The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25
THE SCENE-pAINTER's WIFE.
a TAI. e.
a ..or Of LADY Audlcy's secret,n &c.
EY NJ. l.. BRAD DON.

"lcu wouldn't think it, to look at her now.
SIR said the old clown, as he shook the ashes
out OF Ills blackened clay, "but madam was
onco as handsome woman ns you'd see for
spnilt her beauty"
Ihe speaker was attached to little euucs-
trlan company Mi:h Which had fallen i'm dur
ing summer days pedcstrlansm In Warwick
s.llrc. sa ine troupe hau halted ut roadside
Inn, where Was dnwdllng over my simple
51pu-day meal. and by tho time / had smoked
hy cigar in his companionship, the clown and
were upon footing Of nn,-l,.t y; ;-.-I
had been not little struck by the woman
whom lie spoke. She was tall and slim,
pd had something OF q foreign look, rs
Dpught. Her face was chiefly remarkable for
ger. IL was the face OF n woman who had I'M
ergone some great terror The sickly pnllor
# the skin was made conspicuous by the hcc-
nc brightness OF the large black eyes, and on
me Cheek there was scar-thc mark of some
sfadly hurt inflicted long ago
lily new friend and had slrolled Il little way
tom the inn, where the rest Of the company
tcre still occupied with their frugal dinner
stretch of sunny common lny before us. and
temed TO Invite q ramble. The clown filled
ts pipe, and walked on meditativcly. took
Xqt another cigar
I" Was 1t q fall from horseback that gave her
bat scar ?" asked.
"A fall from horseback Madame Dclavan-
No, slr, that seam on her check was made
Y the claws OF Tiger. It's rather u curious
SORT OF story, and don't mind telling II, iryoud
Ike to hear it but for the Lords sake don't
let her know I've been talking of her, If you
ahould happen TO scrapc acquaintance with her
Yllsn you go back to the inn"
I" Has she such Il dislike of being talked
about ~
rather think she has. You see she's not
&ste right In the upper story, poor soul but
lldes beautifully, and doesn't know what
N means You'd scarcely believe how hand
Plne she looks al night when she's dressed for
ring. Her face lights up almost rs well rs
used 10 do ten year ago, before she had the
fldent. Alb, she WIS handsome In those
ys, and used to be run after by all the gen gen
linen like mad But she never was a bad
neyer-wild and sclf-wilcd, but never n
cked woman, as III stake my life. I've been
friend through thlek and thin, when she
F,ied friend, and Fvc understood her bet
Nr than Others
= She was only twelve years old when she
CAME to US with her father. n noted lion-tamer.
|ie was man that drank hard now and then.
~ was very severe with her nj such times ;
1 I'M sie always had q brave spirit, and never
iseH her to quail before him or before the
eEDeasts. She used TO take her share IN oil the
'ld mans performances, and when he died.
and the lions were sold oil, our proprietor kept
tiger for her TO perform with. He was the
GleIerest osr aSs or a the anmals but queer tenn
Fs.o face him. She rode in the Cr Circus '1., rs
u rs performing with the tiger, and she was
Scthcr Tie most valuable member OF the
p"ny, H. and was very well paid for her
- <. She was eighteen when her father died,
Cithin year OF his death she married
IN Waylie, our scene painter
Tnthcr surprised Mt this marriage for /
Caroline might have done better. Joe
clE-hvc u ne was day.-a pale, sandy
fellow, not much to look at, and by no
a genius. But he was awflllly fond OF
e. lie had followed her about like q
er since she came among us, md
she married him more out OF pity than
toid her 80 ono day, but she only
las too good for me, Mr.. Waters, that's
nth. don't deserve to be loved rs he
Wy married couple did indeed seem
happy together. IL was treat 10
tnd ut the wing and watch his wife
ger performances, ready to put q
2r her pretty white shoulders when
uene, or 10 throw himself between her
ssuc tiger III case Of mischief. She treated
ina pretty, pntronizing sort of way. as if
peen ever so much younger tlnn her
4 OF twelve years her senior. She used
upon ilptoc and kiss him before all
inpahy, sometimes ut rehcarsals, much
delight. He worked Ike slaye IN ,ho
0f improving his position as he Improved
art, and he thonght nothing TOO good
0cauliful young wife. They had very
rlaoie lodgings about half q mile from
nnuiaeturlng town where VIC were sta-
for the winter months, and lived as well
knple folks need live.
S0a1UuI manager was proprietor OF second
theatre, at seaport town, fifty miles AWAY
rom the place where we were stationed and
when pantomtme time was coming on, moor
Joseph Waylie was ordered or to paint the
/ scenery for this other theatre, much 10 his
! grlef as his work was likely TO keep him q
/ month or ak weeks away from his wife. Il
was their ilrst parting, and the husband felt il