The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-13

; A TERRIBLE Temptation {
BY
( CHARLES READE (
NCNN
CHARLES READE

OF q daughters love. she fought with
death for Lady Bassett, and at last she
won the desperate battle.
This ala Richard Bassett's daughter for
her fathers late enemy.
The grateful husband wrote TO Bassett
and now acknowledged his obligation.
A civil mcck-modest reply from Rich
ard Bassett rM
From this, things went on step by step
tn at last Compton and Rupsrta, at eigh-
teen years OF age. were formally betroth-
ed.
Thus the children's love wore out the
fathers hate.
That love. 90 troubled at the outset,
left by degrees the region os romance. and
rfppied smoothly through green. novery
meadows.
Ruperta showed her lover one more
phase OF eirlhood; che. who had been a
precocious and forward child. and then a
shy and silent girl, came out a bright
and witty young woman, full OF vivacity,
modesty and sensib!lty.
Time cured Compton OF one defect Ru-
perta stopped growing at fifteen. but
Compton went slowly on; caught her at
seventeen. and at nineteen had passed her
by a head He won scholarship at OK
ford he rowed In college races, and at
last in the university race on the
Thames
Ruperta stood. in peerless beauty. dark
blue from throat to feet, and saw his
boat sstern OF its rival saw it come up
with. and creep ahead. amid the roars OF
the multitude. When she saw her lover,
with bare corded arms. as brown as a
berry. and set teeth. niling his glorious
part In that manly struggle within eight
yards OF her. she confessed he was not a
boy now.
But Lady Bassett no such evidence = be-
ing pestered 10 let them marry at twenty
years of age. she clogged her consent
with one condition---they must live three
years at Huntercombe as man and wife.
NO boy OF twenty" said she. can un-
dcrstand a young woman OF that age.
must be in the house to prevent single
Misunderstanding between my beloved
children
The Young people, who both adored her.
voted the condition reasonable. They
were married. and a wing Of the spacious
building allotted TO them.
For their sakes let US hope that their
welded life now happily commenced, will
furnish me no materials for another tale !.
the happiest lives are uneventfui.
The foreign gent recovered his wound.
but acquired rheumatism and dislike
for midnight expeditions.
Reginald galloped a year or two over
seven hundred miles of colony. sowing his
wild oats Al he flew, but Is now a prosper
Gus squatter. very fond OF sleeping in the
open air England was not big enough for
the bold Bohemian. lie does very we'll
where he IS.
Old Meyrlck died. and left his wife a
little estate In the next county. Drake
asked her hand at the funeral. She mar
ried him in six months. and migrated 10
the estate In question; for Sir Charles re
fused her a lease OF his farm, not choos-
ing 10 have her near him.
Her new abode was in the next parish
TO her sisters.
La Marsh set herself To convert MARY.
and often exhorted her to penitence she
bore this pretty we'll for some time, be-
ing overawed by old "reminiscences of sis-
terlv superiority; but at last her vanity
rebelled. Repent and repent!' cried she
why you be like n cuckoo. sll I'm one
song One would think had been and
robbed a church 'Tis all very we'll for
you 70 repent. as led fastish life At
starting: but never done nothing ss I'm
ashamed on"
Richard Bassett said one day to Wheel.
er. old fellow. there is not worse pol
son than hate " has made me old before
my time. And what does IL all come to?
We might just as well heve kept quiet;
for my grandson will inherit Hunter
combe and Bassett after ALI
the bells for.
Sir Charles and Lady Bsssett led a
peaceful life fter all their troubles. and
renewed their youth In their children. OF
whom Ruperte is one and pc dear as any.
Yet there is pensive and humble air
about Lady Bsssett which shows she
still expistes her fault though she knows
II will always be ignored by him for
whose sake she sinned.
In summing her up. n may he az we'll
to compare this with the unmixed self
complacency OF Mrs. Drake.
You men and women who fudge this
Bella Rassett be FIRM, and do not let her
amiable qualities or her good intentions
blind you in plain matter of right and
wrong; he charitable. and ask your
selves. or any other human being. resist
a terrible temptation.
My experience is that we resist other
peoples temptations nohlv, and succumb
10 our own.
SO let mo end with line IF England's
gentlest satirst--
Heaven be merciful 10 us all, sinners
as W. be
CTHE ENID