ho, too much terrified to speak, had crept near to her affianced
husband, now returning to consciousness. Hugh alone saw the nod, and it
brought him at once to 'Lina, where, with his arm upon her chair, he
stood as if he would protect her. Noble Hugh! 'Lina never knew one-half
how good and generous he was until just as she was losing him.

"Densie," the convict said, trying in vain to shake off the hand which
held him so firmly: "Densie, be calm, and wait, as you see the others
doing. They all, save one, are interested in me."

"But my daughter, my stolen daughter. I'll have her, or your life!" was
Densie's fierce reply.

"Auntie," and Alice glided to Densie's side.

She alone could control that strange being, roused now as she had not
been roused in years. At the sound of her voice, and the touch of her
fingers on her hand, Densie released her hold and suffered herself to
be led to a chair, while Alice knelt beside her.

There was a moment's hesitancy, and his face flushed and paled
alternately ere the convict could summon courage to begin.

"Take this seat, sir, you need it," Hugh said, bringing him a chair and
then resuming his watch over 'Lina, who involuntarily leaned her
throbbing head upon his arm, and with the others listened to that
strange tale of sin.

CHAPTER XXXIX

THE CONVICT'S STORY

"It is not an easy task to confess how bad one has been," the stranger
said, "and once no power could have tempted me to do it; but several
years of prison life have taught me some wholesome lessons, and I am not
the same man I was when, Densie Densmore"--and his glance turned toward
her--"when I met you, and won your love. Against you first I sinned. You
are my oldest victim, and it's meet I should begin with you."

"Yes, with me--me first, and tell me quick of my stolen baby," she
faintly moaned.

Her ferocity of manner all was gone, and the poor, white-haired creature
sat quietly where Alice had put her, while the story proceeded:

"You know, Densie, but these do not, how I won your love with promises
of marriage, and then deserted you just when you needed me most. I had
found new prey by that time--was on the eve of marriage with one who was
too good for me. I left you and married Mrs. Eliza Worthington. I--"

The story was interrupted at this point by a cry from 'Lina, who moaned:

"No, no, oh no! He is not my father; is he, Hugh? Tell me no. John, Dr.
Richards, pray look at me and say it's all a