The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-31
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tContinued)
Ourxstory now makes bold skip.
Compton Bassett was fourteen years old.
youth highly cultivated in mind and
Trained In body. but not very tall. and
father effeminate looking. because he was
90 fair and his skin was so white.
For all that. he was one OF the bowlers
b1 the woolcombe Eleven. whose cricket
ground was the very meadow In which he
had first gathered cowslips with Ruperta
Bassett; and he had a canoe, which ne
carried to adjacent streams. however mar
row, and padded II with singular skill
and vigor. A neighboring miller. suffering
under the drought was heard 70 say,
There ain't water enough TO hoat
duck; naught can swim but the DAD
chicks and Muster Bassett."
: lie was also a pedestrian. and got his
father to take long walks with him. and
leave the horses 10 eat their oats In
peace.
! In these walks young master botanized
and geologized his own father. and Sir,
Charles gave him a little politics. history,
and English poetry, In return. He had a.
tutor fresh from oxford for the. classics.
lone day. returning with his father
from n walk, they met young lady
walking toward them from the village;
che was tall. and superb brunette.
= Now, Il was rather rare thing TO see
lady walking through that village. so
both Sir Charles and his son looked keen
~ at her as she came toward them.
Compton turned crimson, and raised his
hat to her rather awkwardly.
Sir Charles, who did not know the lady
from Eve, saluted her nevertheless, and
with infinite grace; for Sir Charles In his
youth had lived with some or the elite OF
French society. and those gentlemen bow
4Lma. ..4x...
bows to. Sir Charles had imported this
excellent trait OF, politeness. and always
practiced II, though not the custom In
England, the more the pity.
AS soon as the young lady had passed
and was out OF. hearing, Sir Charles said
10 Compton. WHO IL that lovely girl?
Why how the boy II blushingl'
4 'oh. papa!"
"Weu. what Is the natter"
Don't you see? tits herself come back
from school,"
II have no doubt IL is herself. and not
her sister but who is herself?"
'Ruperta Bassett." "A
Richard Bassett's daughter. impossi-
ble. That young lady looks seventeen or
eighteen years OF age"
Yes. but It is Ruperta. There's nobody
like her, Papa"
'r suppose may speak TO her now"
What for?' 'A
She Is so beautiful
THAT she really Is. And therefore l. adj
wise you TO have nothing tn say to her.
You are not children now. you know.
Were you To renew that intimacy. you
might be tempted TO fall In love with her.
] don't say YOU would be so mad. for you
are a sensible boy; but still. after that
little business in the wood"
'Butasapposc 4 did fall I'm love with
herr"
Then that would be a great misfor-
tune. DONE you know that her father ia
my enemy? IL you were to make any ad-
vances 10 that young lady, he would seize
the opportunity to affront you. and me
through YOU"
: This silenced Compton. for he was an
obedient youth. 9u4s st4
But in the evening he got his mother
Rnd coaxed her 10 take his part
! Now Lady Bassett felt the truth OF all
Per husband had said. but She had a posi-
live wish the young people should be on
friendly terms, at ell events; she wanted
the family feud to die with the generation
Il had afflicted. She promised, therefore
20 speak TO Sir Charles, and so great was
her influence that she actually obtained
terms for Compton: he might speak to
Miss Bassett. II he would realize the
whole situation. and be very discreet and
not revive that absurd familiarity into
which their childhood had been betrayed
She communicated this to him, and
warned him at the same time that even
this concession had been granted some
what reluctantly. and I'm consideration OF
his invariable good conduct; II would be
Immediately withdrawn upon the slightest
indscretion.
"Oh. I will be discretion itself" said
Compton: but the warmth with which
;he kissed his mother gave her some
doubts However. she was prepared to
risk something. She. had her own views
In this matter.
When he had got this limited permis-
sion. Master Compton was not much near
er the mark: for he was not to call on the
young lady. and she did not often walk
In the village.
But he often thought OF her, her loving,