The Soldier's Wife — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

172 THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. ! and drawing his bayonet at the very instant) hearted Mrs. Selwyn had been that Langley was rushing towards him, the point wounded this individual in the arm, A crowd was speedily colleeted—several other soldiers eame up at the moment—and Langley ordered them to take Lonsdale into custody. The unhappy man, smitten in an in- stant by a sense of the awtul position in which he now stood, dropped his bayonet—pressed his hand to his brow—and staggering back, as the images of lis wife and child rose up vividly before him, murmured in a voice of deepest agony, “‘My God, my God! what have I done ?” He offered no farther resistance—but was co: ‘ucted as a prisoner to the barracks, where he was at onee placed under close arrest. In the course of the evening Lucy was wend- me ber way through the streets, in the direc- tion of that warehouse for which she‘had first of all worked, and whence her husband had reccived back the deposit. So desperate was the condition to which she was redueed, that she had resolved to make one more appeal that quarter. But on arriving there, she was at once told ‘that it was of no use to come bothering any more, for that nothing could be done for her.” She actually fell upon her knees, imploring work: but her prayer remained un- rather, elicited only a stern com- mand that she would take herself off Heart- broken, and wringing her hands as she passed along the streets, she was retracing her way towar ds the lodging, —when by the light stream- ing from a shop- window, she was suddenly re- cognized by a _respectably-dressed woman, about five-and-twenty years of age, who ex- claimed, ‘Good heavens | it must be you, Mrs. Lonsdale |” ‘Martha ?” said Lucy, with a feeling of joy at thus hearing a well-known voice and once more beholding a friendly countenance: and then they shook each other by the hand most cordially. Martha’s tale was soon told: she had mar- ned a respectable and steady young man, named Selwyn—the son of a small farmer, living about twenty miles from Middleton and a dozen miles from Oakleigh: she had two children—and was very happy and comfortable. Poor Lucy could not answer for herself in the same cheerful strain; and as she never gave vent to any com- plaint against her husband, the words of ex- planation she did give to M: rtha, were few and guarded. But the tears ran down her cheeks, a3 she admitted she was in great distress; and Mrs. Selwyn manifested the sincerest sympathy. “| am hastening back to the friend’s house where my husband is waiting for me,” she paid; “for I have been out to make some pur- chases, and have been detained louger than I thought—so that 1 am afraid he will be uneasy. We are going home the first thing to-morrow morning; but as we are occasionally at Middle- ton, | shall have the pleasure of seeing you again. Perhaps you will write and tell me where I can find you? I can never forget. my dear Mrs, Lonsdale, how kindly you used to take some money out of her purse under ne of her shawl, so that Luey might not observe what she was doiig: and hastily thrusting the amount into our heroine’s land, Martha hurried rapidly away, not so much to eseape Luey’s ae- knowledgments of gratitude, as through fear she might decline to accept of any peeuniary suecour at all. Poor Mrs. Lonsdale held the money mechanically, but remained standing for some minutes on the spot where Mrs. Selwyn had left her: for this meeting with one who had known her in better times, and who was the confidante of her earliest love for Frederick, had vividly conjured up manifold reminiscences but too well caleuiated to touch her deeply. But, Ah! she had money in her hand—she might now purchase bread for her son—provi- dence had not altogether deserted her. The sum which Martha had thus foreed upon her, was five sovereigns—a perfect treasure—a veri- table mine of wealth, in the estimation of our heroine, who but a few minutes before had been racked by the sense of utter destitution and imminent starvation. Invoking a blessing upon the nead of the generous friend whom she had just encountered, Mrs. Lonsdale sped on to the baker’s shop where she was accustomed to deal, and which was in the close vicinage of tbe house where she lodged. As she was waiting while the baker gave her change for one of her gold pieces, she could not help noticing that the man looked at her in a peculiar manner—not impudentiy, but with an air of mingled surprise and commiseration: and as he stooped down to his till, Lucy distinctly heard him mutter to himself, ‘Surely she can’t know of it ?” “Know of what?” cried Mrs. Lonsdale eagerly: and she was instantaneously smitten with the presentiment of something wrong. The baker, perceiving his inadvertence, looked both sorry and confused: but his manner only — increased Lucy’s apprehensions. ‘ For heaven’s sake tell me what you meant?” she said: ‘ has anything occurred to my dear boy during my brief absence ?”—and there was the wildness of terror in her looks. “ No—it is not that,” stammered the baker. “Indeed, | am very sorry I should have said a word—but it slipped out unknowingly, as one may say ‘ “You are driving me mad!” cried Lucy with frenzied vehemence. ‘‘ What is it? what is it? Has anything happened to my husband ?” “Well, poor creature—I don't like to distress you—but but—your husband is in some little trouble I really thought you must have heard of it—and yet I saw that you hadn’t——” “ Now, what is it?” said Luey, svealinen in a low deep voice, and nerving herself to receive some terrific disclosure. ‘‘ You see | am calm —I am collected. J*or God’s sake do not keep me in suspense!”—but her calmness was most - unnatural, and a thousand wild distraeting thoughts were sweeping through her brain, “uy hope it won't tarn out as serious as I behave towards me; and I hope you won't be now pray don’t ake yourself too unhe angry, if | beg you to accept this little trifle.” y——I am told that your husband—— hile she was thus speaking, the kind- no doubt he was provokers te ttc