Bad Hugh

The Village hearse was waiting at Snowdon depot, and close beside it

stood the carriage from Terrace Hill; the one sent there for Adah, the

other for her husband, whose lifeblood, so freely shed, had wiped away

all stains upon his memory, and enshrined him in the hearts of Snowdon's

people as a martyr. He was the first dead soldier returned to them, his

the first soldier's grave in their churchyard; and so a goodly throng

were there, with plaintive fife and muffled drum, to do him honor. His

major was coming with him, it was said--Major Stanley, who had himself

been found, in a half-fainting condition watching by the dead--Major

Stanley, who had seen that the body was embalmed, had written to the

wife, and had attended to everything, even to coming on himself by way

of showing his respect. Death is a great softener of errors; and the

village people, who could not remember a time when they had not disliked

John Richards, forgot his faults now that he was dead.

It seemed a long-time-waiting for the train, but it came at last, and

the crowd involuntarily made a movement forward, and then drew back as a

tall figure appeared upon the platform, his stylish uniform betokening

an officer of rank, and his manner showing plainly that he was master of

ceremonies.

"Major Stanley," ran in a whisper through the crowd, whose wonder

increased when another, and, if possible, a finer-looking man, emerged

into view, his right arm in a sling, and his face pale and worn, from

the effects of recent illness. He had not been expected, and many

curious glances were cast at him as, slowly descending the steps, he

gave his well hand to the lady following close behind, Mrs. Worthington;

they knew her, and recognized also the two young ladies, Alice and Adah,

as they sprang from the car. Poor Adah! how she shrank from the public

gaze, shuddering as on her way to the carriage she passed the long box

the men were handling so carefully.

Summoned by Irving Stanley, she had come on to Washington to meet, not a

living husband, but a husband dead, and while there had learned that

Mrs. Worthington, Hugh, and Alice were all in Georgetown, whither she

hastened at once, eager to meet the mother whom she had never yet met as

such. Immediately after the discovery of her parentage, she had written

to Kentucky, but the letter had not reached its destination,

consequently no one but Hugh knew how near she was; and he had only

learned it a few days before the battle, when he had, by accident, a few

moments' conversation with Dr. Richards, whom he had purposely avoided.

He was talking of Adah, and the practicability of sending for her, when

she arrived at the private boarding house to which he had been removed.