The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-13
The Soldiers Wife.
A THRILLING SKETCH.


a trial which took place some years, since
in Ireland. The story looks like fic-
tion, but it is said to be strictly true. A
woman travelling along road to join her
husband, who was a soldier quartered at
AthIone,. was joined by pedlar who was
going the same way They enteted into
conversation during walk of some hours,
and as the day began to wane, they
agreed that they should stop for the night
at a house of entertainment, and pursue
their pedestrian Journey the next day.
They reached an humble inn, situated
in lonely spot by the road side, and IA
tigued by long days walk, they were
glad to find themselves under roof.
Having refreshed themselves with the
substantial supper set before them they
expressed wish to retire. They were
shown into the. travellers room and went
to rest in their respective beds Tho pod
lar, before retiring, had called the land
Elord aside and given into his keeping the
pack which he had unstrapped from his
back till morning, telling him that it con-
contained considerable sum of money
and much valuable property. They were
not long in bed before. The pedlar fell into
sound sleep; but the poor woman, per-
haps from over-fatgue, or from thoughts
of meeting her husband next day, lay
awake. A couple of hours might have
passed, when she saw the door opened,
and person entering holding light,
which he screened with his hand. She
instantly recognized in him one of the
l IL lal holo 10
the landlord.
He advanced with stealthy steps to the
bedside cf the pedlar, and watched him
for q few seconds. He then went out,
and entered again with his brother and
father, who held in his hand large pew
ter basin. They went on tiptoe 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 ba-
sin so rs to catch the blood, be cut the
poor victims throat from ear to ear. A
slight, halfaudible groan, and all was still,
save. the cautious movements of the party
/ engaged in the deed. They had brought
with them large sack, into which they
quickly thrust the unresisting body. The
poor woman lay silentin her bed, fearing
that her turn would come next. She
heard low mutterings among the men,,
from which she soon. gathered that they
were doubling whether they should MUIR
der her, too, as they feared she might
have it in her power to betray them.
One of them said he was sure she was
| asleep, and that there was no occasion to
trouble themselves moro; but to make
sure of this being the case one of them
came to the bedside with the candle in his
hand, and the other with knife. Sho
kept her eyes closed as if in sleep, and
had such complete command over herself
as not to betray in ,her countenahce any
sign that sho was conscious of what was
going on. The candle was placed close to-
her eyes, the knife drawn across close to
her throat she mover WINGED, OF showed
by any movement of feature or of limb
that she apprehcnded danger. So the
men whispered that she was sound asleep
that nothing was TO be feared from her,
/ and they went out of the room, removing
the sack. which contained the murdered
man.
How long that night must have seemed
to the poor lone woman-how frightful
was it's stiffness and darknessl The pres
ence Of mind which had so astonishingIy
enabled her; to act a part to which she
owed her7life, sustained her through oil
the trying 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 some
time then went down and said that she
believed that she had oversight herself in
consequence Of being greatly tired. She
asked whero the pedlar was, and was told
he was in too great hurry to wait tor
her, but that he had left sixpence to pay
for her breakfast. She sat composedly to
that meal and forced herself to partake
with apparent appetite of the food set be-
fore her When the meal was over, she
took leave of the family, and went on
her way without the least appearance of
discomposure or mistrust.
She had proceeded but a short way
when she 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 sho was yet in their power,
and on the very verge Of destruction.
They walked side by 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 lodged the night before, and
made most minute inquiries about the
family inhabiting the house of entertain
ment Heranswcrs were quite uncmbar-
rassed, and sho said the house had ap-
peared to be decent and civil, and had
treated her very we'll.
For two hours the young men contin-
ued by her side watching with the most
scrutinizing glanccs any change in her
countenance, and asking questions which,