The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-27
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; A TERRIBLE Temptation {
BY
I CHARLES READE
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CHARLES READE

with him down the lawn.
There, Reginald" said she, painting, IL
think my darling was here this afternoon;
yes, yes, he must: for he had key OF the
door. and Il is open"
AL right" said Reginald. come into
the field''
He ran about. like dog hunting, and
soon found marks upon the cowslips.
somebody has been fathering a nose
gay here today" said he; now, mamma,
there's only two ways out OF the field
iet US go straight TO that gate; that Is
Near the gate was some clay. and Regl-
feet.
two-ones' a gal; how l know. here's
Come on"
In the next field he was bafrled for
long time, but at last he found place
In a dead hedge, where they had gone
through.
See" said he. these. twigs are fresh
frock oh, won't she catch it?"
'oh, you brave, clever boy!" cried Lady
Bassett.
Come on,' shouted the urchin.
He hunted like a beagle, and saw like
bird, with his savage, glittering eye. He
was on fire with the ardor of the chase,
and not 70 dwell too long t,eN on %hSt hY otSs ass
ers, I'm about an hour and hair ne
brought the anxious. palpitating but now
hopeful mother TO the neighborhood OF
Bassetts wood lie here trusted to his
own instinct They have gone into the
wood" said ne, .'and l don't blame 'em.
found my way here long before his age.
j say, don't you tell-Ive shared plenty
OF the governors hares In that wood:
He got 10 the edge of the wood and ran
down the side. At last he found the marks
OF small feet on a low bank, and darting
over it. discovered the fainter traces on
some decaying leaves inside the wood.
There" said he. now 1t is Just as II
you had got the them ,b III your Potkf pgt this
wood. Bless your heart why i used 10
get lost in II at frst;'
sett, "but he will die for fair. or he eaten
"WRat WlhS oeSs,ui about ' that? Night or day is
all one TO me; What viii you give me If
"Anything i've got in the world"
give me a sovereign
"A thousand.
give me kiss?"
"A hundred"
"rhen I'll tell you what I'll dol don
mind a little trouble 10 stop your Crying
mamma. because you are the right sort;
I'll get the village out, and wen tread
the wood with torches, an all Tor them
as can't see by night; ] can see all one
and you shall have your Kid home 70 sup
per You see, there's heavy dew. and he
is not like me, that would rather sleep
I'm this wood than the best bed In LONDON
city; a night in wood would about set
IL
a mile I'm six minutes and half
with these words the strange boy was
of like an arrow from bow;
Lady Bassett, exhausted by anxiety
and excitement was glad 10 sit down
Her trembling heart WOULD not let nsn
leave the place. that she now began 70
hope contained her child. She sat uo"h
and waited patiently.
The sun set, the moon rose, the stars
glittered: the infinite leaves stood ou.
dark and solid as II cut out or drass prass
SUSPENSE TO the solitary watcher.
Yet the lady OF Huntercombe Hall ~
on, sick at heart, but patient beneath tne
She shuddered a little as the cold dews
gathered on her. for she was q woman
nursed in luxury's lap. but she never
The silence was dismal. Had that Wild
boy forgotten his promise. or were tnere
no parents in the village. that their iee'
n was nearly 10 o'clock when her keen
ears strained TO the utmost, discovered
faint buzzing OF voices, but where sfie
could not tell. ,.....,
and then there was temporary snence,
and after that faint haIooins IN tS sno
wood to her right. the wood was nS %
acres. and the bulk OF IL 10y III itS"'
THE haiooing got louder and louder;
the whole wood seemed to echo; her near
beat high; lights gnn,i gi,m,merett at,erea by and
.,Iad liea,y ~, hsr and phea SAINTS Numbered on
,hair roots with an incredible noise, OWLS
nItted and bats innumerapie oisluip ~
and terrified by the glaring lights ann
loud resouDding halloos. .u y,
Nearer. nearer came the SOUNDS, tiil az
last a line Of men and boys, fuily nly
carving torches and lanterns, came up
and lighted up the dew-spangled leaves
ard made the mothers heart leap with
1o,,,I hone at succor so powerful.
or che could have kissed the stout
village blacksmith, whose deep sonorous
IunVs rang close TO her. Never had any
mans voice sounded to her so like
god's "a this stout blacksmith's "hilloop!
buloop," close and loud In her ear. and
those at tho end of the line "halooed
''hIl,o-op: hollo-o op!" like an echo; and
so thew passed on through brush and
brier. til their voices died away I'm the
distance. .
A boy detached himself from the line.
and ran 10 Lady Bassett, with a travelling
rug. II was Reginald.
"You put on this" said he. He shook
II, and standing on tiptoe, put IL over her
shoulders.
THANK you, dear" said she. Where
Is papa?''
''oh. he is in the line. the Highmore
swell and all"
MIR. Richard Bassett?'
LAY. his kid Is out on the loose, as we'll
as ours"
"oh. Reginald. II they should quarrel"
why, our governor can lick him. can't
he?"
(To BE Continued)
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