Bad Hugh

"Make a hot one there," he said. "Pile the coals on high, so as to heat

up quick."

As Hugh passed through the hall on his way downstairs, he could not

refrain from pausing a moment at the door of Adah's room. The fire was

burning, he knew, for he heard the kindling coals sputtering in the

flames, and that was all he heard. He would look in an instant, he said,

to see if all were well, and carefully turning the knob he entered the

chamber where the desolate Adah lay sleeping, her glossy brown hair

falling like a veil about her sweet pale face, on which the tear stains

still were visible.

As she lay with the firelight falling full upon her forehead, Hugh, too,

caught sight of the mark which had attracted 'Lina's curiosity, and

starting forward, bent down for a nearer view.

"Strange that she should have that mark. Oh Heaven!" and Hugh staggered

against the bedpost as a sudden thought flashed upon him. "Was that

polished villain who had led him into sin anything to Adaline, anything

to his mother? Poor girl, I am sorry if you, too, have been

contaminated, however slight the contamination may be," he said, softly,

glancing again at Adah, about whose lips a faint smile was playing, and

who, as he looked, murmured faintly: "Kiss me, George, just as you used to do."

"Rascally villain!" Hugh muttered, clinching his fist involuntarily.

"You don't deserve that such as she should dream of you. I'd kiss her

myself if I was used to the business, but I should only make a bungle,

as I do with everything, and might kiss you, little shaver," and Hugh

bent over Willie.

There was something in Hugh which won his confidence at once, and

stretching-out his dimpled arms, he expressed his willingness to be

taken up. Hugh could not resist Willie's appeal, and lifting him gently

in his arms, he bore him off in triumph, the little fellow patting his

cheek, and rubbing his own against it.

"I don't know what I'll do with you, my little man," he said, as he

reached the lower hall; then suddenly turning in the direction of his

mother's room, he walked deliberately to the bedside, and ere the

half-awakened 'Lina was aware of his intention, deposited his burden

between her and his mother.

"Here, Ad, here's something that will raise you quicker than yeast," he

said, beating a hasty retreat, while the indignant young lady verified

his words by leaping half-way across the floor, her angry tones mingling

with Willie's crowing laugh, as the child took the whole for fun, meant

expressly for his benefit.

Hugh knew that Willie was safe with his mother, and hurried out to the

kitchen, where only a few of his negroes were yet stirring.