Bad Hugh | Page 8

the way
and I came on alone."
The color had faded from Mrs. Worthington's face, and very timidly
she asked again:
"Whom are you looking for? Whom did you hope to find?"
"Mr. Worthington. Does he live here?" was the frank reply; whereupon
'Lina drew herself up haughtily, exclaiming:
"I knew it. I've thought so ever since Hugh came home from New
York."
'Lina was about to commence a tirade of abuse, when the mother
interposed, and with an air of greater authority than she generally
assumed toward her imperious daughter, bade her keep silence while
she questioned the stranger, gazing wonderingly from one to the other,
as if uncertain what they meant.
Mrs. Worthington had no such feelings for the girl as 'Lina entertained.
"It will be easier to talk with you," she said, leaning forward, "if I know
what to call you."
"Adah," was the response, and the brown eyes, swimming with tears,
sought the face of the questioner with a wistful eagerness, as if it read
there the unmistakable signs of a friend.
"Adah, you say. Well, then, Adah, why have you come to my son on
such a night as this, and what is he to you?"
"Are you his mother?" and Adah started up. "I did not know he had one.
Oh, I'm so glad. And you'll be kind to me, who never had a mother?"

A person who never had a mother was an anomaly to Mrs. Worthington,
whose powers of comprehension were not the clearest imaginable.
"Never had a mother!" she repeated. "How can that be?"
A smile flitted for a moment across Adah's face, and then she
answered:
"I never knew a mother's care, I mean."
"But your father? What do you know of him?" said Mrs. Worthington,
and instantly a shadow stole into the sweet young face, as Adah
replied:
"Only this, I was left at a boarding school."
"And Hugh? Where did you meet him? And what is he to you?"
"The only friend I've got. May I see him, please?"
"First tell what he is to you and to this child," 'Lina rejoined. Adah
answered calmly:
"Your brother might not like to be implicated. I must see him first--see
him alone."
"One thing more," and 'Lina held back her mother, who was starting in
quest of Hugh, "are you a wife?"
"Don't, 'Lina," Mrs. Worthington whispered, as she saw the look of
agony pass over Adah's face. "Don't worry her so; deal kindly by the
fallen."
"I am not fallen!" came passionately from the quivering lips. "I am as
true a woman as either of you--look!" and she pointed to the golden
band encircling the third finger.
'Lina was satisfied, and needed no further explanations. To her, it was
plain as daylight. In an unguarded moment, Hugh had set his uncle's

will at naught, and married some poor girl, whose pretty face had
pleased his fancy. How glad 'Lina was to have this hold upon her
brother, and how eagerly she went in quest of him, keeping back old
Chloe and Hannah until she had witnessed his humiliation.
Somewhat impatient of the long delay, Hugh sat in the dingy kitchen,
when 'Lina appeared, and with an air of injured dignity, bade him
follow her.
"What's up now that Ad looks so solemn like?" was Hugh's mental
comment as he took his way to the room where, in a half-reclining
position sat Adah, her large, bright eyes fixed eagerly upon the door
through which he entered, and a bright flush upon her cheek called up
by the suspicions to which she had been subjected.
Perhaps they might be true. Nobody knew but Hugh, and she waited for
him so anxiously, starting when she heard a manly step and knew that
he was coming. For an instant she scanned his face curiously to assure
herself that it was he, then with an imploring cry as if for him to save
her from some dreaded evil, she stretched her little hands toward him
and sobbed: "Mr. Worthington, was it true? Was it as his letter said?"
and shedding back from her white face the wealth of flowing hair,
Adah waited for the answer, which did not come at once. In utter
amazement Hugh gazed upon the stranger, and then exclaimed:
"Adah, Adah Hastings, why are you here?"
In the tone of his voice surprise and pity were mingled with
disapprobation, the latter of which Adah detected at once, and as if it
had crushed out the last lingering hope, she covered her face with her
hands and sobbed piteously.
"Don't you turn against me, or I'll surely die, and I've come so far to
find you."
By this time Hugh was himself again. His rapid, quick-seeing mind had
come to a decision, and turning