Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-09-13
= G8rillina skettb.
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.

| One OF the most striking cases OF prcsence
OF mlnd and self-possession of which we have
any recollection, came to light on o trial
WHICH look place some years since in Ireland.
Ihe story looks like fiction, but We hayo
reason to believe it quite true A woman
travelling along road TO Join her husband.
who was soldier, and qnartered at Athore'
was joined hE pndlar, who was going tho
same way. They entered int -..eetsatIJn
during walk of euine hours but as the day
began to wane, they agreed that they should
stop for the night al Il house Of entertain
nIent, and pursue their pedestrian journey
the next day. They reached humble inn,
situated in q lonely spot by the road side !;
and fatigued after a long days walk they
were glad to find themselves under the shelter
of q roof. Having refreshed themselves with
the substantial supper set before them, they
expressed o wish to retire. They were
shown into the travellers room, and went to
rest in their respective beds. The pedlar,
before retiring, had called the landlord aside
and given into his keeping the pack, which he
had unstrarped from his back, till the mcru-
ing, telling him that it contained IL consider
able sum OF money and much valuable prop
ertv. They were not long in bod before the
pedlar fell into sound sleep; but the poor
woman, perhaps from oytr.fatigue, or from
thoughts Of meeting her husband next dav,
lay awake. \ couple of hours might have
passed, when she saw the door slowly opened
aud person enter holding light, which be
screened with his hand. She instantly re-
co%n.sed in him one Of the young men she
lad seen below--son to the landlord. He
advanced with steathy step to the bedside
Of the pedlar, and watched him for few
seconds. He then went out and entered
IN, IA 10 he. r..l,
held in his hand large pewter basin. They
went on. tiptoe to the bedside, where tho
pedlar lay in deep sleep One of the young
men drew out knife, and while the father
held the basin so as TO receive the blood, he
cut the poor victims throat from car to ear
A 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 q large sack iuto which
they quickly thrust the unresisting body
The poor woman lay silently in her bed,
fearing that her turn would come next. She
heard low mutteriugs among the men, from
which she soon gathered that they were
debating whether they should murder her
too, as they feared she might have it in her
power TO betray them.
One of them said that he was sure that
she was fast asleep. and that there was no
occasion 10 trouble themselves more but to
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 in sleep, and had such complete
| command over herself, as not to betray in her
! countenance any sign that she was conscious
of what was going on. The candle was
4 passed close to her eyes the knife drawn
across close to her throat she never WINGED,
! or showed by any movement of feature or OF
| limb, that she apprebended danger. So the
men 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 mur-
dered man. How lone must that night of
| horror have seemed to the poor lone woman
how frightful was its stiffness and darkness
| The presence Of mind which had so astonish-
| ingly enabled her to act part to which she
! owed her life, sustained her through all the
| trying scenes which she had yet to pass.
| She did not hurry from her room at an un-
seasonable hour but waited until she heard
all the family astir for some time she then
went down, and said size 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 great a
| hurry to wait for her, but that he had left
sixpence TO pay for her breakfast She sat
down composedly to that meal, and forced
herself to partake with apparent appetite of
the food set before her. She appeared un-
conscious of the eyes which, with deep
scrutiny were fixed upon her. When the
meal was over, she took leave Of the family,
and went on her way without the least ap-
pearance Of discomposure or mistrust. She
had proceeded but short way when sue was
Joined by two strapping looking women. One
look was sufficient TO convince her that they
were the two young men; and one thought to
| assure her that she was yet in their power,
| aud on the very verge of destruction. They
walked By her side, entered into conversation,
asked her where shc vas gong, and told her