The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-03
(Continued.)

There was no mistaking that TAN nsure
and commanding face. II was the brave
lady. Her eyes sparkled; her cheek was
slightly colored with excitement: she
looked healthier and handsomer than
ever. and also more feminine, for rea-
con the sagacious reader may perhaps
discern If he attends 10 the dialogue.
go" said she. without bowing or other
ceremony. that little rascal is troubling
you again"
Lady Bassett colored and painted, and
looked lovingly at her before she could
speak At last she said Yes; and you
have come 10 help US again"
We'll the lawyer said there was no
time 10 lose: so I have brought you
the anonymous letter
''Oh, thank you. madam, thank you.
But. I'm afraid II will be OF no use
unless YOU can prove Mr.. Bassett wrote
A. 1t is In a diguised hand"
but you found him out by means OF
another letter"
Yes: but / can't give you that other
letter to have IL read In court OF law
because-do you see that gentleman
there?'
Yes"
'Tnat is Marsh"
"Oh, fs it?"
He is a fool; hut am going to marry
him / have been very III since / saw
you, and poor Marsh nursed me. Talk
OF women nurses. IL ever you are III In
earnest. as / was. write 10 me and
will send you Marsh.
"Oh. I have no words 10 tell you his pa
uence, his forbearance, his watchfulness,
tis tenderness to a sick woman. II Is no
pse-I must marry him, and could have
no letter published that would give him
pain.
''Of course not. Oh. madam. do you
that would give you pain. or dear Mr..
Marsh either?"
''No. no: you are good woman"
Not half so good as you are
You don't know what you are saying
"Oh. yes. do"
''Then I say no more; II Is rude 10 con-
tradict. Goodbye. Lady Bassett;"
s,, you ieaxe me ro, 30 Ioon know ,Se % name
OF so good a friend?"
''Next week shall be Mrs. Marsh"
And you will give me the pleasure OF
having you at my house-you and your
husband?'
The lady showed some agitation at this
AN unusual thing for her She faltered:
ssoS so%s @. Ssy perhaPs hope I wsst n ssy
you are. Vulgar people are ashamed TO
be grateful. but you are born lady.
Goodbye. before make fool of my
by the dogs music.'
Wont you kiss me, after bringing you
this?"
kiss your" and she opened her eyes.
.'If you please" said Lady Bassett.
bending toward her, with eyes full OF
gratitude and tenderness.
Then the other woman took her by the
shoulders and plunged her great gray
orbs into Bella's.
They kissed each other.
At that contact the stranger seemed To
She strained Bella to her bosom. and
kissed her passionately, and sobbed out
wildly, 20, God, you are good 10 sin
ners. This is the happiest hour OF my
dove OF innocence! You will be none the
worse and am all the better All! Sir
Charles. Not one word about me 20 him,
sudden energy. she spurred her great
horse. leaped the ditch and burst through
the dead hedge into the wood and winded
out OF sight among the trees.
who was that?''
Bella's eyes began TO rove. as have
before described. but she replied pretty
brought me the anonymous letter for your
defense"
why, how came she 10 know about it?'
"she did not tell me that She was In
q great hurry Her nance was waiuns
was It necessary to kiss her in the
hunting ield?" said Sir Charles, with
s "Td KISS the the who Whole aeld. r' grooms and
all. II they did you a great service, as
that dear lady has said Bella. The
words were brave, but the accents pit
eous.
tar ride home" said Sir Charles, gently
enough but moodily.
THANK you, Charles" said Bella glad
20 escape further explanation about the
mysterious lady She rode home accord
ingly. There she found Mr.. oldheld. and
showed him the anonymous letter;
He read II. and said IL was a defense,
but a disagreeable one. "Suppspse he
said he wrote IT, and the facts were
true?"
IA not gentleman. He Is very untruth-
fuI Can we not make this a trap 10 catch
him. sir? He has no scruples."
Oldfieid looked at her In some surprise
1--WE must get hold of his handwrit-
ing said he I'VE must ransack the
local banks; md his correspondents.
leave all that TO me-" said Lady Bas-
Mr. Oldneld thought he might as well
please a beautiful and loving woman,
if he could so he gave her something To
lect all the materials Of comparison YOU
receipts. etc. Meantime l
Will retain the two principal experts In
London. and we will submit your mate
rials TO them the night before the trial.
LADY Bassett. thus instructed. drove 10
all the ,ban anks. but found no clerk ac-
with Mr. Bassetts handwriting.
He did not bank with anybody In the
county.
She called on several persons she
thought likely 10 possess letters or other
writings OF Richard Bassett Not a scrap
Then she began 10 fear. The case
looked desperate
Then she began 10 think And she
thought very hard indeed. especially at
night
In the dead of night she had an idea.
She got up and stole from her husba nd's
eide and studied the anonymous letter
Next day she sat down. with the ancny-
nous letter on her desk. and blushed and |