The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-02-10
The SOLDIERS WIFE.
4 Thrilling SKETCH.

-
on trial which took place some wears
since in Ireland. The story looks like
fiction, but it is sand to be strictly true
woman travelling along :. road 10 inin
her husband, who was soldier dnartered
at AIhlone, was joined by IA pedIar who
was going the same way. They entered
into conversation during walk of some
hours, and as the day began to wane, they
agreed that they should stop for she 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 roadside, and ia
tigued by long days walk, they were
glad TO find themselves under a roof
Having refreshed themselves with the snb-
stantial supper set before them, they ex-
pressed wish TO retire They were
shown into the travellers room, and went
to rest IN their respective beds The ped
lar before retiring, had called the landlord
aside, and given into his keeping the pack
which ne had unstrapped from his back,
till morning, telling him that it 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, perhaps from
over fatigue, 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 a person
entering holding light, which he screen
ed with his hand She instantly recoe
nized in him one of the young men she had
seen below-son to the landlord
He advanced with stealthy steps TO 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 pew
ter 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 10 catch the blood. he cut The
poor victims throat from ear to ear. a
slight, half aud ole 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 thrust the unresisiing body The
poor woman lay silent in her bed, fear
ing that her turn would come next. Sne
heard low mutterings among the men.
from which she soon gathered that they
were doubling whether they should mar
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 Ia
trouble themselves more; but to make
sure Of this being the case, one of them
came to tie 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 placed
close TO her eyes, the knife drawn across
close to Ter throat /; she never WINGED. or
showed by any movement Of feature or
of limb, that she apprehended danger
50 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.
TO the poor lone woman-how friehIful
was its stiffness and darkness The pres
ence of mind which had 80 as.onishinglv
enabled her TO act a part TO which she
owed her life, sustained her through all
the trying scenes which she bad yet to
pass. She did not hurry from her room
at an unreasonable hour, but waited until
She bearI all tho fam;I,, aSt;r g., .,,,,o
time, then went down and said that she
believed that she had oversight herself in
consequence of being greatly tired. She
asked where the psdl WAS, and was told
he was in too great hurry to wait for
her, but that he had left six-pence to pay
for her breakfast. She sat com. o oFedly
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 won; on her
way without the least appearance Of dis
composure 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 she was yet in their power, and OF
the very verge of destruction. Ehey
walked side by side, entered into eonyer-
sation, asked her where she was going,
and told her that their road lax the same
way they questioned her as to where she
lodged the night before, and made most
minute iuqniries about the family inhab>
ting the house of entertainment. Her an>
swers were quite unembarrassed, and she
said the house had appeared TO be decent
and civil, and had treated her very well.
For two hours the young men coptip>
ued by her side watching with the most
scru,inizipg eianpes any change in her
countenance, and asking questions which
had she not been fully self possessed,
might have put her of her guard 1t was