Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 164: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

———— 158 ROSE MORTIMER 5 OR, One of the girls shrieked out. But before they could reach the spot the dagger descended. The blow was struck. Down went the dagger, borne by the avenging hand of the jealous-mad wife, deep into her husband’s breast. “Ah!” he cried, I’m slain !” A cry of horror ran through the crowd. | They pressed forward to raise the woman from the body of her husband. No sooner had the dagger encountered the actor’s breast than his maddened wife repented of the rash deed. Too late. She could not stay her hand. The blow was struck, and Walters the actor— What of him? Was he dead ? They raised her at once from the body of her hus- band. Now she burst into a passionate flood of tears. But she did not offer to resist them. She placidly allowed herself to be taken away. ‘¢ Do with me as you will,’’ she said. ‘‘I care for nothing now.” ‘‘Oh! Mrs. Walters!” said Rose. The dancer turned fiercely upon Rose Mortimer as she spoke. ‘¢ What would you ?”’ ¢¢ Nothing,’’ said Rose. fearful deed ?”’ ‘Speak not to me,’’ said the dancer. the cause of it.” c¢ I {ted ‘6 Yes, you. with him.” “‘ My doings?’’ iterated Rose. ‘¢ Ay, in spite of your hypocritical ways. You have killed him by your intrigues.” Rose said nothing. | She concluded that the severity of the blow which the dancer’s brain had received had distracted her, And she made allowances accordingly. They pressed her for an explanation, but could glean nothing. The fact was that Walters had richly earned the treatment he had received. He had goaded on his jealous wife with such diabolical perseverance that she had been pushed beyond the limits of all human endurance. At a fatal moment she pushed him violently to the eround. A dagger which he wore suspended at lis waist was fatally handy. She snatched it as he fell, sprang forward, and struck, as we have seen. Happily, the blow was not doomed to take the actor’s life. It struck deep, it is true, but it was not in a vital part, and so the maddened actress was spared in deed, if not in thought, the heinous crime of mur-. der. However, a great public scandal was the result of it, and no less could have been expected. Ethel Warner was carried off to prison to await the result of the injuries inflicted on her husband. If he died it would go hard with her. A few weeks passed over, and he recovered, and his wife was aquitted, with a severe reprimand, The sympathy was so thoroughly with her that no one of the company who had seen the affair would appear against her for the milder charge of assault which the authorities attempted to establish against her. “‘ Ethel, hold your hand! Oh! “How could you do this “You are All the world knows of your doings f TS a OTT But from that day a total change was worked in the actor’s career. His wife had been so shocked by the fearful lengths to which her mad passion had led her that she re- fused any longer to reside with her husband. Walters now discovered that he really loved his wife, As soon as she was again at liberty; and her hts- band had recovered from his wounds, they both renewed their avocations at the theatre; Dut Ethel took lodgings at a neighbouring house, and could not be induced to change her mind, “ Ethel, Ethel,’’ said the hushand, in a tone of pas- sionate entreaty. “Tt is useless to attempt to persuade me,” she replied. ** But consider—’’” fF WHat 7x «¢ What will the world say ?” “Ah!” said his wife, with a reproachful glance, **You care more for the opinion of the world than for me.’’ “‘ But, Ethel—”’ “T think but of you.’’ ‘Pardon me, Ethel,” he said angrily. “If you thought but of me, you would not thus wish to sepa- rate us.”’ , ‘Once for all, Walters,’ said his wife, “it is useless to persuade. My decision is taken and can- not be altered.’’ ‘‘ But why, in Heaven’s name ?”’ ** Because I fear—’’ ** But you can trust me now.’’ “¢ Perhaps.” ‘You may indeed.”’ “ But not myself.” fore Her husband started. and turned pale at these strange words. This was the whole secret of her obstinate resistance to his prayer. She feared, after her fatal ebullition of madness and jealousy, to trust herself any longer. | He pressed her further, but to no avail. ** Ah, Ethel,’ he said, ‘‘I fear that your loye for me is dead at last.’’ She shook her head in sad denial. : ‘* Then why, why do you thus condemn us both to such a miserable existence ?”’ **T will tell you why,” said his wife. _ And an answer came which was but very little ex- pected. ‘‘ Because in thus going against the dictates of our hearts—in thus outraging our strong affections—we make some atonement in the way of penance for our crimes.”’ ** Our crimes ?”’ ce AY 32” ‘“‘ I have none to atone for.’’ “The sinfulness of my rash act, which so nearly took your life, is as much your own asmine. You goaded me to phrenzy—I madly murdered—”’ ‘* This is foolish. No murder was done. Here am I, the murdered man, as strong and lively as a grig after all.’? . ‘No matter,” said the wife. “It was the inten- tion.” It was useless attempting to reason against such a conclusion. Walters turned away, and ina sulky fit gave up the discussion. But presently he would return to it with renewed ardour. Fresh arguments were brought to bear, but all with- out result. The domestic affairs of the Walters family remained thus for some time. lan DOOKS: om Se