The Soldier's Wife — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SJLDIER’S WIFE. 89 “Cone, I don’t want tostand bandying wor Bey towards his home—that home which he here. It suits my purpose to go with vou tojbad left invested with happiness an hour back, your home, wherever it is; and therefore you/but into the bosom of which he was about to ~are only wasting time and exciting yourself forjreturn accompanied by the remorseless source nothing.” _f sorrow and desolation! “Are you not aware—do you not fel, that) “This meeting with you comes amazing there must be some one at my house who will|handy,” said Bates, as they proceeded along the shrink in horror fror2 your presence /”—and|street together; for the tellow never could help Lonsdale spoke in a low deep voice, as he fixed |indulging in his garrulous propensity wheneva. his eyes earnestly upon the sinister countenance/he had the opportunity. “‘Lhe fact is, 1 have of the barber. — got into some more trouble with that cursed “Oh, I will risk all that!” he exclaimed. post-office at Oakleigh, aud have now been “But wherefore plunge a dagger into thejordered up to London to see -he Postmaster’s heart of an amiable and excellent woman who]Seecretary and ~ake ™ all right with him if [ never injured you? Mr. Bates, | beseech—Ijcan. Theres 4 regular lead set at Oakleigh to implore—I[ conjure you to spare her, if you will/ruin me; but I'll be hanged if they will prevail not spare me.” though, as long as lve got such a friend in “| tell you again it’s all nonsense to go on|you:”—and the barber laughed in that subdued ” {chuckling sardonic manner which sounds upon the ear like the mockery of fiends. Lonsdale made no observation: his mind was tortured with the direst anguish at the idea of the horrible blow which in a few minutes would be given to his beloved wife’s happiness. “You needn't make yourseif miserable,” re- sumed Bates: “forif you come down handsome and don’t show no meanness this time, I won’t hurt you. | really was sorry to hear that you 99 like this. You humbugged me at Carlisle “T gave you all my savings,” ejaculated Frederick in mingled anguish and rage. “Your savings indeed! Why, you was in a position to have given me double. Do you think I didn’t learn that afterwards? ‘The waiter at the public-house told me that Mr. Mortimer—tor that’s the name you went by— was very comfortably off: and so, as you only pave me the beggarly fifty pounds that I got into trouble about, and did not even offer me a guinea or two to pay my expenses home, | was resolved to punish your meanness.” “This is but a wretched excuse indeed for your treachery in betraying mc for the reward offered at the time :”—and Irederick spoke with a bitterness that he could not control, and which indicated at the moment that his feelings ren- dered him reckless of consequences. “Now, if we attract a crowd by standing here in altercation in the broad daylight,” said Bates, “it will be entirely your fault. Once more I tell you to lead on—or else I will knock the thing on the head at once by giving you into charge.” “Charge—what about giving in charge?” demanded the gruff tones of a policeman, who at the instant issued from the public-house, near the door of which the colloquy was taking place. ; “Come with me,” said Lonsdale, in a voice trembling with excitement, as he threw a look of entreaty blended with despair, upon the barber. “Oh!” exclaimed this individual, turning to got such a precious flogging as you did “By the living God!” ejaculated Lonsdale, suddenly stopping and turning short round upon the barber, who tor the moment recoiled in afiright; “if you remind me of that, I shall no longer be master of myself. Fiend! devil!—the scars cover my back—the sears of that punish- meut which was inflicted through you /’—and as Lonsdale thus spoke, his countenance was convulsed and his eyes flashed fire. exclaimed the barber, recovering his presence ofmind, “But lead on—the people are already staring at us as they pass.” Lonsdale saw that it was so; and composing his excited and irritated feelings as well as he lowed by the villain whom he longed to cluteh by the throat, hurl into the gutter, and trample under foot. , dale’s house had been thrown into one to form the school-room; and Lucy happened to be in there at the time when her husband passed the window followed by Bates. It was a half-holi- the polite constable, “it’s only a matter of|day for the boys, and therefore no scholars were conversation between this gentleman and me./assembled on the occasion; but little Freddy There’s no giving in charge in the question.” |was playing about in the school-room, Tke “Beg pardon, sir,” said the constable, touch-linstant Lucy beheld that man, she felt as ir mg his hat to Lonsdale, who had all the ap-|struck with a sudden blow ef a hammer; and pearance of a gentleman; and the officer went|she staggered back a pace or two ere she could on his way. recover herself. Not a sound, not a murmur “Now, you won't run that risk again, I}escaped her lips: she was stricken with con- know ” said the barber, with impudent effron-|sternation: it seemed as if an ice-bolt had pene- tery. “So lead on without any more ado.” _ |trated her heart; and all the color which health Ficaerick had indeed received a mortaljand happiness had brought back to her bloom fright: for it had appeared te him at one ing cheeks, fle. in a moment, leaying a dead moment that the fangs of the law were about'it.animate pallor oehind. Her husband's knuek to clutch him in their grasp. Wretched and|at the front door startled her as it were from miserable—with frenzy in his brain and anguish |this stupor: she felt the blood rushing back to tw his heart,—almost wishing that the earth|her heart with a painful stinging sensation; would open and swallow hin up—he led theland the thought imstantaneously occurred te “Well, l won’t say no more upon the subject,” | was able, he continued his way homeward, fol- | The two ground-fioor apartments of Lons- CEOMMNIC OOO KS.(O)