The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-24

10 say III. CT 1ndIitS, Dut We hoNo SN''~N
orders not to admit you. Haven't you
got the admirals letter."
mo: what letter.
"He has been after you. sir; and when
he came back he sent Roger on to your
house with letter
cold chill began TO run down sr
! Charles Bassett. He hailed passing
hansom and drove To his own house 10
get the admirars letter; and as ne went
he asked himself with chill misgivings'
| what on earth had happened.
What had happened shall be told the
reader precisely but briefly
In the first place. Bella had opened
the anonymous letter and read It's con-
! tents.
| is no more At TO rebuff a poisoned arrow
! than she was to combat that 1oulest anu
| drest OF all a miscreants weapons, III
anonymous letter. she; d In ner tbst any
| person she did not know could possibly
| tell lie 10 wound her. me letter zen zen
| on her like a cruel revelation from
! heaven. A..
The blow was so savage that at first.
| IL stunned her. -
she sat pale and stupefied. but beneath
the stupor were the rising tnroos Oh ""nh-
After that horrible stupor her anguish
grew and grew. till IL found vent IN
miserable cry, rising. and rising ana ris-
| ~
| Mamma. mammal mammaV
| Yes her mother had been dead these
three years. and her father sat In tne
next room: yet. in her anguish, she crled
| TO her mother-a cry that when, III your
| mother had heard. she would nave eH-
pected Bellas TO come TO her even from
| the grave.
Admiral Bruce heard this fearful cry
the living calling on the dead-and burst
| through the folding doors in moment
He found his daughter writhing on the
sofa. ghastly. and grinding in her hand
the cursed paper that had poisoned her
| young life.
MY child! my child"
"Oh, papa! see! seel' And she tried 70
open the letter for him. but. her hands
| trembled so she could not
| He kneeled down by her side, the stout,
old warrior. and read the letter, while she
| clung 10 him, moaning now. and duivering
all over from head TO foot.
is a coward and perhaps a liar. Stop he
offers test. I'll put him TO IL this
minute"
He laid. the moaning girl on the sofa.
ordered his servants TO ADMIT no Iaoy INTO
the house. and drove at once TO Mayfair.
He called at Miss Somersets house, saw
Polly and stationed her.
| He drove home again. and came into
the drawing room. looking as he had been
seen TO took when fighting his ship. put
his daughter had never seen him so. MY
girl" said he, solemnly. there's nothing
your grief as well as you can. for the
man is unworthy OF your love: That cow
and spoke the truth. He Is there at TINS
| moment"
"oh, papa! papa let me die! The
world is too wicked for me. Let me Ole
die for an unworthy object? For
and pray to your God to help you. since
| your mother has left us. oh, how miss
her now! Go and pray. and let no one
else know what we suffer BE your ta'h-
Poor Bella had no longer to complain
that she was not commanded. She kissed
him, and burst into great passion or
weeping. but he led her TO the door and
she tottered 10 her room, blighted girl.
The sight Of her was narrowing. Un-
der its Influence the admiral dashed on
a letter 10 Sir Charles calling him VII
lain and inviting him to go TO France and
let an indignant father write scoundrel
on his carcass.
But when he had written this his good
sense and dignity prevailed over his fury:
he burned the letter and wrote another.
This he sent by hand 10 Sir Charles
house and ordered his servants-but that
Sir Charles found the admiral's letter
i'm his letter rack II ran thus.
| Sir-We have learned of your connection
with a lady named Somerset and ] have
ascertained that you went from my
daughter TO her house this day.
Miss Bruce and myself withdraw from
all connection with you. and | must re-
with her of any kind. Such an attempt
would be an additional insult. am.
SIR your obedient servant.
JOHN URQUHART BRUCE.
At first STR Charles Bassett was stunned
by this blow.
Then his mind resisted the admiral s
severity. and he was indignant at beins
dismissed for so common an ofense. This
give way to deep grief and shame at the
thought OF Bella and her lost esteem,
But soon all other feelings merged for
a time in fury at t'e hearNess traitor
who had destroyed his happiness, and
had dashed the cup Of innocent love
from his very Fps. Boiling over with
notification and rage. he drove at once
to that traitors house Polly opened the
door. He rushed past her. and burst
into the dlning-room. breathless, and
white with passion
He found Miss Somerset studying the
deed. by which he had made her in
dependent for life she'started at his
strange appearance. and instnctively pu
both hands fiat upon the deed.
You vile wretch cried Sir Charles
You heartless monster Enjoy youI
work" And he flung her the Admirar'
letter. But he did not wait while sh.
read u. he heaped reproaches on her
and for the first time in her life. she diC
not reply In kind.
Are you mad?" she faltered "wha
have | done?"
You have told Admiral Bruce"
That's false"
you told him was 20 be here 10
day."
Charles. 7 never dh. Believe me"
You did Nobody knew ~ but you
he was here today, az the very hour.
May 7 ever get up alive or this chat
n told soul. Yes, our Polly. II
ring for her"
Mo. YOU will not She is your sister
10 you think III take the word ~ sucl
reptiles against the plain fact7 You have
parted my love and me-parted us on tn
very day had made YOU independent fo
life. An innocent was waiting 60 bies,
me- and an honest love was IN YOU
power. thanks 20 me- your kind. for
giving friend ana benefartor. have
heapsd kindness on you from the frs
moment I had the misfortune 10 know
YOU connived az your infidelitIes--'
Charles don't say that. never was.
II INDUCED you most expensive whims
and. instead ~ leaving YOU with curse
a. all the rest did that ever knew you
and as you deserve. I bought your con
sent TO lead a respectable life. and b