SPOTS AND BLOTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 980, 21 January 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPOTS AND BLOTS.

/ , ONLXi.A:BALLET : ;GIRLii I ;: ,': j tl{cn, I want sbriio' raohby; iHow j miqK'jiaveyougot!"! '"" " "j' '';' 1 ■"'■ * l; / - '•}' Don't :; sneak 'so ; loud, dear," '1 '■ said, i »t»yW'j^iy;! ,::ii '- ,, - : . ;J ' ;i|,i ' I ' | n She's' always;vety poorly, ; or elso- you prbte'nd Bh'e'is/to 1 ng'gr4Vato'ni(4,'''iN'<iT*' l - , why don't you speak ? How rftueh' money 1 hWe'ybiigdtt"'\''^: : ' '"'l J '%t 'quito !a pound, dear/' I'adidi'sigh'-' iD g' -, ~, . ....,., ."" ';: v . '/'■HiiuUver, then."" ;■< !: - • •■■■■•! •''l'M' there ia• tho'rebtj'dcar/and I must; ■ liSve'sohe'to'go'ohwith;" 1 " i'l^ii'iyy: '.' Hang the rent," he cried, snatching oiglift'ta Shillings l torn myitinWilliyghdnds, aritf gdingitowai'ilß.'tlie'dodr! btitniy pite'oiw > look seemed w'touoli 'him, nbd"he"tumed' bftjc, andHlifeVj 'shilling-by shillitig/dtiith'e table/'sixpiece's'to jay tkratti" -"'i' l ''!•• ■"There," ho orieaY'-'will that del'*-; •■ '"' ■' " Yes, dear," I said, sadly, •i'-«"'"' • ■'• ni ■" Ha I'l'-he exclnimedj' IMuoky l fo'r 'you that' yoti didn't' begin to tfiiktaiid'nbWme.r or you wouldn't'haye gdt a pefiny; ■''There's

three mora''shillings lor you—that's' niha apiecej'shafe r ancl eliarb alike. "■ There,- that's another forlittle ; Kitty:' Now,'don't go'and tell pcople'yot'va got a bad' hueband,". »''•''' ." I'narer did, dear, 1 iodlneverwillift] said, ldoktagathiin,wistfully,-' '' Qood'byo; dcar. ; Wheii; wjH'y6u bb^baok!'! ■ ■•• V; !!•: "DonH-kiibw. Soonerthanyou,wanthie, perllaps. l "'There,' don't 'bo it .'footyLiz! ''Let go; do you want to hang'a fellow beforehis "'Give jne one kiss before you go ( Dibk>"l •trhiaperedj "and 1 tell me you trust mej. and belioTcinme,! 1 ! ■' ! ' .•■'!"■...;•,,■,.•! ''(There b' 'Now let me go. -What a stnpid soft'girlyouaro." V •' ':' - >' '• ' ■ ■(.<■) ■ i , "But tell me you believe In me, Dick, 1 as your6miTfifo;" • " ' •■'.'''' :•;'•,' '.-.■',. 1 "Oh, yes,' ; of course I d0.,"T0 be'sure, there, that'll do, You know 'l' hate 'to.so'e you crying;"' 1 •' •' ' ; ; '. ''.■■''■ He" hurried out of; the roomj arid I went down dnmy knees by one of the oldchain and sobbed andprayed for'strength to beat my load, andil;prayed in thankfulness, too, for" the' little' change'he'had Bhown; for'Ht had -'ahwra'-'some signs of pity for mel i'And then I wondered whethcre he'kneworcared what I suffered; and what I had to submits in the course'.of life I'bid ohosen ;'and'thei once 'morel'prayed for strengtlvto kce{> mi his own tr.ue,ioving wife, for, in spiteof'all I loved him very dearly, ; ' ! '■!•."■• '.■'••;, I got up. febting lighter and better,.fdr was hopeful still, Ho used to b»Bokirid imi loving till this wretched ''drint'seemed >t master him, add his naturobecame completel' changed.' ' : ;■ : ' '■••' •■■•' ■m"

I'had hardly finished' bathing my «yes.and ;ono'l on with my'..work, when'there''was 1 a Knock at the door ef our room, and ; thii landlady campinsmiling,'• '■'"" '" ,! "•■'"'. " I just 1 sawiyoiir mod man go out, Mrs,' Recce," ahosaid, .'andlsavß tomy master, 'l'll lay a penny Mr. Reece has loft the week's rent with his missus, and I'll go ; up and'seo," 1 • ■• • "<' " >• "Yes, Mrs. Hampson,;here it is," ISaid, passing her the- money nnd' laughing, for'in rt spite of her sordid ways, brought i on, by , i poverty and. the tricks of the people who took Woms in the house they leased,' and*Bf which they occupied the shop and parlor—the husband being a working tailor—she was a'good, trap woman, with a stern idea of keeping the • house.respectable,". •" Why, l '' I said,""you are as good as a witch," • ''Am I, my dear? Well, perhaps lam. But where's your book? That's right, six shillings-J, Hi' Now that's 1 straight, and thank; you,"my dear, There's nothing like letting,the lodgers have books, and putting it,'down' weekly. -'.lt' saves "rows; Which I cantabea'r,'' 'No,' I'saysto'hiy'master, 'no rows, no getting ■behind with tho'rent,' and uo fine baggages in my house','for I'd'rather haVo the 'roomsi empty;' 'When you come to look at the rooms, and I see your handsome face and figure and long hair. J says to my faster, 'She woii't'doforiis;' hays.'andl put up quite rough,'and 'said yon was to'come again, aiid when you did I iiicaut to' tel 1 you: to go elsewhere I ;'but tomihp'wj when you■ jdid come there was a something about you' 'that' 'got oyer me,'and I let vim the'robms,, 'and I'm very glad I did.' Ah, you re very ; different to, what. I' thought, and' you've I' 'got'a .'dear,': sweet' little ,a; Very .loving,' .affecUprijite and .you.bught. to be,very, nappy'.": , ' '.'.'""■'.'" " . . • , !';Aiid.BQ't.a?n," burning in. my oheeks,.as-I.feltiwhat a lie Ij was: living:before Athis.;wonian; who,:' if shej know alii wouldilnsisti upon l my.leavingthel once,'' I '■''', • v*^-;?' > .-<y>\>< -': j ■ : '/'N6'''y'o'u're , nbt : !'' 1 she said,'sharply;. "so! i"i "y.'ffiwWfiiTOt.oflßp, ,rd,niaster him, I would.' I'd just .a him, out by/the: i ear/ .and/Apt .lqayb'i gp.til,l _ on j liis! shop-board once more, and J.' d: like to,see' hitotryitonagain."'.-■■ ■/.:■■-■•■ ,; ■.■!;','., •■ j -Shei'ested'he'rred hands upon herhips, and; Btood'with'lips' shakin'gher head] itlihß'."'"''; I '''.-''. '""' H m-"'::!!':°.'"h.' : (■••■■/.■ I

• .''".There', you needn't say a word; My/dear, and; 'alty'the leSpf'y.ou'becauSe I , j;ouWtj do it' j | h$ .don't jm'try'to 'deceive! j .me^^te^u'EJei^pucan'^dp.ibhjiV. 1 ' .'/„•/',.'.','./," j .•I.s'hiyer,'ed,aß;l,',thdught.'of.sqmptlungelse, I andmy ; eyes ; felli ; llicsuldn'tllopfctheipoor,' honest woman in the fstco, ■'•■'■i r "'i n- 'if •■ •" I " They ought to be ashamed of themselves,! these mk making their for, them while they go. lording about and spend-; /ingthew.^ i u lj fi s'?' Wf b| ?pnifo.rfto you,''and to 1 see ~'rny little darlihg'fhere/,"How is'she? I ','"/" j j "Very ipqorly ■' I'said, ',' I'm I afraid she wants .change, and little thing's t ,can't,a(ford.tp,gQt," i.,,;,, • • „ ~..,., ~, I "There, don't you fret yourself aboutherj my dear," said.my >landlady ;iand as she spoke Icould not see her vulgarity and coarse- 1 ness, only the good,.'true'woman shining out; ' of her eyes. ; '.'We've got' a nice drop of! broth to.-day, i .a ! nd I l'll | bnng'y'd'u'up some for! lier.'and I'll go",tliis"afternoon round to' Richardson's, andiet Mrs: Richardson to let! me have, a dror» of, the milk just.as it corneal 'from tho country'-yjhbre.that,/poor, cjiild ought to be. Sho'll. let.rHohayej.tif 1,-tell her what it's for, ' And you go off :to youij work to-night/and don't frctyourself abltj and make haste home again, and I'll see that little Katie'is'ali right .till you come back;'/ j She'gave'me 'almost eaergetio hug'aVl kissed her red coarse.'face; kndtrleh parted my.cheek, .leaving We'/fdr a/rnomenttbgq and ki'ssmy sleeping''child, to "come : ba'cki though I.'Knew'it.was to hide a tear; ■ \fi dross with' him, my dear, 1 die said, softly.,.. "Itdoes with;Bdmo men; but if I was you I'd try a little coaxing, and if he's a man atallhe'll alter his; ways." ! I.wasaloneonceimorc. : As I realised how true and honest.poor-Mrs. : Hampson was, I trembled more and more lest she should find me'out,-. - : . / , .'.■./. J For, in my. cowardice and desire, to be at a quiet, respectable house, I had let her think that I wont'to help every night at a great confectioner's, : ffom'' whence ■'• 1' was sent to assist in the prcparationof suppers at evening parties, when, night by night, mine was a strange occupation indeed.' . ■ ■' " v ! " ■' : ' - ■ ■ ■'!.'''■ L i

. ..w .. -,.i|!.ii,MU|!r, i:l|:!B ! t.,vi 1 J,. !( , lhree years before,.-wheniit.was:forccd tipon-ma'that Imuat work'to keopriiy/child,, i 4nd—shalll say itJ-thiyfhasbandj.Latrove hard with what every distressed woman'toos!' ! fo; the nocdlo, and Wilediearty;&d late for>a City wafehoußßj! whore, ftwßs'sooutoteopilepsiiwtthe firmlhadl tailed~aijd'no'wonder-rin thbirdflforta to be: ;toocheap,- ...•.',■■■..';.,.,■:■■ :-.:.i ; .:;..i. ~: .:',.. .11 had made Itho acquaintance of ia ijrigkt, handsome-girl thwe; lwhosdrlbvbablei; ways■ ; drew'riie,towarda:;her;oahd)'afWr .we.had; forked-together" for aitimo'she'toldimesho had got an engagement oj()in:tho , bauet.troupe.-v, •„, ; r„ ; j .;.„|'[ l .. i j '.",1 don't daaco learning. All I have to do is.to march on, jrith lots of-other igirlsi r &nd. I!ni i always.pilt in theifront upon the sjage; and oh, my dear ( i ; 'ou should see > the 1 df es'ses-we wearr-they're; splendid; but then! there's thesoenery', and, ibe light, and thowell-dresse'd, fashionable scopleilookirig'at iyou through glasses mere's music and' floweto.Oh; it'sdovely. I've spokSri 1 to ;thd -iilariage'r' aboutjfdtt;''andl ioldhim;.wh'at , '.R ,; flglp yoil ha'Ve'j • ifld ne,says l rihiy'b v riii'g i you'&n. ,,,: r- '*'•- '''' ' ~ V Bring'^itie' on ?!!J. I ( ' '.feeling horrid i "Yes„diar, seea'you, he's; lafe'to engage,you,in,puti lt% a pound, a' jweok.Miand, oh| ,so; muoh'ietter/ pan slaving uhere ,fdr 'six- or seven, or eight shillings,'-I say, dear, you get invited to supper sometimes, attd'h'aVe wine." ! •Iwiis't(ii^tea"an , d |i h6rrifle'd'i , atlthe:idea"ofi takihof'to siibh 'iillife,' arid' I' Bli66fc ! iriy Head, fhe^auK r 6rit ,, air'beinl'''that2rfary'K(ib , et J left me'quiW 6tfdii'ded m" laced, ■as-'sKe'bajlbd 1 it,' , wliile, l h's ,l I l ' i plie , d l, mf [needle ah^ l !l , 6ffl' / d6#h Il atf'MyVtfrkiw'oi l n ph pne,ql ila'ry v 8 shapely hands? "" M wni " I "It"is only,asham,"lsaid,|o myself,at j198t. i ,,.!! j She.)s ra|ne^,giddy l .'and,va f inf''.i . j The time went on, and,..as^|^have^aid,. the (City firm failed|!.and,jfor quite a 'montjr.ilwa'a striving vainly to ge,t .work', ~',' l, will not say that Dick was brutal to me, but he. tried.mo veryi Mi—ib hard!that one day,, aftera vain e.Efort.to get hurrying back, along the Strand, weak with hunger for I had walkei,,from ..Chelsea itp the City breakfastless,, and had had'.a long-tramp through'the' ! busy streets, when-1 'suddenly heard my name .Dronouneed, j and a'fashion, j a'bly-dfcssel'woyhcaugE'my arm;' "' ll ': l!l , For amojnentl hardly'recognised'my fel- j lowwork-girl'mtHo'refihe'd-lookirig hand- j some/woman before'me'j'ai'd then I exclaimed: j .;,f!tyary ( fybprts! : "\'' '' ! ;'.'"'''' ' "-..'. ! ' "l^ell,',,no,' ( dear,"'she said, laughing, | "Ini Ada' ! Mon(morehcy. l how I 'yiitl l Mary Roberts to you j[' biit, 1 oh',' my dear, how paleand'ill.you look','ahd'you'-'don'tkhow' how glad I'am to''see'you again! "Oh, what ia ( it—yqWare'faintl'" - ■■' : '""'■'■» felt as if I should die, as",the passing people,'the gay'shops, .'all ! reeled 'round mo; and how, it happened 'I don't know', for when my "senses'seemed to' come back I was sitting in the 1 back room at a large pastry-cook's,'with'gbQdhearte'dMary Roberts forcing tea with brandy upon me, and insisting upon my partaking of a complete breakfast. "", " "-"'- '-

' I could' 'not resist her then, as she begged me again to crime'with'h'er.' '

" Don't you be 'foolish, my dear, ■ You come and join us. You' can bo as particular as you like; I don't,see anything to bo ashamed of in being a ballet girl." ll ' 'There were several'handsome rings on Mary's fingers,', arid she wore' a gold chain with a'pretty' little watch'to it while'her dress must have cost thirty or forty pounds; and it seemed, very strange,'but I was reckless and desperate then, and I followed her trcinbliiig into a' cab; which set us down at| the stage-door of the "Refulgent." i' • "I'was going to rehearsal;'' alio snid,aswej drove along, arid'l was thinking of how glad | I should have been of the money for the cab, j "We are getting up a grand piece,' It's toi be splendid,"'' ' ■ ■ ! "Friend of mine/'Bhe said'sharply to'a| man in a glass place at the door-; and theni sho led me, confused and helpless, through ■a maze of passages, all very dark and dingy, to a door; on which she rapped sharply with the handle of'a suit-shade.'' ' .•■■:•.

'' " Come in!" cried a' sharp voico, and wo| entered. ■ '" ■ ' '

'"''l've brought my friend, said Mary,' sharply; "andyou'vegot'toengage her at ( onc'o." " •i v ■■.'■ . !

"•Haven't room foranother in the company,' my dear;" said the little grey-haired,,red-! faced man,'before whom' I found■; myself,;as) he balanced a pair of glasses onhis nose, j ■■'"Yes you have.' 1 Look'at her," said. Mary, ,'abarplyi'-' ■ rl '■' ■'• ill ' '■' -' :;; ■ ':;■.'•' .■!: 'ir ' ■ ; " Well—hum—ha—yea," he said,, thought■fully, and' I coloured with .mortification as his eyeifwandered ; over 'me' from top to toe, rVßut'really,'my : ■.■<'.' vi |,..i ,■-, .'•:'' ,,: Thish r T ! shan't 'stop," said Mary; giving ■the table'a bang With her shn'-shade,v.'':They 'want'mVaWAlhambra," 1 -■■■ :■■■■ ■<■■:.'■ ■■-,

""Nbtisensel'^my'dear!"' said- the. man. ■•"'Well,"thete,' suppose we say she'shall join J XYou can cora'e, : 'Miss—Miss—''; ,: ■■■•■' .•• I I • ■" Bhderbefg, ! " said Mary, sharply, before ; Icouldßp'eaki" , ' !; ' l;: ." ,^'f ' . •!!

■;'''"-The' salary commences at a pound a week, •myd&i','' , he' , Baid,'addressing me; i: ' : ' I '' ! \ ■'} Thirty■ shillings,'?- said. Mary,' .banging' thetable ; n"gaiti; ! "' :i ' ■■■ -■ vi, ■'<?■■••<;» ' ■'-" ( Oh;' Pome; 'nonsense I" said.the manager, lailghing'. .-'■' l •'-"•! ' >""•'..-:.! ,".:•..;..,, : ' A -"Th'en. v it's your nonsense,"'.' said Mary. "She—shan't—come—under— shil • lings, I wouldn't-if I'd known,"

"Well,there,my r dear,",hesaid, smiling,! "toobligeydu'itshallbethir'tyshillings." | I was bewildered! stiinnedi'byiwhat 1 thenj saw, and thatwhieh'rfoUowediiJiAU'il.knew] was, that'l"wasto•re'eeivethirty.shillings aj week, and for the sake hadj parted from Mary, whp.,kissei| me v affcetion. ately, android me I wasal^yV'to'if'ailaVher lodgings; 'and go tj>, with,,her, above all, to get Bome ; alj once, ending by making' meujf a' 'parcel or her own-I.coiiseni«d''/to l cpfcrnMe fa'' l lifa from which' rrly 'ivom'atfs''mb'dea'ty' , made, me shrink, .-"" i C;'«(''»« ■« A 1

Space stays ine from telling you all—tht rehearsals,! thedress'es in which I shivered as I stood there, 'part of 'aigreat!living,ipicturt set up for the'gaze of i the',licentious !to.wn, Again and againthe hot tears of misery havo w rushed to my eyes when I have.stood in some; dazzling costume,, j shivering; in. ihe'cold draughty wings fpr lite scantiness,., tremrjling 1 and unnerved', ,that,;fate. sHould .have/ comj (Pelled me to, join those, rinks, to' 'jive, upon for it was 'On' , ibat'accpn'rit' 'abne "that' I ynd accepted in the tfoupe, I ''/' 01 '' :,:l ' ; ;I:| '*'' ! But by degrees Tbecanie familiarised with, my fate, and I could goon the stage without .my heart'palpitating madly, and the mass of I faces before' me Bebming to waltz' in' a giddy 'whirl,': '''■''■• : 'i': . '■• • 'i' ~, -{; I

• I had the task to perform; I was well paid; as IthougHtj and comforting ■my'solf with the idea that I was getting < an honest livingfor my husband and child,: Igrew more resigned—l should aayihardened.' *' : ■•.'. ! ' : For. how could' I grow resigned to such a 1 fateijffhen'l found' tfiat almost without iexception my■ companions'in'thei'corpaj-'who 'received their twenty'to thirty''shillings', a week—all,;■ without' exception, ; handsome) well-miide' women—lived 'and dressed ds'- if &eV "possessed "hundreds, 1 ' Valuable jewels '.;'■: '■• ''■'". ji\ , n-i,, : ■,?.■!, j

were coto'mon 'amongst theni '■) several 'oame : inightly to tlie Stagtfdoorinirougham's; and;' there' could; only™ 1 one answer l to I my self-i taked Question/' why' : isi'this'?-an' j answerthat mado my cheeks tingle for very shame,' rl l !see l l ne , reas'on.'why''th'eballet'''dihcer's'' Jhoiild. , 'li 6't i ,,1)0 'k'iotieii 're'spe'etable lifd : j-' put'l SQon'awike'tojtho faof that 1 this coiikv M,be so Svhile 'managers^ppeiily''connived''at; lliolr houses being tiiadeplacea'of assignation; inft'alloWed' ife whom 'thoy sholild' pMebt jo be'iisßailed by temptations tu'atthey'k'nbw mist'ilesultin'an' honest womai's'-ahameV'"''' [ twill not'weary', and.disgustjou ] by a rei:qrd .of my life',, at' the "Heaven/ Lnows that I fought 'against everything that'j vas,against.my^duty'as a,.wife.and mother- 1 : Myife who had qo'tonceher liusband's':pi'p-| tooting arm. night', after, night' when' lowing.; the great gas : lit place, , '." ,'' h "!,' .'.' That. night|: asj fultpt.carp andl anxiety, I,; left my little Katie in Mrs. Hamp3on',scharge,. ut went ,to the great-theatre sick at heart, andj, as usual, was in the front row on the stage, naricing now ( for I had worked;hard.to mako ■ myself proQcieofe in my .duties.,,-. .;„■,

'I went through it-all: mechanically,iand aftdr it was' over, : as I was detained a little while,''and!couid not get away first,'l Waitedi pill nearly;ithe'.la'sti' so< that girl after girl, With' liigh<sounding' aristocratic names,- could gooff in brouglianvor hansom tpsuppers,"to; private apartments, to their homes, or degradation' and disgrace j>- and then,; drawing my. waterproof roundmej lihurried outintonthe l dark'-streets'in fear and tfemblirigilesiihei should be there,'■'<'•' :•': ■- ;:■■•. <-.: ■. t t

: For a time I thought I had 1 escaped him,; but I one of the many who had, during my' throe Mars of probation, followed and inaultedme nth tkirjiropraals; .> .' ■■< l".r, :■.:■:

.A dozen times I had refused to allow hiru toescort me home,':and'fchißfnight of salt others, as he caught my arm and iendeavored to : d'raw my hand through' hisj he was bolder, and more offensive. ■ ! ■■■:■:■•■:•: ■-,;,

■' He was 8' tall, elderly grey, man; in evening dress, ! andl had seen him scores of-tiiiies in the front row''of ,the stalls, 'watoUng my o'very act, till he made me shrink with dread, and take fresh routes home night ;by night to avoid •him." i 'i 1 ' ,-i ?. : - ;.■ .;r.;.,, . : ., :■

' As I havo said; this night, after trying in vain to shako him off,, he seized my arm, and, in my agitation and. fear, I • cried : aloud for help.' .■■-.••. ••..:!. ■■. ■ '!.■■■■• :i: "Whieh shan't be long in coming,: .while I'm here," cried.a familiar voice. .".Take that, and that, and that, for your impudence';: How dare you insult a respectable married woman, you scum, : you; '< and if .yon!dare to follow her again' my. husband shall hide you till you; can't stand,' you—ah, .he's gone,.a

| ,o)!iflli.i.i yif.l7 psv.i tifiii.i 01IT .iii'.ilj ;<■.■„] Sum tome, andwo-shall ondo taors<:be>ui we hereof old.''-Ifi it is mot,to beJso/Heayenii alp mdji.-I will try andbearit'.'forlthe sake. four I !-.v.; ,:.■("•■'. !.'■■■; i i!-Hv.- V.i i-.i-i ■■.,■!■) w : ;,r,.