The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-19
(Continued.)

der.
A short, bull-necked man. and rather a
pretty young woman with a haunting
cap. beetirred themselves getting down
the things. and Mr.. salter came out and
looked on.
Lady Bassett called Mary Wells. and
gave her a hve-pound note to slip into
the mans hand. She telegra phed the girl,
who instantly came near her with an
India-rubber bath, and. affecting igno-
rance asked her what that was.
Lady Bassett dropped three sovereigns
into the bath. and said: Ten times.
20 times that, II you are kind to him.
Tell him II is his cousins doing. but his
wife watches over him"
"All right" said the girl "Come again
when the doctor Is here"
All this passed, In swift whispers, a
few yards from Mr.. Salter. and he now
came forward an doffered his arm TO
conduct Lady Bassett TO the carriage.
But the wretched. heartbroken wife
forgot her art OF pleasing. She shrunk
from him with a faint cry OF aversion,
and got into her carriage unaided. Mary
Wells followed her.
Mr.. Salter was unwilling TO receive
this rebuff He followed. and said. The
clothes shall be given. with any message
you may think fit to intrust TO me-
Lady Bassett turned away sharply from
him, and said 10 Mary Wells Tell him
ID drive home. Home. I have none now.
you may think AZ TO intrust 10 me"
The carriage drove away as she ut
tered these piteous words.
She cried At Intervals all the way home:
and could hardly drag herself upstairs
10 bed
Mr.. Angelo called next day with bad
news Not a magistrate would move
a'finger against Mr. Bassett: he had the
Ia n .kA a. !. a~Ia
ly insane; IT. was quite proper he should
be put In security before he did some
mischief 10 himself or Lady Bassett.
They say. why was he hidden for two
months, II there was not something very
wrong7'
Lady Bassett ordered the carriage and
paid several calls, 10 counteract this
fatal impression.
She found. TO her horror. she might
as well try 10 move a rock. There was
plenty Of Kindness and pity; but the mo-
ment she began TO assure them her hus-
band was not insane she met with
the dead silence Of polite incredulity.
One or two old friends went further and
said. MY dear. are told he could
not be taken away without two doctors
certificates; now. consider. they must
know better than you. Have patience.
and let them cure him"
Lady Bassett withdrew her friendship
on the spot from the two ladies for con-
tradicting her on, such a subject: she
returned home almost Wild herself.
In the village the carriage was stop
ped by a woman with her hair all flying.
who told her. in lamentable voice. that
Squire Bassett had sent nine men 10 prs-
on for taking Sir Charles part and ILL.,
treating his captors.
my lawyer shall defend them at my
expense" said Lady Bassett. with a
sigh.
Il.
her own room. and ther was Mary Wells
waiting 10 dress her
She tottred In. and sank into a chair
But, after this temporary exhaustion.
came a rising tempest OF passion: her
eyes roved. her fingers worked. and her
heart seemed to come out Of her In words
of fire. IT have not a friend I'm all the
county. That villain has only 20 say
'Madis' and all turn from me. as II an
angel OF truth had said Criminal We
have no friend but one. and she is my
servant. Now go and envy wealth and
titles No wife In this parish is so poor
rs I powerless In the folds Of a serpent.
can't see my. husband without an or
der from him. He is all power. I and
mine all weakness" She raised her
clenched fists. she clutched her beauti-
ful hadr as II she would tear II out by
the roots II shall go mad. I shall go
mad! Mo- said she. all OF q sudden.
"That will not do. That is what ne wants
land then my darling would be defense
less. ] will not go mad" Then sudden
~ grinding her white teeth: 'I'll teach
him to drive lady to despair. I'll
night"
She descended. almost without break.
from the fury of Pythoness to a strange.
calm. Oh! then II Is her sex are dan
gerous.
Don't look so pale" said she. and she
actually smiled. "All is fair against
feat him Dress me- Mary"
Mary Wells carried away by the un-
usual violence Of a superior mind, was
quite bewildered.
Lady Bassett smiled strange smile.
and said. "Tll show you how 10 dress
me- and she did give her lesson that
astonished her.
And now" said Lady Bassett 'T shall
dress you" And she took loose full
dress out Of her wardrobe and made Mary
Wells put II on; but she inserted some
stuffing so adroitly that Mary seemed
very buxom. but what she wished 10
hide was hidden Not so Lady Bassett
herself. Her figure looked much rounder
than In the last dress she wore.
With all this she late for dinner.
and when she went down. Mr.. Angelo
had just finished telling Mr. Oldheld Of
the mishap 10 the villagers
Lady Bassett came In animated. and
beautiful.
Dinner was announced directly and n
commonplace conversation kept up TN
the servants were got rid or She then
told Mr.. Oldheld how she had seen re-
fused admittance to Sir Charles al Belle
vue House. a plain proof. 10 her mind
they knew her husband was not insane:
and begged him to act with energy. and
get Sir Charles out before his reason
could he permanently injured by the out
rage and horror Of his situation
This led to a discussion. In which Mr
Angelo and Lady Bassett threw out vn 4
ous suggestions. and Mr.. Oldheld cooled
their ardor with sound objections. rIe
was familiar with the statutes de lunat'co
and said trey had been strictly observed
both In 'hc capture ~ Sir Charles and
IN Mr.. Ss'ter's refusal To let the wife sec
the hus'li Il. In short. he appeared elthsr
urhhis or unwilling to see anything ex-
cept the strong legal position of the qd-