True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-03
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.

One of the most singular cases Of pres
ence of mind and self possession Of which
we have any recollection, came 10 light
, on trial which took place some years
since in Ireland. The story looks like a
fiction, but we have reason to believe it
quite Tue, A woman travelling along a
road 10 join her husband, who was sol.
dcr, and quartered at Atblone, was join
ed by pedler, who was going the same
way. They entered into conversation
during walk of some hours, but as the
day began 10 wane, they agreed that
they should stop for the night at house
Of entertainment, and pursue their pedes-
lrian Journey the next day. They reach
ed an humble inn, situated in a lonely spot
by the roadside: and latigued after long
days walk, they were glad to find them
selves under the shelter of a roof. Hav-
ing efreshed themselves with the substan-
tal supper set before them, they express
ed "a wish to retire. They were shown
into the travellers room, and went to res.
in their respective beds. The pedlar be
lore retiring, had called the landlord
aside and given into his keeping his pack,
which he had unstrapped from his back
till the morning, telling HIM it contained
considerable amount of money and
much valuable property. ...
They VI ere not long in bed before the
pedlar fell into sound sleep; but the
poor woman, perhaps from over-faligue
or from thoughts of meeting her husband
next day, lay awake. A couple of hours
might have passed, when she saw the
door slowly opened, and a person enter
holding light, which he screened with
his hand, She instantly recognized in
him me of the young mea she had seen
below-son to the landlord. He advan-
ced with slealthy step 10 the bedside of
the pedlar, and watched him for few
seconds. He then went out, and entered
again with his brother and father, who
held in his hand large pewter basin.-
they went on tip Toe to the bedside,
where the pedlar lay in deep sleep.
One of the young men drew out a knife,
and while the father held the basin so as
to receive the blood, he cut the poor VIC
Tins throat from ear to ear. A slight,
half aud ible groan, and all was still, save
the cautious movements of the party en-
gagged in the fatal deed, They had
brought in with them large sack into
which they quickly thrust the eunresisling
body. The poor woman lay silently in
her bed, fearing that her tuln would
come next. She heard low mutlerngs
among the men from which she gathered
that they were debating whether they
should murder her too as they feared
she might have it in her power 10 betray
them.
One of them said that he was sure that
she was fast asleep, and there was no oc-
casion to trouble themselves more but 10
make sure of this being the case one came
to the bedside with the candle in his hand,
and the other with knife. She kept
her eyes closed as if asleep, and had such
complete command over herself, as not
10 betray in her countenance any sign
that she was concious of what was going
on The candle was passed close 10 her
eyes the knife drawn across close to
her throat. she never winked, or showed
by any movement of feature or of limb;
that she apprehended danger. So they
whispered that she waS soundly asleep
that nothing was to be feared from her,
and they went out of the room, removing
the sack which contained the body of the
murdered man. How long must that
night of horror have seemed to that poor
lone woman-how frightlul was its still
ness and darkness. The presence Of
mind which had so astonishingly enabled
her to act part to which she owed her
lite, sustained her through all the try
ing scenes which she had yet to pass.
She did not hurry from her room at an
unreasonable hour, but waited until she
heard all the family astir for sometime;
she then went down and said she believed
she had oversight herself in consequence
of being greatly tired. She asked where
the pedlar was, and was told that he was
in too grea a hurry to wait for her, but
that he had left sixpence 10 pay for her
breakfast. She sat down composedly to
that meal. and forced herself to partake
with apparent appetite Of the food placed
before her. She appeared unconscious Of
he eyes which, with deep scrutiny, were
fixed upon her. When the meal was
over, she took her way without the least
appearance of discomposure or mistrust.
She had proceeded but short way when
she was joined by two s,rapping looking
women. One look was sufficient to con-
vince her that they were the two young
men, and one thought assured her that
she was 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 questioned her as to
where she had lodged the night before,
and made most minute inquiries about
the family inhabiting the house Of enter
tainment. Her answers were quite un-
embarrassed, and she said the people Of