Bad Hugh

Hugh whistled a little contemptuously, but 'Lina kept her temper, and

continued, coaxingly: "Everybody is to be there, and after what has been said about--about--your

being rather--close, you'd like to have your sister look decent, I know;

and really, Hugh, I can't unless you give me a little money. Do, Hugh,

be good for once."

"Ad, I can't," and Hugh spoke sorrowfully, for a kind word from 'Lina

always touched his weaker side. "I would if I could, but honestly I've

only twenty-five dollars in the world, and I've thought of a new coat. I

don't like to look so shabby. It hurts me worse than it does you," and

Hugh's voice trembled as he spoke.

Any but a heart of stone would have yielded at once, but 'Lina was too

supremely selfish. Hugh had twenty-five dollars. He might give her half,

or even ten. She'd be satisfied with ten. He could soon make that up.

The negro hire came due ere long. He must have forgotten that.

No, he had not; but with the negro hire came debts, thoughts of which

gave him the old worn look his mother had observed. Only ten dollars! It

did seem hard to refuse, and if 'Lina went Hugh wished her to look well,

for underneath his apparent harshness lurked a kind of pride in his

dark sister, whose beauty was of the bold, dashing style.

"Take them," he said at last, counting out the ten with a half-regretful

sigh. "Make them go as far as you can, and, Ad, remember, don't get into

debt."

"I won't," and with a civil "Thank you," 'Lina rolled up her bills,

while Hugh sought his mother, and sitting down beside her said,

abruptly: "Mother, are you sure that man is dead?--Ad's father I mean?"

There was a nervous start, a sudden paling of Mrs. Worthington's cheek,

and then she answered, sadly: "I suppose so, of course. I received a paper containing a marked

announcement of his death, giving accurately his name and age. There

could be no mistake. Why do you ask that question?"

"Nothing, only I've been thinking of him this morning. There's a mark on

Adah's temple similar to Ad's, only not so plain, and I did not know but

she might possibly be related. Have you noticed it?"

"'Lina pointed it out last night, but to me it seemed a spreading vein,

nothing more. Hugh!" and Mrs. Worthington grasped his arm with a

vehemence unusual to her accustomed quiet manner, "you seem to know

Adah's later history. Do you know her earlier? Who is she? Where did she

come from?"

"I'm going to her now; will you come, too?" she said, and accordingly

both together ascended to the chamber where Adah sat before the fire

with Willie on her lap, her glossy hair, which Lulu's skillful fingers

had arranged, combed smoothly down upon her forehead, so as to hide the

mysterious mark, if mark there were, on that fair skin.