rejoined quickly, feeling

know as it will ever reach her, it's been so long, but if it d

te so illegibly too. Please do it for me, that's a dear, good girl," and she gave the

th useful and agreeable, either as a companion or waiting maid. No objection will be ra

wdon, Hampde

t Anna was privileged to do queer things, and folding the paper,

curled a little sco

ildren, desiring situations. Better let me burn this, as I did the other, and not be foolish. She will never see it," and John made a gesture as

d her in so low a tone that Anna readily took the hint and left them together. Dr. Richards was not intending to

e same nature, Alice hastened to ask if he ha

creased while I stood by her. I am sorry to leave while she is so sick, but remember that if anything happens you will be de

ther until he perfectly understood what her wishes were with regard to Alice, and how to deal with Dr. Richards, whom he had not yet seen. Then promising to return again in case the worst should happen, he took his leave, while Mrs. Johnson, now that a weight was lifted from her mind, seemed to rally, and the physician

y were alone, "come sit by me here o

mother's hot hands in hers sh

adversity. You'll miss me, I know, and be very lonely without me, but you are young, and li

face lifted itself from its hiding place there was a look upon it as

charitable institutions, you are my sole heir. Mr. Liston is to be your guardian, and will look after your interests until you are of age, or longer if you c

s a distant relative of ours. Ralph Worthington and your father were schoolboys together, and afterward college companions. Only o

n a measure her grief, she asked quickly:

e sick woman. "Ralph Worthington was true as steel, and when he fou

xclaimed, a desire rising in her heart to s

at our wedding, and the bridesmaid beca

d, in some astonishment, and

Your father was consumptive, and the chances were that I should early be left a widow. This it was which led to the agreement made by the two friends that if either died the living

Oh, I'm so sorry

we were about to make the tour of Europe. Just before we sailed we visited poor Eliza, whom we found heartbroken, for the brutal wretch had managed to steal her daughter, and carried it no one knew whither. I never shall forgot the distress of the brother. Clasping my dress, he sobbed: 'Oh, lady, please bring back my baby sister, or Hugh will surely die.' I've often thought of him since, and wondered what he had grown to be. We comforted Eliza as best we could, and left money to be used for her in case she ne

e, who was then away at school. Still my visit was a sadly satisfactory one, as we recalled old times when we were girls together

when we parted, 'you are so rich, and I so poor, but if ever your

in answering, and then the correspondence ceased till just before her removal to Kentucky, when she apprised me of the chan

e wanted there," and Alic

and I am sure you will not object when I tell you that I think it right to leave Adaline the sum of one thousand dollars. It will not materially lessen your inheritance, and it will do her a world

s. "I'll go; but, mother, oh, mother," and Alice's cry

. There were days and nights of pain and delirium in which the sick woman recognized none of those around her save Alice, whom she continually blessed as her darling, praying that God, too, would bless and keep His covenant child. At last there came a ch