The Soldier's Wife — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

¢ THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, i al * But every wise and prudent young woman,” Jand\as your father Tam proud of you. Tf you pejoined the bailiff, “ exercises a proper restraint | formed a low connexion like this, 1t would drive over her feelings. Lucy, you cannot for a moment |me mad: [ would cast you off for ever. But s ~defend your coiduct.” feel sure that your own good sense will prevail “J do not seek to justify it,” she answered,— |In-tead of looking downward, you should look “merely to extenuate it. That | was wrong tojupward. It is the greatest misfortune that can meet Frederick clandestinely, I will not deny :| befall a young woman, to marry beneat) her but, Oh! father, 1 knew—alas! I knew toojself. Lucy, my dear girl—TI have formed hopes well, that situated as he is, it were useless to}in your behalf, the realization of which is very beseech your assent to our love. And yet, often |possible: and at all events they must not be and often, have I thought of throwing myself |frustrated by you.” at your feet and imploring you, as you valued) Lucy searcely heard what her father said, my happiness, to yield that assent.” she had fallen into a desponding reverie, ana “ Lucy, this is little short of sheer madness— |her heart was a prey to the deepest grief. Per- and it is sufficient to provoke my severest anger |haps if her father had burst fétth into a furious to perceive that you have entertained the idea | passion agaiust her, her own reflections would of flinging yourself away upon this man.” have been less self-reproachful: but the general “ Father !” exclaimed the young damsel, “ you|tenor cf his discourse was so calm, and even are well acquainted with Frederick Lonsdale— |conciliatory—so nuldly remonstrative, all eon- you have known him from his childhood—and |sidered—that she could not help feeling he had ou must confess that his conduct is unimpeach-|a perfeet right thus to address her—that aecord- able, that his nature is most generous, and that |ing to the conceived notions of the world there he is in every respect an exemplary young|was much truth m his observations~-and that man” she had done wrong in holding clandestine “Lucy,” responded Mr. Davis, now with interviews with Frederick, Not for an instant severity in his tone, “all this is very fine for} was her love diminished—not for a moment did the pages of a novel and for imaginary heroes: she repent of the solemn troth she had plighted; but we are real people, and these are real|but she could not help feeling th#’* her father circumstances, You know as well as I can tell|was only pursuing the prudentiai Surse of a you, that it would be sheer madueéss for you to| parent anxious for his child’s welfure ; and it throw yourself away upon a poor penniless | filled her with remorse to think that she could laborer, who at this very moment is out of !not yield implicit obedience to his wishes Henee! work.” the gloom which had settled upon her soul: “And why is he out of work?’ exclaimed!hence the mournful abstraction of her thoughts Lucy warmly. “ Do youknow the circumstances‘| By this time they had reached their habita- Father, | conjure you, if you have a generous |tion; and “Martha, the servant-girl whom they feeling iu your soul, that you will exert your |kept—the dav zhter of poor peasants in the vil- influence with Sir Archibald Redburn to obtain |lage—opened che door. Lucey hurried up to justice for Frederick.” her chamber, threw aside her bonnet and shawl, “You are taxing my patience toa degree that jand sitting down, gave vent to her feelings in a is becoming intolerable,” returned her father. “1/ flood of tears. This outburst of anguish to a intended to reason calinly with you upon this un-|{certain extent relieved her: and in a few mo- fortunate affair; and you are making it much|ments Martha tapped at the door to intimate worse. Now, Lucy, once for all [ tel] you that you|thaé her father was waiting for her to descend must renounce this foolish preference of your’s for|to supper. Lucy hastily bathed her eyes to re- that man. [am your father, and it is my duty|move the traces of weeping; and composing to see that you are well provided for in life. I a her feelings as well as she was able, went down — have been proud of you—do not let me have!to the neat little parlor where the évening repast to be ashamed of you.” was spread, It was now dark—the curtain-was “No, father — never!’ exclaimed the girl | closed—and lights were upon the board. The firmly : and for a moment the glow of indigna-|father and daughter sat down together: but tion flushed her cheeks. the former ate net with his wonted appetite— “But you do not uuderstand me. Not for a aud the latter partook of nothing. moment do I doubt the innocence of your soul “Tt is necessary,” said Mr. Davis, when Mar- -—and the proof of it is that this Lonsdale has|tha had removed the tray, “ that we should re- gontrived to steal away your affections.” ) turn to the subject of our recent distourse, even “ Father, say nothing injurious to Frederick’s though it 1s an unpleasant one. But while it 1 character: he is incapable of selfish or treach- stull fresh in our mruds, we had better talk it erous conduct ?’—aud again did the crunsou glow lout to the end. I was saying, Lucy, that there upon her cheeks, were certain hopes whith I entertamed on your “A pretty specimen of his integrity and |account—hopes definitely chalked out——” honor,” said Davis, now unable to subdue asneer,| “ Indeed, father!’ said the damsel, now gaz “to entice you into clandestine meetings and)ing upon her parent with the enriosity of sus render you a disobedient daughter, But still [| pense. oe 9 do not wish to reproach you, Lucy. Remember,; “Yes, my child,” he responded: “and the zirl, your mother belonged to a genteel family, |time has come when it is necessary to explain and trained you in a way that might properly |them to you. Listen calmly and attentively, I lead you to aspire toa good alliance. It is no|must repeat what I said just now-—that to your compliment to tell you that you are the hand-jdeceased mother you are indebted for certain somest youug woman in the neighborhoud; advantages not possessed by any other young —_—_—_—_—_ —_—_—_———-.”— CS Le A BEE 1 COMIC MOO KS.EO©