Bad Hugh

r with his own personal services, and 'Lina felt proportionably flattered when he came forward and asked what he could show her. Of course, a dress for the party

ne caring just then to pay fifty dollars for a dress which could only be worn on great occasions. But 'Lina was easily flattered, while the silk was beautiful. But ten dol

htest consequence. Your brother's credit is good-none better in the country,

wish to possess the silk

rs more, for that was the price Miss Allis charged, to say nothing of the trimmings. "No, I can't," she said, quite decidedly, at last, asking for the lace with which she at first intended renovating her ol

that, when 'Lina at four o'clock that afternoon entered her carriage to go home, the despised pink silk, still unpaid on Haney's books, was thrown down anywhere, while in her hands she carefully held the bundle Harney brought himself, complim

nal proud to be sued, I'm sure of Rocket or Lulu, it matters but little which," and with a look upon his face which made it positiv

quite happy but for her mother's reproaches and an occasional twinge as she wondered what Hugh would say. He had not yet returned, and num

e courthouse. There was no trouble in disposing of them all,

s wandered wistfully over the faces around him congregated, as if

thousan' dollars onct," and the feeble

, who replied, "Go back to the old place to be kicked and cuffed by th

ey came to him laden with the widow's curse and the orphan's tears. This was Harney, and Hugh always felt exasperated whenever he thought of him. Advancing a

ll be lonesome and cold in de cabin at ho

ugh's query, to which th

yes," and an expression of reverence and awe stole over the wrinkled face, as in a

what should he offer, when fifteen dollars was all he had in the world, and was it his duty to encumber himself with a piece of useless property? Visions

ng in his ears, when a voice from another part of the building doubl

'em; a leetle more," he whispered, co

sight of the bidder, a sour-grained fellow, whose wife

nd a half,"

responded

r, berry leetle,"

tarting out about his lips, as he thought how fast his

a half," fro

, mas'r," fr

eventy-five,

man in the corner, a

very dime

beside him slipped a bill into

e it if necessary. I'

le Sam's "a leetle more, mas'r," and the vociferous cheers of the crow

corner, and Hugh felt his courage g

ent

ision, "Gone!" made Hugh the owner of Uncle Sam, who, cro

and mebby, when the rheumatics gits out of my ole legs

attitude, asking pardon for tumbling down, and charging it all to his shaky knees. "Look here, there's no other way, except for you

m, and the latter offered the reins to Sam, who was never a skillful horseman, and felt a mortal terror of the high-mettled steed beneath

nd of bold me on, mas'r, till I gits de hang

her, Hugh got on but slowly, and 'Lina had looked for him many

im for?" Mrs. Worthington asked, a

ned to her why he h

rd the corner where the poor old man was sitting, warming his shriveled han

her peace, and even asked Sam some trivial question concerning his former owners. Supper

en there since, and reported her as looking pale and worn, while Au

passed him on the plea that he did not feel like drinking it t

a, to whom Lulu was a kind of waiting m

Hugh to think of giving their best servant to Adah Hastings. Let her take care of her baby her

d drawn correct conclusions. His new master was not rich. He could not afford to buy him, and having bought him could not afford to keep him. There was a sigh in the old man's heart, as he thought how useless he was,

d the little children in Georgy, whar I comed from, used to be mighty

aloud, while

while I take

ster, he asked if she p

ecstasies over the rose silk, 'Lina answered that she was f

osed. They are invited from Louisville, and

ou trade there

e in town. Why shouldn't I?" 'Lina replie

y; mighty hard on de blacks, folks say," and glad to have escaped from his clutches, Sam turned again to his d

m for the cold, cheerless chamber above, where he knew no fire would greet him, for he had told Claib not to make one, and that was why he lingered as long below. But the ordeal must be met, and just as the clock was striking eleven, he bade h

Would there be one for him to-night? He meant to look and see, and all cold and shivery as he was, Hugh lifted the lid of the trunk which held his treasure, and taking it out, opened to the place where the silken curl was lying. There was a great thro

e he prayed had a little to do with it. It's rather pleasant to think there's two to pray for me now, Adah and Sam. I wonder if it makes any difference with God that one prayer is white and the oth

le is most burned out. The first chapter of Genesis is short, is it? Won't take one over three minutes? Stick like a chestnut burr, don't you," and as if the matter were decided, Hugh spra

e back, and that he held her in his arms, just as he held the B