Bad Hugh

"It is to me, and that is sufficient," Hugh answered, while the old

colonel replied: "Good grit, Hugh. I like you for that. In short, I like you for

everything, and that's why I was sorry about that New York lady. You

see, it may stand in the way of your getting a wife by and by, that's

all."

"I shall never marry," Hugh answered, thinking of the Golden Haired.

"No?" the colonel replied. "Well, there ain't many good enough for you,

that's a fact, and so I tell 'em when they get to--get to--"

Hugh looked up inquiringly, his face flashing as he guessed at what they

got.

"Bless me, there's ain't many girls good for anybody. I never saw but

one, except my Nell, that was worth a picayune, and that was Alice

Johnson."

"Who? Who did you say?" And Hugh grew white as marble.

The colonel replied: "I said Alice Johnson, twentieth cousin of

mine--blast that fly!--lives in Massachusetts; splendid girl--hang it

all can't I hit him?--there, I've killed him." And the colonel put up

his whip, never dreaming of the effect that name had produced on Hugh,

whose heart gave one great throb of hope, and then grew heavy and sad as

he thought how impossible it was that the Alice Johnson the colonel

knew could be the Golden Haired.

"There are fifty by that name, no doubt," he said, "and if there were

not, she is dead."

Hugh dared not question the colonel further, and was only too glad when

the latter said: "If I understand you, I can have Rocket for five

hundred dollars, provided I let you redeem him within a year. Now that's

equivalent to my lending you five hundred dollars out and out. I see,

but seeing it's you, I reckon I'll have to do it. As luck will have it,

I was going down to Frankfort this very day to put some money in the

bank, and if you say so, we'll clinch the bargain at once," and the

colonel began to count the amount.

Alice Johnson was forgotten in that moment when Hugh felt as if his very

life was dying out. Then chiding himself as weak, he lifted up his head

and said: "Rocket is yours."

The words were like a sob; and the generous old man hesitated. But Hugh

was in earnest. His debts must be paid, and that five hundred dollars

would do it.

"I'll bring him around to-morrow. Will that be time enough?" he asked,

as he rolled up the bills.

"Yes, oh, yes," the colonel replied, while Hugh continued: "And,

colonel, you'll--you'll be kind to Rocket. He's never been struck a blow

since he was broken to the saddle. He wouldn't know what it meant."