The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-28
(Continued.)

part them. IL they do"
Dear Reginald. you have been so good
TO me, and you are SO clever; speak TO
some OF the men. and let there be no
quarreling between papa and that man.
"All right" said the boy.
ION second thought. take me TO papa
I'll be by his side, and then they cannot
You want 10 walk through the wood7
That is a good joke Why, III like walk
ing through river. and the young wood
slsping your eyes, for you can't see every
twig by this light, and the leaves
sponging your face and shoulders; and
the briers would soon strip your gown in
TO ribbons, and make your little ankles
bleed. No you are a lady: you stay
where you are, and let us men work It.
We shan't ind him yet awhile. must get
near the governor. When we find our
lord, I'll give a whistle you could hear a
mile or.'
"oh, Reginald, are you sure he is In the
wood?'
'I'd bet my head to chany orange
You might as we'll ask me. when track
a badger TO his hole, and no signs OF his
going out again, whether old long-claws
IL there. wish was az sure OF never 60
ing back TO school as I am OF finding that
little tot. The only thing / don't like is
the young NUNS not giving us halloo
back. But, any way. I'll find 'em, alive or
dead"
And, with this pleasing assurance, the
little imp scudded on. leaving the mother
glued 10 the spot with terror.
For fully an hour more the torches
CLEANED. though fainter and fainter. and
n a xxvaQ kA a. nNa anh th.t HA
voices. though distant. seemed 10 halloo
all around the agonized mother.
But presently there was a continuous
yell, quite different from the isolated
shouts; a distant but unmistakabie howl
OF victory that made bolt of ice shoot
down her back, and then her heart TO
glow like fire.
II was followed by a keen whistle.
She fell on her knees and thanked God
for her boy.
In the middle of this wood was n shall
low excavation. an old chalk rit, unused
Tor many years. II was never deep, and
had been half filled up with leaves: these.
once blown into the hollow, or dropped
from the trees. had accumulated.
The very middle of the line struck on
this place. and Moss, the old keeper. who
was near the centre. had no sooner cast
his eye into IL that he halted, and uttered
stentorian halloo well known TO sports
men--'See hol"
A dead halt, low murmur. and In a
very few seconds the line was circle and
all the torches that had not expired held
Iileh IN flaming ring over the prettiest
little sight that wood had ever presented
Ihe old keeper had not given tongue on
conjectnre Ike some youthful hound
In = lite hollow OF leaves, which the
sno MISS Ruperta. on their little backs.
each with an arm around the others
neck, enjoying the sweet. sound sleep of
infancy, which neither tho horror OF their
stuation--babes in the wood-nor the
shouts OF so people had In the smallest de-
gree disturbed; 10 be sure, they had un-
dergone great fatigue.
Young master wore a coronet Of blue
bells on his golden head. young miss a
wreath OF cowslips on her ebon locks.
The pair were flowers, cherubs. children
everything that stands for young tender
and lovely
The honest villagers gaped. and roared
In chorus. and held high their torches,
and gszed with reverential delight Not
for them was Il 10 finger the little gentle
foiks. but only TO devour them with adj
mfring eyes
many an humble hearth. and is spoken
OF TO this day in Huntercombe village.
But the pale and anxious fathers were
IN no state to see pictures; they, only saw
their children; Sir Charles and Richard
Bassett came around with the general
rush. saw. and dashed into the pit.
Strange TO say. neither knew the other
was there. Each seized his child, and
tore Il away from the contact OF the other
child. as II from viper. in which natural
but harsh act they saw each other for the
moment with hate and defiance, over their
lovely children.
Here was a picture OF a different kind.
and If the melancholy Jacques. or any
other gentleman with a foible for thinking
IN a wood. had been there. methinks he
had moralized very prettily on the hid
eousness of hate, and the beauty OF tho
sentiment II had interrupted so fiercely.
But IL escaped this sort OF comment for
about eight years. Well all this awoke
the BARNS: tho lights dszzled them, the
face on the paternal shoulder. The faith
ers, Ike wild beasts. each carrying of n
lamb. withdrew. glaring at each other.
but the next moment the stronger and
better sentiment prevailed and they kiss
ed and blessed their restored treasures,
and forgot their enemy for time.
Sir Charles party followed him, and
supped at Huntercombe. each man Jack
OF them.
Reginald. who had delivered terrific
cat-call, now ran OF 10 Lady Bassett:
There she was. still on her knees. Found!
foundl' he shouted
She claspel him in her arms and wept
for Joy.
are to cry. You come home; you'll catch
your death o. cold"
mo. no; take me to my child at once"
Can't be done; the governor has car
ried him OF through the wood. and amt
a going TO let you travel the wood. You
come with me; well go the short cut,
and be home az soon as them.
She complied, though trembling all over.
On the way he told her where the chill
dren bad been discovered and In what
attitude.
Little darlinssr' said she. But he has
frightened his poor mother and nearly
broken her heart. OH"
''If you cry any more, mamma-shut up,
I tell youl"
Must II OH"
Yes. or you'll catch pepper"
Then he pulled her along, gahbling all
the time. ''Those two swells didn't quar-
rel after ALL you see"
THANK heavenl"
But they looked at each other IKE
hobeiixes. and pulled the kids away ike
poison. Ho. hal I say. the young mg
amt OF the same kind as the old 'uns. !
say, though our Compton is not bad
sort; I'm blowed m he hadn't taken on bis
tippst TO put around bis gal ] say. don't
you think that little chap has begun rath,
or early7 why. didn't trouble my head
about the gals TIL was II years old.