The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-08
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; A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION {
- BY
CHARLES READE
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CHARLES READE
(Continued)

amorous mood She came merely to tell
Mr.. Bsssett her mind, viz. that he was
a shabby fellow. and she had had her cry.
and didn't care a straw for him now.
And she did tell him So in loud voice.
and with flushed cheek
But he set 10 work humby and patient
ly 10 pacify her; he represented that In
. small house like the vicarage every
thing is known; he should have ruined
her character II he had not held aloof.
but II is different now" said he. You
can run out OF Huntercombe House, and
meet me here, and nobody be any the
wiser"
Not l." said Mary Wells. with toss.
"The worst thing a girl can do is 10 keep
company with a gentleman. She must
meet him In holes and corners. and be
fiung of. like an old glove, when she has
served his turn"
THAT will never happen TO you, Polly
dear. We must be prudent for the pres
ent: but ! shall be more my own master
some day. and then you will see how !
love YOU"
Seeing is believing said the girl sui
lenly. You be too fond OF yourself 10
love the likes o. me"
Such was the warning her natural
ehrewdness gave her But perseverance
undermined H. Bassett so often threw
out hints OF what he would do some day.
mixed with warm protestations of love-
that she began almost TO hope he would
marry her. She really liked him; his fine
figure and his color pleased her eye, and
he had plausible tongue TO boot.
As for him, her rustic beauty and health
pleased his senses: but for his heart she
had little place I'm that. What he court
ed her for just now was TO keep him in
formed OF all that passed In Huntercombe
place, and he listened greedily TO Mary
Wells gossip. He had counted on her
volubility. II did not disappoint him. She
never met him without a budget one
half Of IL lies or exaggerations. She was
q born liar. One night she came I'm high
spirits. and greeted him thus What
dye think? I'm riz. Mrs. Eden, that
dresses my lady's hair she took yester-
day. and ! told my lady. II you didn't
please our Rhoda at that twas as much
a. your life was worth. You mustn't he
thinking OF your young man with her
hair IN your hand. or she'd rouse you
with a good crack on the crown with a
hairbrush. So dressed my ladys hair.
aud handled n like old chaney: by the
came token. she is so pleased with me
you can't think. She is real lady; not
like our Rhoda. Speaks as civil TO me
as IL ! was one Of her own sort. and
says she. Il should like TO have YOU
about me. II I might I had II on my
tongue 10 tell her she was mistress: but
was little skeared at her at first. you
know But she will have me about her;
] see IL in her eye"
Bassett was delighted at this news. but
ne did not speak his mind all at once.
the time was not come. He let the gypsy
rattle on, and hided his time. He fat
tered her, and said he envied Lady Bas-
sett TO have such a beautiful girl about
'Ay do. said she. "and then I'll pull IL
for you"
This challenge ended I'm a little strug-
gle for kiss. the sincerity OF which was
doubtful Polly resisted vigorously. TO be
sure. but briefly. and having given in,
returned IT,
One day she told him Sir Charles had
met her plump. and had given a great /
start. This made Bassett very uneasy /
"Confound II. he will turn you away. |
He will say, The girl knows too much "
How simple you be-" said the girl |
''D'ye think let him know? SAYS he, I
think have seen you before. Yes, sir.
says I, I was housemaid here before /
my lady had me 10 dress her No. SAYS
he, Il mean In London LIN Mayfair, YOU |
know declare you might ha knocked /
me down wi a feather So | looks in |
his face. as cool as marble and I said.
No. sir; never had the luck 10 see Lon I
don. SIR says I. All the better for YOU
says he; and he swallowed II like spring !
water. as sister Rhoda used 10 say when
she told one and they believed IT,"
You are a clever girl" said Bassett
HE would have turned you out Of the
house II he had known who YOU were"
She disappointed him In one thing: she
was bad al answering questions Moral
~, she was not quite great an egotist
as himself, but intellectually, greater.
Her volubiity was all egotism. She
could scarcely say ten words. except
about herself: so, when Bassett aues-
toned her about Sir Charles and Lady
BaSsett. she said Yes" or mo" or IL
don't know and was off at a tangent
60 her own sayings and doings
Baesett, however. by great patience and
tact. extracted from her at last that
6fr Charles and Lady Bassett were both
sore at not having children. and Lady
Bassett bore the blame
That is good Joke" said he: "the
smoke dried rake. Polly you might do
me a good turn. You might have got
her ear; open her eyes for me. What
might not happen" Her eyes shone
fendishly.
The young woman shook her head. ME
NEEDLE between man and wife! I'm too !
fond Of my place"
-Ah. you don't love me as love you |
fou think only Of yourself"
And what do you think Of, Do YOU 4
1--we me well enough TO find me better /
place. II you get me turned out OF Hunt 4
ercombe hall?'
Yes, ! Will: much better"
That is a bargain"
Mary Wells was silly in some things.
out she was very cunning too: and she
sne~ niohard Bsssett's hobby. She told
nm nm 10 mind himself as well as Sir
ensries. or perhaps he would die a bach
elor. ana 80 his nesh and blood would
never inherit Huntercombe This remark
en.ereo MS mind. The trial. though ap.
psrehty drawn battle. had been fatal
10 him-he was cut: he dared not nav tis
soorssses 70 any lady IN the county. and
ne oftsn felt very lonely now So evcry.
,ning combined to draw him toward Marv
Wells-her swarthy beauty which shons
out AZ church like black diamond amons
the other women; his own loneliness. ana
the pleasure these stolen meeting. ea,e
him. Custom itself IL pleasant. ana the
nFr4T.I ~ ~.