The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-30

? A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION {
= BY
( CHARLES READE (
Z~N ~N~~>NNN@
CHARLES READE
n what you advise.

/ because want to hear what you advise.
| dearest"
| Sir Charles did not leave her long In
| doubt He said, There In but one way; (;
! you must leave Huntercombe. and put
yourself out OF that miscreants way un-
| I'll our child Is BORN
THAT would not grieve me-" said Lady
Bassett. THE place is odious to me. now
| you are not there. But what would GEN.
serious people say?"
What could they say, except that you
! obeyed your husband?"
1T is a command. then, dearest"
7 'Tt Is a command: and. although you
are free and I am prisoner-althousn
you are still an ornament TO society, and
4 pass for an outcast. still I expect you
TO obey me when assume a husbands
authority. have not taken the command
OF you quite 30 much as you used to say
| must: but on this occasion do. You
will leave Huntercombe. and avoid that
csitif until our child ls born"
That ends all discussion" said Lady
Bassett. "Oh. Charles. my only regret II
that IL costs me nothing TO obey you. But
when did II ever? My king!'
He bad ordered her do the very thing
she wished TO do.
She now gave her housekeper minute fns
structions. settled the board-wages OF the
whole establishment, and sent her home
and packages at the inn.
Richard Bassett soon found out that
Lady Bassett had left Huntercombe. He
called on Wheeler and told him Wheeler
suggested she had gone 10 be near her
husband
NO" said Bassett. "she has Joined her
lover. | wonder at our simplicity in be-
lieving that fellow was gone TO Italy"
This Is rich.' said Wheeler. "A week
ago she was guilty. and a Machiavel In
petticoats: for why? she had quarreled
with her Angelo. and packed him on 70
Italy, Now she is guilty; and why? be-
cause he is not gone TO Italy-not that
YOU know whether he is or not. You rea-
son like a mule. As for me / believe
none OF this nonsense-till you find them
together"
And that is just what 1 mean to do"
I'VE shall see"
You will see"
Very soon after this country gentle
man met Wheeler on market day, and
drew him aside TO ask him a question.
do you advise Mr.. Richard Bassett
stnl?"
Yes"
did you set him to trespass on Lady
Bassetts lawn. and frighten her with a
great dog In the present state OF her
'health?" A
Heaven forbid This is the first I've
heard of such thing"
II am glad to hear you say that. Tom
Wheeler. There. read that. Your client de-
serves TO be fosged out OF the county.
STR" And he pulled a printed paper out OF
his pocket. II was dated from the Royal
Hotel, Bath, and had been printed with
blanks. as follows: but lady's hand had
filled In the dates:
"On the-day Of, while l was walk
ing alone in my garden. Mr. Richard Bas-
sett. the person who has bereaved me by
violence or my protector, came. without
leave. into my private grounds. and
brought a very large dog: II ran TO me.
and frightened me so that nearly faint
ed with alarm. Mr.. Bassett was aware OF
my condition. Next day I consulted my
husband, and he ordered me TO leave
Huntercombe hall, and put myself be-
yond the reach OF trespassers and out
rage
"One motive has governed Mr. Bassett
In all his acts. from his anonymous letter
TO me before my marriage-which / keep
for your inspection. together with the
proofs that he wrote ito the barbarous
seizure OF my husband upon certificates
purchased beforehand, and this last act Of
violence, which has driven me from the
county for a time
Sir Charles and have often been your
host and your guests: we now ask you to
watch our property and our legal rights
so long as through injustice and cruelty
my husband is a prisoner. his wife a fu-
gitive."
There said the gentleman. these
papers are going all around the country
Wheeler was most indignant, and said
he had never been consulted. as he had
never advised a trespass. He begged
loan OF the paper. and took II to Bas-
sets that very same afternoon - 7eq-
SO you have been acting without adj
vice, said he angrily: and a fine mess
you have made OF It," And. though not
much given TO violent danger, he dashed
the paper down on the table, and hurt
his hand little. Anger must be paid
for, like other uxuries
Bassett read II, and was staggered a
moment; but ne soon recovered himself.
and said: What is the foolish woman
talking about7"
He then took sheet OF paper. and said
he would soon give her a Roland for an
oliver.
"Ay," said Wheeler grimly. 'let n. see
how, you Will put down the foolish
woman. I'll smoke n cigar In the gar
den. and recover my temper
Richard Bassetts retort ran thus:
Il never wrote any anonymous letter IN
my life: and II put restraint upon Sir
Charles, N was done TO protect the es-
tate. Experienced physicians represent
ed him homicidal and suicidal and I pro-
tected both Lady Bassett and himself by
the act she has Interpreted so harshly.
AS for her last grievance. Il Is imasi-
nary. My dog Is gentle az a lamb 7 i,d
not foresee Lady Bassett would he there.
nor that the poor dog would run and wei.
come her. She Is playing a comedy: tire
real truth Is, a gentleman had left Hun.
tercombe whose company II necessary ~
her. she has gone 10 join him. and
thrown the blame very adroitly upon
Richard Bassett'
CTo BE Continued)
Did YOU count the dots in the Iss+ eo,-
test7 IL YOU did. Won will have ann.AA-