The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-30
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2 A TERRIBLE Temptation {
By tntn
I M CHARLES READE (
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CHARLES READE

Give her this miss" said the gypsy.
'and she will como to mr."
He held her out dirty cruppled piece
OF paper.
Sally, whose hands were wet from the
tub, whipped her hand under the corner
OF her checkered apron. and so took .ie
note with a finger and thumb operating
through the linen.
BY this means she avoided two evils
her fingers did not We tte letter. ara
the letter did not dirty her fingers
She took IL into the kitchen TO her mis-
tress, whose arms were deep in a wash
tub /,
Mrs Meyrick had played the fine lady at
first starting, and for six months would
not put her hand TO anything. But those
twin cajolers OF the female heart. dignity
and laziness, made her so utterly wretch
ed, that she returned TO her old habits of
work. only she combined with II the
sweets OF domination.
Sally came I'm and said. Its on old
gypsy. which he have brought you this"
Mrs Meyrick instantly wiped the soap
suds from her brown but shapely arms
and, whipping a wet hand under her
apron. took the note just as sally had. IL
contained these words only:
"Nurse-The old romance will tell you
all about me. ,...,, "REGINALD"
She had no sooner read II than she
took her sleeves down. and whipped her
shawl on pes and put II on, and took
off her apron---and all for an old gypsy.
No stranger must take her for anything
but lady.
Thus embelhshed in a turn of the hand,
she went hastily 10 the door
She and the gypsy both started at sight
OF each other, and Mrs. Meyrick scream
ed.
why. what brings you here. old man.
said she. painting. The gypsy answered
with oily sweetness. The little gentle
man sent me. my dear. Why, you look
like q queen"
''Iush!" said Mrs Meyrick Come in
here"
She made the Old gypsy sit down. and
she sat close 10 him.
Speak low. daddy" said she and tell
me all about my boy, my, beautiful boy.
The old gypsy told Mrs Meyrick the
wrongs OF Reginald that bad driven him
10 this: and she fell TO crying and la
menting. and inveighing against all con-
cerned-s schoolmaster, Sir Charles, Lady
Massett, and the gypsies Then the old
man defended, and assured her the young
gentleman was In good hands, and would
be made ittle king Of. all the more.
that Keturah had told them there vas
gypsy blood i'm him.
Mrs. Merrick treated this with loud
scorn. and then returned TO her grief
When she had INDUCED that grief for
long time. she felt natural desire 10
quarrel with somebody and she actually
put on her bonnet. and was going to the
Hall TO give Lady Bassett bit of her
mind. for she said that lady had never
shown the feelings OF woman for the
lamb.
But she thought better OF II, and post
,s poned , the visit ist, u shall be sure to say
she; so she sat down again, and returned
to her grief.
oughly ss she had done any other trouble
in her life
Months after this. she said TO Sally.
with burst Of tears. II never nursed but
one. and shall never nurse another and
now he is across the seas"
She kept the old gypsy at the farm;
or, TO speak more correctly. she made the
farm hts headquarters. She assigned him
the only bedroom he would accept. viz
c8ttel shed. open on one side. She was
alone; she gave him some OF her hus
bands clothes. and made him wear a de-
cent hat; by these means she effaced, In
some degree. his nationality, and then
compelled her servants TO call him the
foreign gent"
The foreign gent was very apt to dis
appear In hne weather. but rain soon
drove him hack 10 her fireside. and hun
ger TO her flesh pots
ON the very day the foreign gent came
10 Meyrick's farm. Lady Bsssett had
letter by post from Reginald.
Dear Mammal am gone with the
kNpSlPS hfTOcS tne NbleF. am SOffN 10
leave you. You are the right sort but
they tormented me so with their books
and their dark rooms. II is very unfortu
nate 10 be a boy. When ! am man '
shall be too old TO be tormented, and then
I will come back,
Your dutful sou.
"REGINALD."
Lady Bassett telegrsphed Sir Charles,
and he returned to Hunterrombe. look
Ing old. sad and worn.
Lady Rassett set herself 10 comfort and
cheer him. and this was her gentle office
for many a long month.
She was the more At for H. that her
own health and spirits revived the mo-
ment Reginald left the country with his
friends. the gypses: the color crept back
to her cheeks. her spirits revived. and
she looked as handsome and almost as
young when she married. She tasted
tranquility. Year by year went by. with
out any news from Reginald. and the
hope grew that he would never cross her
threshold again. and Compton be Sir
Charles heir without any more trouble.
CTo BE Continued)