The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25

| ulrnC, anu Joe WAS III TIC lll WHIlc SOu "cl'
on with the tiger"
This time she looked really frightened. Sh'
put her hand to her heart suddenly, and begal
to trcmble.
'sWhy didn't he come home TO me ?" sh'
| cried "and where did he hide himself las
night!'
| drink, my dear
Joe never drinks siic&nswcscI
While she stood lookiugat me with that pale
scared face, one Of oar going i;;cn came run
ming towards u.s.
s'You'rc wanted, Waters lie said shortly.
.sWhcre?"
upstairs in the painting room
"Joe's mr. cried Caroline. Then he Ia:
come back III go with you
She was following me us crossed the stage
| but the young man tried TO stop her.
'You'd better not come just yet. Mrs. Way
| lie. .nhe said in a hurried way that was strange
to him. ''Irs only Waters that's wanted on q
matter Of business" And then. rs Caroline
| followed close upon lie. he took hold oi my arm
and whispered, '.Don't let her come"
tried to keep her back but it was no use.
~ know it's my husband who wants you,
| she said They've been making niscllicl
about me. You shan't keep me away from
him."
We were on the narrow stairs leading TO the
painting room by this tim? couidnt Keep
Caroline olr She pushed past both of Us,
and ran into the room befr:c We could stop
her.
"Scrve her right" muIteTcd my companion.
SITS all her doing"
heard her scream as came to the door.
There was little crowd in The painting room
round 4 quiet figure lying on bench, ana
there was 4 ghastly pool Of blood upon the
floor. Joseph Wayiic had cut his throat.
"Hc must have done it last night, sad the
M, Late 8. IL n
table yondn- is TIT you. Mrs. Waylic bad
business. isn't il? Poor Joseph
Caroline knclt down by the side of the bench
and stopped there on her knees, as still as
death, till the room was clear of ail hui me,
'They think l deserve this. Waters" she
said, lifting her white face from the dead mans
shoulder where she had hidden ii; "out
meant no harm. Give me The letter.
"You'd better wait bit, my dear. said.
"No. no give il ME q; once, please
gave her the letter. II was very short.
The scene painter had come back 70 the thea
tire in time TO hear some portion OF thal inter-
view between Captain J0cclyn and his vile.
He evidently had believed hcrmu more gull
ty than she was.
II think you must Know no" !oVeu you,
Caroline" he wrote II can't face life with the
knowledge that you've been false TO me-
or course there was aninqucst. We worked
it so that the jury gave verdict OF temporary
insanity, and poor Joe was buried decently IN
the cemetery outside the town. Caroline sold
The watch and the bracelet that Captain Joce-
lyn had given her, in order to pay for her nus
bands funeral. She was very quiet, and went
on with the performances as usual aweck alter
Joes death, but | could see great change in
her. The rest of the company were very hard
upon her. as thought, blaming her for her
husbands death, and she was under cloud.
as il were; but she looked as handsome rs
ever, and went through all her performances
in her old daring way. I'm sure. though.
that she gricvcd sincerely for Jocs death,
and that she had never meant to do him
wrong.
We travelled all through the next summer,
and late in November went back to Homer
sleigh. Caroline had seemed happier while
we were away, thought and when We were
going back, she confessed rs much 10 me.
1--WE got q kind of dread of seeing that
place again, she said; "l'm always dreaming
of the painting room as ii looked that January
morning with The cold light streaming in upon
that dreadful figure on the bench. The rooms
scarcely been out Of my dreams one night
since Eve been away from llOmcrSci%h and
now dread going back rs if-as if he was shut
up there
The room was not particularly convenient
one. and had been used for lumber after Ioc's
death. The man who came after him didn't
On the first morningof our return. Caroline
went up and looked in at the dusty heap Of
disused stage furniture and broken properties.
met her coming away from the room.
20, Mr.. Waters" she said TO me with real
feeling, ''lf he had only waited to hear me
speak for myself They all think deserved
what happcped, and perhaps did. as fir as 1t
was a punishment for my frivolity; but Joe
didn't deserve such fate. know ii was their
malicious talk that did the mischief"
fanclcd after this that her looks changed
for the worse, and that she had kind Of ncrv-
GUS way in going through her equestrian per-
formances, as if there was fever upon her. |
couldn't Judge 50 well how she went through
the tiger act, as was never on the stage with
her, but the brute seemed as submissive as
ever On the last day OF the year she asked
our manager TO let her off for the next night.
s.It's the anniversary of my husbands dcath.'
she said.
II didn't know you were so precious fond of
him." he answered with sneer. NO, Mrs.
Waye, We can't afford 10 dispense with your
services tomorrow night. The tiger act Is
one of our strong features with tue gallery,
and | expect full house for New Years
night"
She begged him very hard to let her off, but
It was no use. There was no rehearsal on
New Years morning, and she went TO the lit
tic cemetery where Joe was buried, Il three
miles walk in the cold ana rain. In the even
ing, when she came TO the wing her eyes were
brighter than usual, and she shivcrcd good
deal. more than liked to see.
81 think I must have caught cold in the
cemetery to-day" she said to me when no.
ticcd this. Il wish could have kept this
night sacred-this one night-to my husbands
memory He has been in my mind so much
to-day"
She went on, and stood al the wing watch
ing her. The audience applaIlded vocierously.
but she did not make her accustomed cnrtscy ;
and she went about her work in a listiess way
that was very different from her usual spirited
manner. The animal seemed To know this,
and when she had got about halfway through
her tricks with him, he began To respond 10
her word Of command in sulky unwilling
manner that didn't like. This made her angry
and she used her light whip more ficcly tnan
usual.
One Of the tigers concluding tricks was a
leap through garland of flowers which Caro-
line held for him. She was knccling in the
centre of the stage with this garland in her
hands, ready for the animals spring, when her
eyes wandered 10 the front Of the house. and
she rose suddenly with Il shri scream. and
her arms outstrctched wildly. Whether the
sulky brute thought that she was going to
strike him or not, don't know but he Sprang
savagely ut her as she rose, and in the next
moment she was lying OH the ground helpless,
and the audience screaming with terror.
rushed upon the stage with half-a-doZcI
others, and we had the brute mtIZzlcd and
ropcd in Il few brcathless moments. but not
before he had torn Cdr0linc's check and
shoulder with his claws She was inscnsiblc
when we carried her Off the stage, and she
| ,ros nfinpd lrr hpb fhrpn monf hs ott fll,