"Her lover's more likely," suggested Hugh, glancing once more at the
picture, which certainly had in it a resemblance to the Golden Haired,
save that the curls were darker, and the eyes a deeper blue.
"Will mas'r have de carriage? He say something 'bout it," Cæsar said,
just then thrusting his woolly head in at the door, and thus reminding
Hugh that Adah had yet to hear of Aunt Eunice and his plan of taking her
thither.
With a burst of tears, Adah listened to him, and then insisted upon
going away, as she had done the previous night. She had no claim on him,
and she could not be a burden.
"You, madam, think it best, I'm sure," she said, appealing to Mrs.
Worthington, whose heart yearned strangely toward the unprotected
stranger, and who answered, promptly:
"I do not, I am willing you should remain until your friends are found."
Adah offered no further remonstrance, but turning to Hugh, said,
hesitatingly:
"I may hear from my advertisement. Do you take the _Herald_?"
"Yes, though I can't say I think much of it," Hugh replied, and Adah
continued:
"Then if you ever find anything for me, you'll tell me, and I can go
away. I said, 'Direct to Adah Hastings.' Somebody will be sure to see
it. Maybe George, and then he'll know of Willie," and the white face
brightened with eager anticipation as Adah thought of George reading
that advertisement, a part of which had lighted Dr. Richards' cigar.
With a muttered invective against the "villain," Hugh left the room to
see that the carriage was ready, while his mother, following him into
the hall, offered to go herself with Adah if he liked. Glad to be
relieved, as he had business that afternoon in Versailles, and was
anxious to set off as soon as possible, Hugh accepted at once, and half
an hour later, the Spring Bank carriage drove slowly from the door,
'Lina calling after her mother to send Cæsar back immediately.
CHAPTER X
'LINA'S PURCHASE AND HUGH'S
There were piles of handsome dress goods upon the counter at Harney's
that afternoon, and Harney was anxious to sell. It was not always that
he favored a customer 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--he had sold at least a dozen
that day, but fortunately he still had the most elegant pattern of all,
and he knew it would exactly suit her complexion and style.
Deluded 'Lina! Richard Harney, the wealthy bachelor merchant, did not
mean one word he said. He had tried to sell that dress a dozen times,
and been as often refused, no one 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 dollars was all
she had, and turning away from the tempting silk she answered faintly,
that "it was superb, but she could not afford it, besides, she had not
the money to-day."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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