Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-25
Tho Scene Painters Wife.
TALE BY THE AUTHOR OF "LADY
AUDLEY'S SECRET ETC,


you wouldn't think it to look at her now,
sir said the old clown, US he shook the ashes
out of his blackened clay pipe,' but madam
was once as handsome woman as you'd see
for many long day. 1t was an accident that
spoilt her beauty
The speaker was attached 10 littlo euues-
trian company with which l had fallen In dur
ing summer days pedestrianism in Warwick
shire. The troupe had halted at roadside
inn, where l was dwadling over my simple
midday meal, and by the time had smoke d
my cigar in his companlonship. the clown and
| were upon footing OF perfect friendliness.
had been not little struck by the woman
of whom he spoke She was tall and slim, and
had something OF II foreign look, as l thought.
Her face was chiefly remarkable for ths painful
impression which it gave TO a stranger. II WAS
the face of woman who had undergone some
! great terror. The sicky palloT of the skin was
made conspicuous by the hectic brightness of
the large black eyes, and OIL one cheek uieIu
was a scar-the park of seme deadly hurt ill.,
aicted long 60.
My new friend and had stroled little way
from the inn, where the rest of the company
were still occupied with their frugal dinner. A
stretch of sunny common lay before lis, and
seemed TO invite a rlmbe. The clown filled
his pipe and walked on meditatively. | took
out another cigar.
WAS it fall from horseback that gave her
that scarf?
"A fall from horseback Madame Delavanti!
No, sir, that seam on her cheek was made by
the claws of tiger. It's rather a curious sort
Of story, don't mind telling it II you'd like
to hear 1t, but for the Lords sake don't let her
know I've been talking of her, it you should
happen to scratch acquaintance with her when
you 60 back TO the inn.
suas she such a dislike to being talked
about"
Il rather think she has. You see she's not
quite right in the upper story, poor soul but
she rides beautifully and doesn't know what
fear means. You'd scarcely believe how hand
some she looks at night when she's dressed for
the ring. Her face lights up almost as it used
TO do ten years ago, before she had the accident.
All she was handsome in those days, and used
i TO be run after by all the gentleman like mad.
But she never was bad lot, never-wlld and
| selt-wled, but never Il wicked woman as III
| stake my life. I've been her friend through
| thick and thin, when she needed friend,
/, and | have understood her better than other
persons
'She was only twelve years old when first
she came to lis with her father, noted lion
tanner. lie was man that drank hard now
| and then, and was very severe with her at such
i times; but slio always had brave spirit, and
never knew her TO quail before the beasts
She us, to take her share in all the old man S
performances, and when he died and the lions
were sold oil, Our proprietor kept tiger for her
| to perform with. lie was the ceyerest Of al
the animals, but queer temper, and it needed
a spirit like Caroline Delavanti's to faoe him
She rode in the circus as well as performing
| with the tiger, and she was altogether the mos
valuable member Of the company, and wa!
! very well paid for her work. She was eighteeI
| when her father died, and within year OF hi
| death she married Joseph Waylie, our scene
painter.
II Il was rather surprised al this marriage. for
fancied Caroline might have done better. Jo
| was thirty-livc il he was day. pale, sand
| haired fellow, not much to look at, and by NJ
| means genius. But he was awfuly fond o
I l Caroline. lie had followed her about like
, dog ever since she came among us, and though
| she married him more out of rity than love-
i | told her so one day, but she only laughed All
E said:
sde's too good for me, Mr.. Waters that's til
truth. don't deserve to be loved as he love
e | me.
Q sThe newly-married couple did indeed scei
|, = to be very happy together. 1t was treat t
a see Joe stand at the wing and watch his viii
| through the performances, ready to put skaw
d over heApretty white shoulders when she ha
done, or to throw himself between her and til
tiger in case Of mischief.
She treated him in pretty, patronizins sor
| of a way,as If he had been ever so much young
4
| She used to stand upon tip'Oe and kiss him be
fore all the company sometim,s at rehearsa
| much to his delight.
He worked like slave in the hope of improy
| ing his position as he improved his art, and h
thought noh b ng too good for his beautiful wife
| They had very comfortable lodging about half
mile from the manufacturing town where W
1 were stationed for the winter months and live
. rs simple folks need live.
all Our manager was proprietor II second the
atre lat a seaport town fifty miles from the plae
|. where we were stationed; and whom pantomn
!, time was coming on, poor Joseph waylie wa
4 ordered OIL to paint the scenery for this othc
Q theatre, much to his grief, as his work wa
| likely to keep him month or six weeks ava
/ from his wife.
/ 1t was their first parting, and the husband ie
| IL deeply lie left Caroline to the care of an ol
II | woman who took the money, and who profess
= cd very warm attachment for Mrs. Waylit
or Madame Delavantia as she was called III th
bills.
Joseph had not been gone much more tha
ic | week when began TO take notice of youn
10 ficer who was in front every evening" al
NJ | who watched Caroline's performance with e.
=, ident admiration. saw him one night in vel
" close conversation with Mrs. Muggletoii, ,mopt
in taker, and was not ovcrpleased to hear Car
Il lines name mentioned in the course CT the