Bad Hugh

"I never knew he did," and a tear rolled down the faded cheek of the

sick woman. "Ralph Worthington was true as steel, and when he found

another preferred to himself, he generously yielded the contest."

"Oh, I shall like Mr. Worthington," Alice exclaimed, a desire rising in

her heart to see the man who had loved and lost her mother.

"He was, at his own request, groomsman at our wedding, and the

bridesmaid became his wife in little less than a year."

"Did he love her?" Alice asked, in some astonishment, and her mother

replied evasively: "He was kind and affectionate, while she loved him with all a woman's

devotion. I was but sixteen when I became a bride, and several years

elapsed ere God blessed me with a child. Your father was consumptive,

and the chances were that I should early be left a widow. This it was

which led to the agreement made by the two friends that if either died

the living one should care for the widow and fatherless. To see the two

you would not have guessed that the athletic Ralph would be the first to

go, yet so it was. He died ere you were born."

"Then he is dead? Oh, I'm so sorry," Alice exclaimed.

"Yes, he's dead; and, as far as possible, your father fulfilled his

promise to the widow and her child--a little boy, five years old, of

whom Mrs. Worthington herself was appointed guardian. I never knew what

spirit of evil possessed Eliza, but in less than a year after her

husband's death, she made a second and most unfortunate marriage. Mr.

Murdoch proved a greater scoundrel than we supposed, and when their

little girl was nearly two years old, we heard of a divorce. Mr.

Johnson's health was failing fast, and we were about to make the tour of

Europe. Just before we sailed we visited poor Eliza, whom we found

heartbroken, for the brutal wretch had managed to steal her daughter,

and carried it no one knew whither. I never shall forgot the distress of

the brother. Clasping my dress, he sobbed: 'Oh, lady, please bring back

my baby sister, or Hugh will surely die.' I've often thought of him

since, and wondered what he had grown to be. We comforted Eliza as best

we could, and left money to be used for her in case she needed it. Then

we embarked with you and Densie for Europe. You know how long we stayed

there, how for a while, your father seemed to regain his strength, how

he at last grew worse and hastened home to die. In the sorrow and

excitement which followed, it is not strange that Eliza was for a time

forgotten, and when I remembered and inquired for her again, I heard

that Hugh had been adopted by some relation in Kentucky, that the stolen

child had been mysteriously returned, and was living with its mother in

Elmwood.