Bad Hugh

Claib had offered him food and offered him drink, but both had been

refused, and opening the stable door so that he could go in whenever he

chose, Claib had left him there alone, solitary watcher of the night,

waiting for poor Hugh.

Returning to the house, Mug stole upstairs to the door of the sickroom,

where Alice was now alone with Hugh.

He was awake, and for an instant seemed to know her, for he attempted to

speak, but the rational words died on his lips, and he only moaned, as

if in distress.

"What is it?" Alice said, bending over him.

"Are you the Golden Haired?" he asked again, as her curls swept his

face.

"Who is Golden Hair?" Alice asked, and instantly the great tears

gathered in Hugh's dark eyes as he replied: "Don't say who is she, but who was she. I've never told a living being

before. Golden Hair was a bright angel who crossed my path one day, and

then disappeared forever, leaving behind the sweetest memory a mortal

man ever possessed. She's dead, Chestnut Locks," and he twined one of

Alice's curls around his finger. "It's weak for men to cry, but I have

cried many a night for her, when the clouds were crying, too, and I

heard against my window the rain which I knew was falling upon her

little grave."

He was growing rather excited, and thinking he had talked too much,

Alice was trying to quiet him, when the door opened softly and Adah

herself came in. Bowing politely to Alice she advanced to Hugh's

bedside, and bending over him spoke his name. He knew her, and turning

to Alice said: "This is Adah; you will like each other; you are much

alike."

For an instant the two young girls gazed at each other as if trying to

account for the familiar look each saw in the other's face. Adah was the

first to remember, and when at last Hugh was asleep she unclasped from

her neck the slender chain she had worn so long, and passing the locket

to Alice, asked if she ever saw it before.

"Yes, oh, yes, it's I, it's mine, though not a very natural one. I never

knew where I lost it. Where did you find it?" and opening the other side

Alice looked to see if the lock of hair was safe.

Adah explained how it came into her possession, asking if Alice

remembered the circumstances.

"Yes, and I thought of you so often, never dreaming that we should meet

here as we have. You were so sick then, and I pitied you so much. Your

husband was gone, you said. Was it long ere he came back?"

"He never came back," and the great brown eyes filled with tears.