Bad Hugh

d take up the broken thread of our story

seled corn and the bubbling music of the brook, gushing from the willow spring a few rods from the door. But in the winter people from the highway, as they caught from across the field the gleam of Aunt Eunice's light, pitied the lonely woman sitting there so solitary beside her wintry fire. But Aunt Eunice asked no pity. If Hugh came once a week to spend the night, and once a day to see her, it was all that she desired, for Hugh was her darling, her idol, the object which kept her old heart warm and young with human love. For him she would endure any want or encounter any difficulty, and so it is not strange that in his dilemma regarding Adah Hastings, he intuitively turned to her, as the one of all others who would lend a helping hand. He had no

ed fingers together, and trying hard to keep his teeth from chattering, for Hugh was beginning his work of economy, and when at daylight Claib c

said. "Pile the coals on hi

the kindling coals sputtering in the flames, and that was all he heard. He would look in an instant, he said, to see if all were well, and carefully turning the knob he e

Hugh, too, caught sight of the mark which had attracted 'Lina'

llain who had led him into sin anything to Adaline, anything to his mother? Poor girl, I am sorry if you, too, have been contaminated, however slight t

ge, just as yo

s she should dream of you. I'd kiss her myself if I was used to the business, but I should only mak

ressed his willingness to be taken up. Hugh could not resist Willie's appeal, and lifting him gently in h

denly turning in the direction of his mother's room, he walked deliberately to the bedside, and ere

hile the indignant young lady verified his words by leaping half-way across the floor, her angry tones m

her, and hurried out to the kitchen, where

ocket quick and bring him to the

ne snow higher than Rocket's he

indolent Claib went shivering to the st

pirited snort as he attempted to lead out a most beautiful dapple gray, Hugh's favori

threw up its graceful neck defiantly. "You've got to g

e trouble at a glance. "Rocket, Rocket," he cried, "easy, my boy," and in

ng at the snow, which he evidently did not fancy, and then pawing at it with his fore

ed, he stood quietly while Claib e

said, as he sprang into the saddle, and giving loo

and the increased expense her presence would necessarily bring, flitted across his mind, while Barney's bill, put over once, and due again ere long, sat like a nightmare on him, for he saw no way in which to mee

ck. He'd never part with Rocket, never. He'd se

alive," and this accounted for the round deal table drawn so cozily before the blazing fire, and looking so inviting with its two plates and cups, one a fancy china affair, sacredly kept for Hugh, whose coffee always tasted better when sipped from its gil

d the breakfast is all but ready. Put Roc

snow from his heavy boots, and then went in to Aunt Eunice's cheerful kitchen

onishment as he declined the cup she had prepared with so much care, dro

once, and determining to meet it unflinchingly he replied that "he had concluded to drink water for a whil

aid, observing his abstraction. "Have y

in his usual impulsive way Hugh began by

d. Nobody ever did, bad

d Hugh spoke so mournfully that

nly folks sometimes said he

ed, supplying the wo

was sure to have his pockets picked. But, law, she wasn't worth minding, if she was Colonel Ti

he paid no attention, for, of course, he should not go

unt Eunice said, and then in a low tone, as if afraid

, which you know I never use, and I think now he must have drugged it, for I remember a strange feeling in my head, a feeling not like drunkenness, for I knew perfectly well what was transpiring around me, and

estly, "you cannot afford the expense.

er. You need some one these winter nights. There's the room you call mine. Give her that. Will you, Aun

ew she would be, and it was settled that

and he pointed to the sunshin

le Adah's fire, then with Aunt Eunice's help sundry changes were made in the arrangement of the rather meager furn

ntally, and taking out his well-worn p

d towel, one of which was spread upon the bed, while the other covered the old pine

ke remark, his face brightening with the improved appearance of things, and his big heart grew

as he vaulted into his saddle and dashed off across the fields, where,

ers had required some care, and Miss 'Lina was sipping her coffee rather i

half afraid she would leave me out after Hugh's refusal to attend the Ladies' Fair, or buy a ticket for her lottery. It was on

might have been more civil than to tell Ellen it was a regular swindle, and the getters-up ought

Lina presented the rote to her mother, whose pale face flushed at the insult thus offered her son-

Worthington said, quietly. "Yo

urse, and I must go to town to-day to see about having my pink silk fixed. I think I'll have some black

ington replied, "I fancy he begins to look old and worn wit

ld scores," 'Lina said, laughingly, as she arose

eturned, meeting in

pened?" Hugh asked, as he saw she

party to which he was not invited, together wit

John told Claib how his a master said he meant to get me and Rocket, too, some day; me for her waiting maid,

p came down upon the table wit

inging as she went, while Hugh entered the sitting-room, where 'Lina sat, s

ere her mother who came in; then with an affected start she added, "Oh, it's you!

, adding, as he guessed the meaning of al

na's black eyes fl

ou would decline for

rained herself and answered that "she had thought of it, but such a course would do n

tuously, but 'Lina kept her te

g rather-close, you'd like to have your sister look decent, I know; and really

ould if I could, but honestly I've only twenty-five dollars in the world, and I've thought of a new coat.

gh had twenty-five dollars. He might give her half, or even ten. She'd be satisfied with ten

bserved. Only ten dollars! It did seem hard to refuse, and if 'Lina went Hugh wished her to look well, for undern

with a half-regretful sigh. "Make them go as far

rolled up her bills, while Hugh sought his moth

e that man is dead?-

en paling of Mrs. Worthington's c

ked announcement of his death, giving accurately his name and

ark on Adah's temple similar to Ad's, only not so plain, and I did

Mrs. Worthington grasped his arm with a vehemence unusual to her accustomed quiet manner, "you

e Adah sat before the fire with Willie on her lap, her glossy hair, which Lulu's skillful fingers had arranged,

ington made that lady start, while her heart throbbed with an indefinab

e could remember, but Adah was scarcely more satisfactory than on the previous night. Memories she had of a gentle lady, who must have been h

y, as his mother turned white as as

hear him, but contin

bees? Were

ah gazed dreamily into the fire, as if listening again to the musi

recall?" Mrs. Worthingto

ll in the river. I remem

here lay a few articles which he supposed belonged to Adah. One

is view. How radiantly beautiful the original of that picture must have been, and Hugh gazed long and earnestly upon the sweet young face, and its soft

think her

, coming to her side, an

ng and wanted some for herself. She seemed to me like an angel, and I've sometimes thought she was, for she never came again. In stooping over me the chain

side, showed him a lock of dark brown hair, tied with a

him of the warm moonlight night, when the little snowy fingers, over which the fierce waters were soon to beat, had strayed through his heavy locks, wh

h said; "I've thought it mi

he picture, which certainly had in it a resemblance to the Golden

then thrusting his woolly head in at the door, and thus reminding Hugh th

isted upon going away, as she had done the previous night

ng to Mrs. Worthington, whose heart yearned strangely to

you should remain until

monstrance, but turning to

advertisement. Do

think much of it," Hugh r

ody will be sure to see it. Maybe George, and then he'll know of Willie," and the white face brightened with eager

to go herself with Adah if he liked. Glad to be relieved, as he had business that afternoon in Versailles, and was anxious to set off as soon as possible, Hu