The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-12-16
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.-A Thrill.
ING SKETCH,

THE SOLDIERS WIFE.-A THRILL
ING SKETCH.
One OF the most striking cases Of PRES
ence Of mind and sell-possession of wIicbI
have any recollection, came 10 light in trial
which took place some years since in ireland.
The story looks like fiction: bun | lave
reason 10 believe it quite true. A woman
travelling along road 10 Join her husband,
who was a soldier and chartered al Aihlone,
was joined by pedlar, who was going the
same way. They entered into conversation
during walk ofsome hours, but as the day
began 10 wane they agreed that they s!.oulL
stop for the night at house of entertain
n.eni, and persue their pedestrian Journey
the next day. They reached the humble inn.
situated in n lonely spot by the road side !:
and latiguad after long DAYS wall. ,hc;-
were glad 10 find themselves under the ,hci-
ter OF roof Having refreshed themselves
with the substantial supper set before i en-.
they expressed their wish 10 retire. they
were shown into the Travellers room. and
went TO rest in the respective beds. The
pedler, before retiring, had called the Lend
lord aside, and gave iaiO his keeping the
pack, till the morning, telling lin that il con-
tained considerable sum of n,orer- ana
much valuable property. They were not
long in bed balhre the pedIer fell into n
sound sleep; bat the poor woman. pcilars
over-iailgued, or from thoughts Of meeting
her husband the next day, 10y awake. A
couple ofhours might have passed. when sic
saw the door slowly opened, and person
enter holding light which he screened with
his hand. She Instantly recognized in bin,
one OF the young men she had seen below
son Of the landlord He advanced will
stcalthy siepto the bedside OF The pcdlcr.a and
watched him few seconds. He then went
out and entered again with lis brother aud
father, who held in his hand Il large pewter
basin. They went on tiptoc to the bedside,
where the pedlcr lay in deep sleep
One Of the young men drew our kni.c.
and while the father held the basin So lis 10
receive The blood, he cut the poor victims.
throat from ear 10 ear. A slight half audi
bic groan, and all was still, save the cautious
movements OF tie party engaged in the faaI
deed. They had brought in with them a
large sack, into which they quickIy thrust
The unresisiinG body. The poor woman law
silent IN her bed, fearing that her farm vcuI!
come next. She heard low muttcrinrs a
mong the men, from which sic soon c--rIhcr-
ed that they were debating whether hoy
should murder her too rs thew feared She
might have it in her power To beirav them.
One ofthcm said he was sure that She WIS
last asleep, and that there was no occasi,.a
to trouble themselves more but to make sure
oil TINS being The case. one came To her bed
side with the candle in his hand and the orI-
er with knl e. She kept her eyes closed
as u m sleep and had such conn lctr COM
mand over herself, as not TO befray IN her
countenance any sign that she was cousrious
OF That was going on. The candle waz
n1EEc0 ciOSp 4, hRr 10 l..
drawn across close 10 her throat; she never
win%ed; or showed by any movement Of
feature or Of limb that she unprecedented dam
ger. So the men whispered ilIat she was
50 soundly asleep that nothing was to lie
feared from her; and went ont Of tie room,
removing the suck which contained tie body
oiihe murdered man.
How long must this night Of horror lave
seemed TO the poor woman-hnw lriyhtftJ
was IFS stiffness and lis darkness The lrrs-
ence Of mind which had 81 ;lsioni<hiuyIy en-
ahled her 10 act part 10 which she on Ell her
llie, sustained her through The IRVING srcpes
which she had yet 10 PASS. he did not Lrr-
ry from her room nj an unreasonable early
hour, but waited till she had heard all tie
tan lly asiir for some time she then ven,
down, and said she believed she had over
slept herself IN consequence Of being greatly
tired.
She asked where The pcdlar was.& was teld
thal he was IN too great hurry 10 wait Tor
her, but that he had left a sixpence to pay for
breakfast She sat down composeJly to that
meal, and forced herselfro apparent aprciile
OF the food set before her. She appeared IN
OF the eyes which with deep scrn-
iIny, were set before her. When the meal
was over, she took leave Of the family and
went on her way without The least aTrcar-
ance Of discomposure or misirusi. She had
proceeded but a short way. when she WIS
joined by two Swapping looking women ore
look was sufficient 10 convince her that they
were young men, and one thought 10 assure
her that she was yet in their power and on
The very verge Of destruction. They walked
by her side, entered into conversation. asked
her where she was going and told her that
their road lay the same way; they question
ed her as to where she had lodged the night
before, and made minute inquiries about the
amIly Inhabiing the house ofentertainment,
her answers were quite unembarrassed and
SAID the people Of the house had appeared 10
be decent and civil, and had treated her very
well. For two hours the young men coniin-
led by her side, conversing with her, and
watching with the most scrutinizing chances
any change IN her counfenance, and asking
questions which had she not been fully self
possessed, might have put her of her guard.
i was not I'LL her dreaded companions had
eli her, and till she saw her husband coming
ilong the road TO meet her, that she lost her
iel-command which she had so successfully
exercised, and throwing herselfinto his arms
ainied away.