The Soldier's Wife — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. ¢ CHAPTER XXXII. THE SNARE. Arter Lucy and little Freddy had taken their departure from the barrack-room, Lonsdale was left to the solitary companionship of his own thoughts. These were by no means of a plea- gsurable nature. He remembered that he had received his wife with a manifestation of petu- lance; and his heart was stricken with remorse. -He remembered, too, that he had plunged a dagger into her heart by revealing to her the circumstance connected with Redburn and her father ; and he bitterly repented the unkindness of that proceeding. He was altogether dis- satisfied with himself—discontented with all the world—soured against all mankind, the two dear ones alone excepted. But then the demon again whispered in his ear; and, endeavouring to find a justification for himself, he reasoned in the following manner :— ‘“Why sbould I thus behave like a mere child in my wife’s presence? Why should I be afraid to let her know that I took a glass or two of ale? It is like being an unmanly coward. I won’t humble myself in this way in future; I will assume a higher stand. But at the same time, poor Lucy is so affectionate—and that dear little boy has such winning ways—Oh, my Ged! that we should ever have seen our com- fortable home in Calais broken up! What hap- piness did we enjoy there! It is enough to drive me mad to think of the past!” And Lonsdale clenched his fists—for he felt @ demoniac fury raging in his brain; and then the next instant the tears were trickling down his cheeks. Hours passed away—and he con- tinued ina strange unnatural! state of mind,— at one moment rebelling against the soft influ- ence of his wife, and with difficulty preventing himself from sending to the canteen for liquor ; af another moment melting into tenderness, ald vowing that he would never again do any- thing to vex that amiable woman or impair her confidence in him. Thus passed the time, until it was verging towards ten o’clock in the even- ing. His comrades, who occupied the same room with himself, were now all assembled there, and about to get ready for retiring to -rest. Presently there was a knock at the door; and the individual who answered it, said that the boy from the canteen wanted to speak to Lonsdale. Frederick, who was just beginning to undress, hastened out upon the landing, to inquire what the boy wanted. ‘“There’s a person just been and told me to give you this note:’”—and as the lad thus ex- plained himself, he thrust a soiled and dirty letter into Frederick’s hand. Our hero tore it cpen, and read the following lines :— _ “There’s a conspiracy going on against your wife. She is being enticed away to a certain place, where her ruin will be accomplished. It’s of no use for you to run off to her lodging, because the people of the house don’t know where she has gone. But if you choose to come out and join me, I will take you to the place. I shall be about fifty yards outside the barrack-gate: you can manage to slip out. “A FRIEND.” 14% This note was written .n a rude, scrawling manner, but in a hand totally unknown to our hero. He was instantaneously smitten with dismay: but reckless of all consequences, he speedily resolved upon complying with the terms of the letter. Dismissing the boy—with- out thinking of putting to hima single question as to the individual who had sent the letter— Lonsdale rushed back into the room, and caught up his cap. Two or three of his comrades, per- ceiving his wild appearance, asked him what was the matter; and one of them considerately reminded him that he was under arrest and had better be cautious what he did. But Fred- erick heeded not the words that were spoken ; there was hurry in his brain—frenzy in his thoughts—burning fire in his heart; and the image of Gerald Redburn was uppermost in his mind as the perpetrator of the atrocity that he was now so mysteriously called upon to pre- vent. He rushed down the stairs—he traversed the barrack-yard—he paid no attention to the ques- tion which a sentry put to him; but he rushed onward, only slackening his pace when he had cleared the gate. from, it was nearly quite dark; but amidst the gloom Frederick perceived a man_ loitering about, and immediately felt convinced that this was the individual who was waiting for him. He therefore accosted him, demanding hurried- ly, ‘‘ Are you the person who sent me a letter? My name is Lonsdale.” ‘Come with me,” answered the stranger: and moving on in front, he led the way rapidly through the streets. But quickly as the man went, his speed appeared a snail’s pace to Lons- dale, who would have flown, had he been aware of the proper direction to pursue. He had not caught the slightest glimpse of his guide’s countenance; for the place was not only dark where they had met, but the individual’s features were thrown into a still deeper shade by a wide-brimmed slouching hat that he wore. Nor did he particularly notice the man’s walk as he led the way; for their course was pursued through streets of a poor description, wlere there were few lights, and these scarcely serving to dispel the gloom that pervaded those tho- roughfares. All that Lonsdale now remarked was that the man seemed to be clad in a coarse, poverty-stricken style; and the only circum: stance which he had observed, at first, was that he had appeared to speek in a feigned voice, This however was a matter of no consequence, and one which stayed not a moment in the soldier’s thoughts: for how did it signify to him who the individual was, or what his motive could be, since it appeared evident it was a friendly part he was playing? Nor indeed had Frederick sufficient command over his feelings for deliberate reflection at all: he followed his guide in a state of frenzy mingled with a burn- ing, boiling rage against the author of the vile proceeding, whoever he might be. But that this was Captain Redburn he had very little doubt. The man led on, Lonsdale following close at At a short distance there- - his heels. They passed through several alleys and laues which our hero had never threaded GomiGcvdooksscom