Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-01-15
TIE SOLDIERS WIFE.

to Ilglit IN trial which took place some time
since in Ireland a woman travelling along the
road to join her husband, who was soldier, and
! quartered at Athlone, was joined by pedder,
| who was going the same way. They entered
! into a conversation, during a walk of some
hours, but us the day began to wane, they
agreed that they should stop for the night at
| some house OF entertainment, and pursue their
pedestrian journey the next day. They reach
ed an humble inn, situated in lonely spot bv
the roadside, and fatgued by long days walk,
TREY were glad to find themselves under the
shelter of roof
Having refreshed themselves with the sub
stantial supper before them, they expressed i
wish silently to retire. They were shown into
the travellers room, and went to rest in their
respective beds. The peddler, before retiring,
had called the landlord aside, and given into
his keeping the pack, which he had unstrapped
from his back, till morning, telling him that it
contained Il considerable amount of money and
much.vauable property. They were not long in
bed before the peddler fell into sound sleep
but the poor woman, perhaps from over fatigue
or from thoughts Of seeing her husband next
day, lay aWake.F
couple Of hours have passed, when she
saw the door slowly opened and person eau
tlously entered, holding light, which he
screened with his hand She instantly recog-
ni2ed in him one Of the yonng men she had
seen beloW--son Of the landlord He advanced
with stealthy step to the bedside of the ped
der, and watched him for few seconds. He
then went out, and entered with his brother
and father, who held in his hand large pewter
basin. They went to the bedside, where the
peddler lay in deep sleep.
One OF the young men drew out knife and
while the father hed the basin so as to receive
the blood, he cut the poor victims throat from
ear to ear slight, half audible groan, and
all was still, save the cautious movements of
the party engaged in the fatal deed. They had
brought in with them a large sack, into which
they thrust the unresisting body. The poor
woman lay silently in her bed, fearing her turn
would come next. She heard low mutterings
among the men, from which she soon gathered
that they were debating whether they should
murder her too, as they feared that she might
have it in her power to betray them.
One OF them said that he was sure she was
fast asleep, and there was no occasion to trou-
ble themselves more; but to make sure of this
being the case, one came to her bedside, with
the candle in his hand, and the other with his
knife. The candle was passed close to her
eyes, and the knife was drawn across close to
her throat; she never WINGED, or showed by any
movement OF feature or limb, that she appre-
hended danger. So the men whispered that
she was sound asleep, that nothing was to be
feared from her, and went out of the room, re-
moving the sack which contained the body of
the murdered man.
How long must the night of horror have
seemed to that poor woman! How frghtfu
was its stiffness and darkness? The presence
of mind which had so astonishingIy enabled
Ter to act 4 part to which she owed her life,
sustained her all through the trying scenes
which she had yet to pass. She did not hurry
rom her room at all unusually early hour, but
waited till she had heard all the family astir for
some time. She then went down, and said she
believed she had oversight herself, in conse-
luenee OF being greatly tired. She asked
where the peddler was and was told that he
vas in too great hnrry to wait for her but
hat he had left sixpence to pay for her break
asst
She sat down composedly to her meal, and
orced herself to partake, with apparent appe-
lte, of the food set before her,. She appeared
unconscious Of the eyes which, with deep scru.
my, were fixed upon her. When the meal
vas over she took leave of the family, and
vent on her way, the least appearance without
# discomposure or mistrust.
She had proceeded but short way when she
vas joined by two strapping looking women;
ne look was sufficient to convince her that
hey were the young men, and one thought to
ssure her that she was yet in their power and
n the very verge of destruction.
They walked by her side, entered into con-
ersaion, asked her where she was going, and
old her that their road lay in the same way;
1ey questioned her as to where She had lodged
he night before, and made most minute inqui-
es about the family inhabiting the house
entertainment. Her answers were quite
nembarrassed; she said the people Of the house
ppeared to be decent and civil, and had treated
er well.
For two hours the young men continued by
ar side, conversing with her, and watching
18th the most scrutinizing gances any change
her countenance, and asking.questious which
ad she not been fully selfpossessed, might
ave put her off her guard. 1t was not until
er dreadful companions had left her, and till
le saw her husband coming along the road to
eet her, that she lost self-command, which
,e had so successfully exercised, and then
rowing herself into his arms, tainted away.
Having related to her husband on her reco-
,ry, the dreadful occurrence she had Witness
|, they followed the Young men in women's
othes, and giving information to magistrate,
ey were arrested and shortly after executed,
gether with their father, whose skeletons
ing in chains many years afterwards. The
,use where the dreadful deed was committed
as burnt, and the ground ploughed up.
*The incident of these two sleeping in the
me room. gives some evidence of the virtue