Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-28
CHAPTER VII.

If Hugh had anticipated difficulties on
Mr.. Beale's part with regard to his pro-
| posed emigration, he certainly did not
meet with them
The hop merchant was a different man
to the one that had so strenuously OPP
posed the same suggestion on a former
occasion. He felt only too keenly what
! the young man had suffered from him
| and his, and dared not raise any obicc-
ton to n course that he felt might lead
to his ultimate happiness. The arrange
ments therefore proceeded apace, and
during all the two or three weeks occu-
pied with them, Hugh caught no glimpse
OF his guardians daughter; nor did her
father mention her name. He never
| asked the young man to visit them in
the humble house they had taken pos
| session OF since the fire, but came to
Ilughs lodging when there was any bust
ness to arrange
Indeed he came almost every day, for
now that he was going away the elder
man seemed to have contracted an al
most clinging affection for the lad
lie had always liked him, even when
he was using him most i'll, and now mis-
gentleness, his courage, the plucl. that
could risk his life on that awful dav Of
the fire, and the tender, noble generosity
which could make him refrain from a
word of reproach shout all that he had
been made to undergo, had cndearcd
Hugh to him thousandfold Mr. Bealc
felt as if he were losing dear son, and
his heart was sore accordingly, and vet
| he knew that he must not raise a finger
to bid him stay.
So the time flew by; the passage was
taken, the luggage packed, aud at last it
came to the evening before the vessel
sailed
Up to the very last Hugh, almost I'M
known to himself, had cherished faint
hopes that Hester might change her
mind, but that last day dawncd, passed
and wore away. When darkness fell, and
he and Mr. Bealc were together for the
last time in the little room they had
both learnt to know 50 well, and still no
word came from Hester, Hugh hardened
his heart. and felt that all was over He
had nothing to do but to play the part
of 4 man, and bear the hard blows of
Fate with what fortitude he could.
He talked quietly over his future that
night with his guardian, telling him what
his plans were in New Zealand: and then
with a brief goodbye, which both men
found it difficult to get through with any
show Of compOsure, and with a hand
shake that left their fingers tingling for
bali an hour afterwards, they parted.
and Hugh went to bed to lie widc-eved
and wakeful waiting for the morning.
The vessel was tn sail some time in
the afternoon, but the passengers were
requested to be on board not later than
start.
Hugh, feeling as if he were living in
the midst of a dream, as ii he should
wake up presently and find all these
things unreal swallowed a hurried break
fast, and was driven to the railway sta
ton.
He leaned out Of the window as the
train steamed slowly away from the
platform, and took a last long look at
familiar Mordstone, but the town itself
occupied little enough of his thoughts;
it was the reflection that he was Ieay-
ing. probably for evera one person in it,
that & used that curious contraction in
his tfr Jat, and for moment made plat
form, luggage, guards and porters swim
in n vague mist before his eye.
So occupied was he indeed with that
one image, that he could almost have per
suaded himself that a slight figure that
he saw disappearing into third class
carriage as the train moved off, bore
sone resemblance to Hester and had to
pull himself up short for being guilty OF
such folly.
On board the boat, be stood on deck
seeing, yet not seeing, the hustle and
confusion going on around him. hustle
in which he had no part. He was quite
alone. Everybody but him had, he
thought, someone to see them of. The
ship was quite close up against the quay,