Bad Hugh

As the day and night wore on Mrs. Johnson grew worse so rapidly, that at

her request a telegram was forwarded to Mr. Liston, who had charge of

her moneyed affairs, and who came at once, for the kind old man was

deeply interested in the widow and her lovely daughter. As Mrs. Johnson,

could bear it, they talked alone together 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 pronounced her better. But with that strange foreknowledge, as

it were, which sometimes comes to people whose days are nearly numbered,

she felt that she would die, and that in mercy this interval of rest and

freedom from pain was granted her, in which she might talk with Alice

concerning the arrangements for the future.

"Alice, darling," she said, when they were alone, "come sit by me here

on the bed and listen to what I say."

Alice obeyed, and taking her mother's hot hands in hers she waited for

what was to come.

"You have learned to trust God in prosperity, and He will be a

thousandfold nearer to you in adversity. You'll miss me, I know, and be

very lonely without me, but you are young, and life has many charms for

you, besides God will never forget or forsake His covenant children."

Gradually as she talked the wild sobbing ceased, and when the white face

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

needed strength had been sought and to some extent imparted.

"My will was made some time ago," Mrs. Johnson continued, "and I need

not tell you that with a few exceptions, such as legacies to Densie

Densmore, and some 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 choose. You know that as both your

father and myself were the only children you have no near relatives on

either side--none to whom you can look for protection.

"You will remember having heard me speak occasionally of some friends

now living in Kentucky, a Mrs. Worthington, whose husband was a distant

relative of ours. Ralph Worthington and your father were schoolboys

together, and afterward college companions. Only once did anything come

between them, and that was a young girl, a very young girl, whom both

desired, and whom only one could have."

Alice was interested now, and forgetting in a measure her grief, she

asked quickly: "Did my father love some one else than you?"