The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-23
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3 A TERRIBLE Temptation {
( CHARLES READE. (
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CHARLES READE.


hair: the girl black-eyed. black-browed'
and with eyelashes of increditable length
and beauty, and a cheek brownish. but
tinted. and so glowing with health ana
vigor. that. pricked with a needle, IL
seemed ready to squirt carnation right
into your eye.
She dazzled Master Compton so that he
could do nothing but look at her.
"Wen7" said che, smiling.
"Wsll," replied he. pretending her.
Well was not an interrogatory, nut a
concise statement. and that he had dis
charged the whole duty OF man by ac-
cording a prompt and cheerful consent
"You begin" said the lady.
mo, you"
What for7''
"Because-I think-you are the clever
est"
GOOD little boyl Well. then. Will.
Who are your"
II ann Compton. who are you. please7'
81 am Ruperta.
81 never heard that name before"
'.No more did l. i think they meas
ured me for IL: you hive In the great
house there. don't you?"
"Yes, Ruperta."
"Well. then. / live In the little house.
IL is not very little either. It's High
more. / saw you In church one day;
Is that lady with the hair your mammaY'
Yes. Ruperta."
"She is beautiful"
isn't she?"
"But mine In 80 good"
Mine is very good. too, Rnperta- Won
derfully good"
II like you. Compton, little"
IT Hike you a good deal. Ruperta
La. do you? / wonder at that; you are
like a cherub and I am such black
thing"
But that II why hike you Reginald
Is darker than you, and oh, so beauti-
full
HUM is a very bad boy
mo. he Is not"
Don't tell stories. child; he Is. know
all about him. wicked, vulgar. bad
boy"
HE is not" cried Compton. almost
sniveling. but he altered his mind. and
fred up. ''You are a naughty storytelling
girl. to say that"
Bless mel" said Ruperts. coloring high.
and tossing her head hautily.
"I don't like you now. Ruperta-' said
Compton, with all the decent calmness OF
settled conviction.
You .don'tl" screamed Ruperta- Then
60 about your business directly, and don't
never come here againl Scolding mel
How dare you?--oh OIL ohr' and the
little lady went OF slowly. with her fin-
ger in her eye; and Master Compton
this charming sex has recourse 10 what
may be called liquid reasoning" have
known the most solid reasons unable to
resist H.
However mems conscia recti," and.
above all. the cowslips, enabled Compton
to resist, and he troubled his head no
more about her that day. But he looked
out for her the next day. and she did not
come: and that rather disappointed him.
The next day was wet. and he did not go
into the meadow. being on honor not 10
do so.
The fourth day was lovely. and he spent
a long time in tho meadow, In hopes; he
saw her for a moment at the gate; but
she speedily retired.
He was disappointed.
However, he collected a good store OF
cowslips. and then came home.
AS he passed the door out popped Ru-
perta from some secret ambush, and said,
"Well?"
Well" replied Compton
Are you better, dear?''
I'm very we'll, thank YOU" said the
boy.
I'm your mind. mean. You were
cross last time you know"
Compton remembered his mothers les
sons about manly behavior. and said. I'm
a jaunty way. well, supposed / was
a little cross
Now the other cunning little thing had
come to apologize. II there was no other
way TO recover her admirer. But on
his confession. she said. ''Oh II you are
sorry for e. I forgive YOU You may
come and talk"
Then Compton came and stood on the
gate. and they held a long conversation;
and. having quarreed last time. parted
now with rather violent expressions OF
attachment.
After that they made friends and laid
their little hearts bare to each other; and
II soon appeared that Compton had
learned more. but Ruperta had thought
more for herself. and was sorely puzzled
about many things, and OF vastly in
quieitive mind. why" said she, is
good things so hard. and bad things so
nice and easy? II would be much better
II good things was nice and bad ones
nasty That II the way I'd have IL. II
I could make things"
Mr.. Compton shook his head and said
many things were hard TO understand.
and even his mamma sometimes could not
make out all the things.
Nor mine neither; puzzle her dread
full / can't help that: things shouldn't
come and puzzle me- and then ! shouldn't
puzzle her. Still / tell you my puzzles.
and perhaps yous can answer them be-
cause You are a boy? I can't think why
IL Is WICKED Tor jessie 10 COOK ana Saran
to make the beds. Can't think why mann
ma told papa not to he cross. and when
told her not 10 be cross, she put me in
a dark cupboard all among the dreadful
mice. till l. screamed so she took me out
and kissed me and gave me pie. Can't
think why papa called Sally Something
for spllling ink over his papers. and when
called the gardener the very same for
robblng my flowers. all their hands and
eyes went up. and they said I was n
shocking girl Can't think why papa gig
gled the next moment II was a shocking
girl 10 is all puzzle-puzzle."
one day she said. Can you tell me
where all the bad people are buried? for
that puzzles me dreadful"
Compton was posed at first. but said he
thought they were buried In the church
yard along with the good ones
"Oh. indeed" said she with an air ~
pity. Pray have you ever been in the
churchyard. and read the writing on the
stones7"
NO"
Then have. 7 have read every sin