The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-02
WYNN
: A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION {
BY
CHARLES READE
AN
CHARLES READE

me was very base, ana Is surely some
justification Of the violent epithets my
dear husband In an unhappy moment OF
Irritation. has applied 10 him. The brave.
lady has H. ] am sure she will not re-
fuse 20 send N TO me | wish ! dare ask
her 10 give IL me with her own hand
but | must not. / suppose. Pray tell her
how unhappy | am, and perhaps she VIII
favor us with word OF advice as wen
as the letter.N
Il remain yours faithfully,
BELLA BASSETT.' -
This letter was written at the brave
lady. aud Mr. Oldfielu did what was en-
pected-he sent Mss Somerset a copy OF
Lady Bassetts letter and some lines in
his own hand, describing sir Charles DIFF
hculty In more business-i.ke way.
In due course Miss Somerset wrote him
back that she was Ia tae country, hunt
ing az no very great distance from Hunt
ercomse hall she would send up to town
for her desk: the letter would be there,
II she had kept It at all.
Oldfeld groaned at this cool conJec-
ture. and wrote back directly, urging en-
pedition.
This produced an effect that he had not
anticipated.
one morning Lord Harrowdale's fox
hounds met at large covert. about hve
miles from Huntercombe. and Sir Charles
told Lady Bassett she must ride to
cover
''Yes. dear. Charles, love. | have no
spirit TO appear IN public We shall soon
have publicity Cough"
THAT Is my reason. | have not done or
said anything | am ashamed of and you
will meet the county on this and on ev-
cry public occasion"
II obey" said Bella
And look your best
II will, dearest
And he In good spirits"
Must L."
Yes"
II will try. oh oh oh!'
why you poor-spirlted little goosel
Dry your eyes this moment"
There Oh"
And kiss me"
There. Ali kissing you is great
comfort"
ut is one you are particularly welcome
10. Now run away and put on your hab-
II. I'll have two grooms out: one with
fresh horse for me, and one TO look af-
ter you"
"oh, Charles! Pray don't make me
hunt"
mo, no Not so tyrannical as that
hang IL alll'
do you know what | do while you are
hunting? ! pray all the time that you
may not get fall and be hurt: and l
pray God 10 forgive you and all the gen
tlemen for your cruelty in galloping with
all those dogs after one poor little inof-
fensive thing To hunt IL and kill it-kill 1t
twice indeed; once with terror. and then
over again with mangling its poor little
body"
This is cheerful" said Sir Charles
rather ruefully. I'VE cannot all be an
gels, like you. IL is glorious excite
ment. There you are too good for this
wsrld III let you off going"
"Oh. no. dear. ! won't be let OF. now |
know your wish. Only beg TO ride home
as soon as the poor thing runs away.
You wouldn't get me out OF the thick
covers II were fox. I'd run around
and around. and call on all my ac-
quaint3nces to set them running"
As She said this her eyes turned to-
wards each other in a peculiar way
and she looked extremely foxy: but the
look melted away directly.
The hounds met. and Lady Bassett,
who was still the beauty of the county,
was surrounded by riders at first but as
the hounds began TO work. and every
now and then a young hound uttered
note, they cantered about and took up
direrent posts. as experience suggested
Al last fox was found at the other
end OF the cover and away galioped the
hunters IN that direction. all but four
persons, Lady Bassett. and her groom.
VINO had reined their horses up on a ris-
ing ground about furlong distant
Lady Bassett thus left alone. happen
cd TO look around. and saw the lady
level an opera glass toward her and look
through a.
As a. result OF this inspection the lady
cantered toward her. She was on a chest
nut gelding OF great height and bone.
ana rode him as II they were one, so
smoothly did she move i'm concert with
his easy. magnificent strides
when she came near Lady Bassett she
made little sweep and drew UP beside
her on the grass
(To he continued)