The Soldier's Wife — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, little porch of the building itself,—a liveried footman following with the Bibles and prayer- hooks,—most respectful were the salutations that greeted the patrician party. from every side. Frederick Lonsdale was the only excep- tion; and he purposely moved away from the path, so as not pointedly to refuse his homage to the great man and the ladies. But be could not so far forget the dignity of his manhood as to afford any testimonials of respect or courtesy towards the individual who had thrown him out of work, It was, asa matter of course, known through- out the village that Frederick had_ enlisted ; and amongst the humbler inbabitants he thus found himself on his way to church an object of marked sympathy. On entering the build- ing, he took his usual seat up in the gallery ; and the glance that he flung towards Mr.jsaid Lucy, at length breaking silence. 7 “Yes, yes,” she replied, the tears still streaza ing down her cheeks “it was there that yor first told me that you loved me! We will pro- ceed thither—it is a sacred spot for us.” Through the grove they went, in too much haste to revew the discourse until they reached ‘the tree beneath whose shade the avowals of love had for the first time passed, and where ‘there was a seat. Upon this they placed them- selves; and long and tenderly did they gage upon each other ere silence was again broken, Their looks mutually expressed pain and sor- row: for while on the one hand Frederick Lonsdale observed that Lucy was pale and ecare- worn, she on the other hand recognized but toc plainly the traces of a corroding grief on the countenance of her lover. “| have been kept a close prisoner at home,” “ My Davis’s pew showed him that neither father|father has scarcely stirred from the house: and nor daughter was there. The sergeant entered just before the service began, followed by those recruits who had already gone through all the final ceremonies, and whose condition was in- dicated by the different-colored ribbons which had been fastened to their hats. Throughout the entire service no one appeared to pay greater attention or to be more impressed with it, than Mr. Langley. That service passed would you believe it, Frederick ?—when he has gone forth, he has locked me up in my chambe Oh for else all these days would not have passed without my seeing you!” . “ And I, dear Lucy, have been every evening to the bank of the stream in the hope of meet- ing you there. At church too——But thank heaven, you have come at last-!” “ Yes—through the kindness of poor Martha,” over, and Mr. Davis’s pew remained unoccupied. jrephed Lucy, speaking of the servant-girl, “T But still there was the afternoon service: might they not come to that ? have this evening for the first time been ena- Lonsdale hoped | bled to elude the vigilance of my harsh parent. that it would prove so: but again was he dis-| But I must not remain long away, or that poor appointed—the pew remained unoccupied, as in the morning. wending his way slowly along the bank cf the stream where he had so often met his well- beloved Lucy—where she had so solemnly plighted kim her faith ten days back—but where they had been so rudely separated by the sud- den appearance of her father. This was now indeed Frederick’s last hope. But was it doomed to be disappointed? Ah! what is that rustling amidst the trees on the opposite bank ? whose form is it that flits across the little bridge? Ob, joy, joy ! it is Lucy: and she sinks half-fainting in his arms! “ Dearest girl, what happiness !” he exclaimed, as he pressed her to his heart: and in the bliss of that moment he almust forgot every trouble that he had been doomed to know. “Tell me, Frederick—tell me,” cried the girl In an exciting manner, “is it true that a “Itis true,” ne responded, knowing full well the nature of the question she was about. to put. The color forsook her cheeks in a moment, and her head dropped upon his shoulder as if ghe were about to fai_t: but a gush of tears burst forth, and relieved the surcharged anguish of her heart. : “ Dearest Lucy, what could I do ?” exclaimed Frederick, “Every other hope was dead # “ Frederick,” she interrupted him, flinging her terrified looks around ; “we must not remain rere. When my father misses me, this is the first =~ me, At about seven o’clock he was|has shown girl will be made to suffer for the sympathy she me. Let us talk about yourself, It was through her that I heard the ter- Fred. rible rumor that—— But is it indeed true? and. can it not be remedied? Have you gone too far to be enabled to retreat ?” “Oh! wherefore should you ask me, dearest Lucy # What hope had I? You know not the many, Many weary miles | have walked in the endeavor to procure work: but all in vain !— What then, I ask, was I to do ?” “Had you no faith in my love, Frederick ?” quired Lucy with a tender look of depreca- WON. , “Oh! faith the most sublime,” exclaimed Frederick, with a degree of enthusiasm which convinced her that his confidence in her Jove Was as great us the love which he himself bore for her. “* Yes—1 said to myself that we were both young—that we had faith in each other— land that we might wait for better times.” “ Alas! Frederick, 1 could not console my- $ self with that hope,” murmured Lucy, her head” drooping upon his shoulder. happen in this world, that when once a separa- tlon takes place,” she continued with a pro» found mournfulness in her tone, “ the worst iste be apprehended. If you do become a soldier ——and the idea is dreadful——but if you do, I repeat, yonr regiment may be ordered abrouad—perbaps to India, or to other colonies, where, as I have learnt and as you also know, place to which he will fly in search of | fighting often takes place, and where too there ) are virulent di-ease’—in short, a thousand perils “Let us penetrate farther into the grove,” said |—-—Oh, Frederick ! the idea of ail this is more Lonsdale. “You remember the huge oak-tree|than I can bear;” and again did the tears gush mm the midst——” forth plentiully, “So many things Gomiilcbooo (C SS) (eo)