The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-05

The GOODNESS died away by degrees with
so much humility on one side and so
much love on both: but the subject was
! interdicted forever.
week after the trial Lady Bassett
wrote 10 Mrs Marsh, under cover 10 Mr..
! Oldield and told her how the trial had
| gone. and. with many expressions OF
! gratitude. invited her and her husband 10
/ Funte~conbe Hall. She told Sir Charles
/ what she had done. and he wore very
strange look Might | suggest that we
! have them alone?' said he dryly.
"By all means" said Lady Bassett II
don't want 10 share my paragon with
/ anybody"
/ In due course a reply came; Mr.. and
Mrs. Marsh would avail themselves some
day OF Lady Basetts kindness; at present
! they were going abroad. The letter was
written by a mans hand.
! About this time Oldfield sent Sir Char
les Miss somerset's deed, Cancelled, and
told him she had married a man OF for
/ tune who was devoted TO her. and pre-
ferred TO take her without any dowry
Bassett and Wheeler went home crest
fallen, and dined together. They discussed
! the two trials. and each blamed the other.
/ They quarreled and parted; and Wheeler
sent in an enormous bill. extending over
/ nve years. Eighty-flve items began thus
Attending you at your house for several
hours, on which occasion you asked my
advice as to whether" etc
| Now as a great many OF these attend
ances had been really to shoot game and
! dine on rabbits at Bassett's expense, he
thought 1t hard the conversations should
be charged and the rabbits net
, Disguised with his defeat. and resolved
TO evade this bill, he discharged his SER
| want, and put a retired soldier into his
| house, armed with blunderbuss. and or
dered him to keep all doors closed. and
present the weapon aforesaid at all rate
collectors, tax collectors debt collectors
and applicants for money TO build church.
es or convert the heathen: but not to fire
at anybody except his friend Wheeler. nor
at him unless he should try TO shove a
writ In at some chink of the building
Ihis done. he went on his travels, third
class, with his eyes always open, and his
heart full Of bitterness
Nothing happened to Richard Bassett
on his travels that need relate. until
one evening when he afghted at a small
commercial inn in the city of York, and
there met person whose influence on
the events | am about to relate at this
moment increditable 10 me, though IL IL
a simple fact
He found the commercial room empty.
and Rag the bell. In came the waiter
a strapping girl with coal black ewes and
brows to match. and brown skin, but
glowing cheeks They both started at
sight of each other. 1t was Polly Somer-
set.
Why. Polly, How dye DO? How do
you came here?"
man." snid Polly. and began to whimper.
She told him her sister had found out
from the page she had been colloguing
with him. and had never treated her like
a sister after that And when she mar
r1ed gentleman she wouldn't have me
aside her for all could say, but she d
pack me off into service and here be.
The girl was handsome, and had a
liking for him. Bassett was idle. and
time hung heavy on his hands; he stayed
at the inn a fortnight. more for Polly's
company than anything; and at last Of
fered TO put her into vacant cottage on
his own little estate at Highmore. But
the girl was shrewd. and had seen
great deal of life this last three years;
she liked Richard In her way, but che
saw he was all self. and sne would not
trust him
Nay" said she. "I'll not break with
Rhoda for any young man in Britain. II
I leave service she will never own me
at all: she is as hard as IRON
Well but you might come and take
service near me. and then we could
often get word together"
"Oh. I'm agreeable TO that you find
me good place. like an inn best one
sees fresh faces"
Bassett promised to manage that for
her, on reaching home he found a con-
ciliatory letter from Wheeler coupled
with his permission TO tax the bill ac-
cording to his own notion OF Justice This
and other letters were In an clubhouse: /:
the old soldier had not permitted them
TO penetrate the fortress He had enter ed
into the spirit OF his instructions. and to
him letter was a probable handgrenade
Bassett sent for Wheeler the bill was
reduced, and small payment made: the
was then consulted about Polly and he
told his client the lady Of the Lamb
wanted good active waitress he thought
he could arrange that little AFFAIR.
In due course. thanks to this artist
Mary Wells hitherto known as Polly
Somerset. landed with her boxes at the
black eyes and ready tongue soon added
TO the popularity of the inn. Riche rd
Bassett. ESQ. for one. used to sup there
now and then with his friend Wheeler
BY and by the vicar Of Huntercombe
wanted a servant. and offered TO engage
Mary Wells
She thought twice about that. She could
neither write nor read. and therefore was
dreadfully dull without company: the
hustle Of an inn. and people coming and
temptation to be near Richard Bassett.
so she accepted at last: Unable to write.
she could not consult him. and she made
sure he would be delighted.
But when she got into the village the
prudent Mr. Bassett drew In his horns
and avoided her. She was mortified and
very angry. She revenged Nherself on
her employer. broke double her wages.
The vicar had never been able 20 convert
a smasher. 50 he parted with her very
readily 10 Lady Bassett. with hint that
she was rather unfortunate In glass and
china.
In that large house her spirits rose.
and. having a hearty manner and a clap
per tongue. she became a general favor
ite.
One day she met Mr.. Bassett in the
village and he seemed delighted at the
sight OF her. and begged her 10 meet him
that night at a certain place where Sir
Charles garden was divided from his own
by ha -ha. n was n very secluded spot.
shut out from view. even I'm daylight. by
tho trees and shrubs. and the winding
nature OF the walk that led TO ~. yet
lt was scarcely a hundred yards from
Huntercombe hall
CTo he Con,inued)
Group instantly relieved. DR.. Thomas.
~. eaFo f.t