The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-05

share in the wages of your shame!
Out on you, wanton!
He tore off the ring from his finger,
flung it at her feet, thrust her from
him, and turned away. r
vi.
On his way home, after the play, to
his lodgings in Howard Street, Strand,
George Knevit was confronted by two
men.
"What would you with me, Sir Ow-
en?" he demanded.
I'D send my fist down your throat,
vagabond."
have no quarrel with you, Sir
Owen. Let me pass"
Sir Owen by way of answer dashed
his hat in the players face.
Coward and brute!" cried Knevit,
as he sprung back and drew his sword.
Defend yourself"
Nay, gentleman cam cross weap-
ons with a mountebank, though he
may wear the finest diamonds in the
world" said Major Moxon.
Stand away, sir; you have no
Ehare in this quarrel 1t was none of
my seeking; but being begun, it shall
go on. Ny blood's up now. Draw,
Sir Owen, as you are man.
Major Moxon pulled away his friend.
II" Poltroon as well as sotr' cried the
actor. Nay, you don't escape me.
Sure blow will kindle your dull
Doors blood" And with the fat of
his sword he struck Sir Owen on the
shoulder.
Let me fight him p bawled the
baronet.
n Nay, we've a better card than
that to playW The major whistled.
Three men sprang from the shadow
of doorway. We cudgel players;
we don't cross swords with them.
That's your man. At him, We dogs
| Don't spare him.
Knevit was surrounded. He sought
to defend himself with his sword, but
savage blow broke his wrist, and
his weapon fell from his grasp.
"Heip! help! watchF' he screamed.
| Sir Owen and his friend made good
their escape.
The blows rained down upon the
face and head and shoulders of the
devoted player. Streaming with
blood, he fell in the roadway.
80 God, I'm blind!' he said,
.feebly.5}" I'm dead man. "o
A few more cowardly blows as he
lay senseless on the ground, and his
assailants hurried away.
The watch came up slowly, after
their manner, recognized the suffering
man, and bore him to his lodgings,
"They had suspicious" they averred,
. as to the guilty persons. Sir Owen
Price and Major Moxon had been
seen lettering about swearing to have
George Knevit's blood. They (the
watch) knew that no good would
come of it all. They said so from the
first. " : -a-r- w~
George Knevit never spoke more
A skillful chirurgeon was called in;
but he at once pronounced the case
hopeless The poor players wounds
were mortal.
He still breathed that was all that
could be said. For the rest, he lay
stretched, upon his bed, motionless,
inanimate, light napkin hiding the
bruised, disfigured, maltreated face:
once so handsomel 81
Mrs Askew had been sent for, and
was admitted to the chamber in which
he lay She was trembling in every
limb, white as a ghost, sick with ter
Tor and anguish, How she shivered
and turned away as she beheld the
napkin hiding the Antinous features
she was never more to look on.
" | may speak to him? | may take
his hand ?" she ashed family.
Yes, if you will have it SO, mis-
tress," said the doctor. 1t little
matters what is done now. Only do
not remove the cloth from his faeer'
She knelt down by the players bed
side, and took his hand between hers.
She trembled-his hand was so cold.
" IF he could only hear meI' she
moaned.-And the tears streamed
down her face. She was left alone
with him.
Presently she was moved by sort.
of crazy fancy that she would speak
to him, even though he could not
hear her, even though he was wholly
dead to her. a.- rs..ut
: | haye loved you-loyed you ever,
George she began, in low, soft
voice: God knows | have! and you
have misiudged me = misjudged me
cruelty. Yet it was not your fault.
dearest. | ought to have told you
all-all from the first; but shame kept
me silent My father is in prison on
charge of coming. I shrunk from
telling you. | feared you would think
me also involved in the disgrace, and
so, unworthy Of your love. When /
listened to this dreadful man-this
Welsh tiend. this monster, who has
brought death upon you, dearest, and
misery worse than death upon me
and !! did listen to him, yet not as
you thought was to win him over
for he Is nnrunrf,Il and hnr ,,our-a. e,.l