getown, whither she
hastened at once, eager to meet the mother whom she had never yet met as
such. Immediately after the discovery of her parentage, she had written
to Kentucky, but the letter had not reached its destination,
consequently no one but Hugh knew how near she was; and he had only
learned it a few days before the battle, when he had, by accident, a few
moments' conversation with Dr. Richards, whom he had purposely avoided.
He was talking of Adah, and the practicability of sending for her, when
she arrived at the private boarding house to which he had been removed.

The particulars of that interview between the mother and her daughter we
cannot describe, as no one witnessed it save God; but Adah's face was
radiant with happiness, and her soft, brown eyes beaming with joy when
it was ended, and she went next to where Hugh was waiting for her.

"Oh, Hugh, my noble brother!" was all she could say, as she wound her
arms around his neck and pressed her fair cheek against his own,
forgetting, in those moments of perfect bliss, all the sorrow, all the
anguish of the past.

Nor was it until Hugh said to her: "The doctor was in that battle. Did
he escaped unharmed?" that a shadow dimmed the sunshine flooding her
pathway that autumn morning.

At the mention of him the muscles about her mouth grew rigid, and a look
of pain flitted across her face, showing that there was yet much of
bitterness mingled in her cup of joy. Composing herself as soon as
possible she told Hugh that she was a widow, but uttered no word of
complaint against the dead, and Hugh, knowing that she could not sorrow
as other women have sorrowed over the loved ones slain in battle, drew
her nearer to him, and after speaking a few words of poor 'Lina, told
her of the golden fortune which had so unexpectedly come to him, and
added: "And you shall share it with me. Your home shall be with me and
Golden Hair--Alice--who has promised to be my wife. We will live very
happily together yet, my sister."

Then he asked what Major Stanley's plan was concerning the body of her
husband, and upon learning that it was to bury the doctor at home, he
announced his determination to accompany them, as he knew he should be
able to do so.

Hugh had no suspicion of the truth, but Alice guessed it readily, and
could scarcely forbear throwing her arms around Adah's neck and
whispering to her how glad she was. She had said to her softly: "I am to
be your sister, Adah-