The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-26
(Conunued.)


what was Lady Bassett about. or did
Compton. with all his excellent teaching.
conceal all this from his mother and his
friend.
On the contrary. he went open-mouthed
20 her. and told her he had seen such
pretty little girl. and gave her brief
account OF their conversation.
Lady Bassett was startled at frst ana
greatly perplexed. She told him he must
on no account 60 to her; II he spoke 10
her. 1t must be on papa's ground she
even made him pledge his honor to that
Much more Shan that she did not IKE
to say. She thought IL unnecessary ana
undesirable to transmit TO another gen.
Grafton the unhappy feud by which she
had suffered SO much. and was even tnet'
suffering. Moreover. she was az muIr
sfraid OF Richard Bassett as esos snsak to
Compton he might Soc was resolved no.
90 90 out OF her way TO anront nun: nun.
through his. daughter. Besides. 60, thaa 40
her ears, and although she had neVes
spoken 10 Mrs. Bassett. yet their eyes .s1 hsa
met in church, and always win pacilpVt
Expression. Indeed. Lady Bassett leit
sure she had read In that meek woman
face a regret that they were not tIiehns,
and could not be friends, because OF their
rsasons. would not forbid Compton to be
kind TO Ruperta In moderation.
whether she would have remained az
neutral had she known how far these
young things were going. Is quite anotner
matter; but Compton's narratives 10 her
we're naturally enough, very tame COM
pared with the reality. aud she never
dreamed that the two seven-year-olds
could form an attachment so warm as
those little plaques were doing.
And to conclude. about the time when
Mr.. Compton first opened the gate for
his inamorata, Lady Bassetts mind was
diverted, In some degree. even from her
beloved boy Compton. by new trouble.
and a host of passion 1t excited IN her
own heart
A thunder-ciap fell on Sir Charles Bas-
SOFT I'm the form OF a letter from Regl-
maids tutor informing him that Reg1-
maid and another lad had been caught
wiring hares In a wood at some distance,
and were now in custody.
Sir Charles mounted his horse and rode
10 the place. leaving Lady Bassett TO
prey to great anxiety and bitter remorse.
Sir Charles came back In two days.
with the CALLING news that his son and
heir vas in prison for a month. all his
exertions having only prevailed TO get
the case rummarily dealt with
Reginald's companion. a young gypsy.
aged seventeen. had got three months.
Il being assumed that he was the tempter
the reverse was the case, though.
When Sir Charles told Lady Bassctt all
voice. her heart almost burst; she threw
every other consideration 10 tbs winds.
Charles" she cried II can't bear IL:
] can't see your heart wrung any more.
and your affections blighted. Tear that
young viper out OF your breast: don't
GO on wasting your hearts bicod on a
stranger he Is not your son"
.a CHAPTER XxxvTII.
At this rnonstrous declaration, from
the very lips of the mans wife. there was
a dead silence. Sir Charles being struck
dumb. and Lady Bassett herself terrified
ut the sound of the words she had ut
tered.
After a terrible pause. Sir Charles fixed
his eyes on her, with awful look, and
eaid, very SLOWLY. "will-you-have-th
-goodness-to-say that again? but first
think what you are saying?"
This made Lady Bassett shake In every
limb: indeed the very esh on her body
quivered Yet she persisted. but In
tone that OF itself showed how fast her
courage was oozing. She faltered out.
almost inaudibly. IT say you must waste
no more love on him-he rs not your
son"
Sir Charles looked at her to see II she
was in her senses: II was not the first
time he had suspected her Of being de-
ranged on this one subject. But no: she
was pale as death, she was cringing.
wincing. auivering. and her eyes rowing
10 and fro: picture OF frenzy, but OF
guilt unhardened.
He began 10 tremble In his turn. and
was so horror-stricken and agitated that
ne could hardly speak. Am l. dream
ing7" he gasped
Lady Bassett saw the storm she had
raised and would have given the world
10 recall ner words.
WHO is he. then7" asked Sir Charles
In voice scarcely human.
II don't know said Lady Bassett dog
edy.
'Then no wdare you say that he isn't
miner"
XIII me. Charles" cried she. passion
stely; but don't look at me so and speak
20 me so Why say he is not yours Is
ne like YOU. either in face or mind?'
"And he is like-whom?"
Lady Bassett lost all her courage by
this time she whimpered out. Like no.
body except the gypsies.
Bella this Is a subject which will part
me and you for life unless We can agree
upon tt"
No reply. in words. from Lady Bassett.
$50 please let understand each
other. Your son is not my son. Is that
what you look me in the face and tell
me?"
'Charles. 1 never said that How could
he be my son and not be yoursT'
And she raised her eyes. and looked
him fun IN the face: no fear nor cringfng
now; the woman was majestic.
Sir Charles was little alarmed In his
turn: for his wife's soft eyes famed
battle for the first time in her life.
Now you talk sense" said he: "if he
is yours he Is mine: and as ne Is GER
tsinly yours. this Is a very foolish con-
versation. which must not be renewed
otherwise--'
II shall be insulted by my own hus-
band"
Il think II very probable. And. as /
DO not choose you TO be insulted. nor 10
think yourself insulted forbid you ever
20 recur TO this subject"
II will obey. Charles; but let me say
one word first. When I was alone in
London. and hardly sensible. might not
this child have been imposed upon me
and you? I'm sure he was
by whom7'
How can I teli-that woman in the