Bad Hugh

She did not hear him now, for with that prayer, all consciousness

forsook her, and she lay on her face insensible, while at the very last

he did confess to Anna that Lily was his wife. He did not say unlawfully

so. He could not tell her that. He said: "I married her privately. I would bring her back if I could, but I

cannot, and I shall marry 'Lina."

"But," and Anna grasped his hand nervously. "I thought you told me once,

that you won her love, and then, when mother's harsh letters came, left

her without a word. Was that story false?"

The doctor was wading out in deep water, and in desperation he added

lie to lie, saying: "Yes, that was false. I tell you I married her, and she died. Was I to

blame for that?"

"No, no. I'd far rather it were so. I respect you more than if you had

left her. I am glad, not that she died, but that you are not so bad as I

feared. Sweet Lily," and Anna's tears flowed fast.

There was a knock at the door, and Jim appeared, inquiring if the doctor

would have the carriage brought around. It was nearly time to go, and

with the whispered words to Anna, "I have told you what no one else must

ever know," the doctor descended with his sister to the parlor, where

his mother was waiting for him. The opening and shutting of the door

caused a draught of air, which, falling on the fainting Adah, restored

her to consciousness, and struggling to her feet, she tried to think

what it was that had happened.

"Oh, George! George!" she gasped. "You are worse than I believed. You

have made me an outcast, and Willie--"

George was a greater villain than she had imagined a man could be, and

again her white lips essayed to curse him, but the rash act was stayed

by the low words whispered in her ear, "Forgive as we would be

forgiven."

"If it were not for Willie, I might, but, oh! my boy, my boy disgraced,"

was the rebellious spirit's answer, when again the voice whispered, "And

who art thou to contend against thy God? Know you not that I am the

Father of the fatherless?"

There were tears now in Adah's eyes, the first which she had shed.

"I'll try," she murmured, "try to forgive the wrong, but the strength

must all be Thine," and then, though there came no sound or motion, her

heart went out in agonizing prayer, that she might forgive even as she

hoped to be forgiven.