The Soldier's Wife — page 75: what you’re looking at

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*~ _ _ i a a ride on the tcp of a stage-coach so far as the eoachman would take him for that amount. “This morning at nine o'clock,” he continued, “on alighting from the coach, I still found myself many, many miles from Coventry, with- out a penny in my pocket—almost starving with hunger—and racked by the terrible ap- prehension that it would be impossible for me to reach my destination in time to save you. At that hour, as I was approaching a village— dragging myself painfully along—my ears sud- denly caught the sounds of wheels and horses’ hoofs dashing along the road with a celerity that at once convinced me something was amiss. Then I heard the screams of female voices ; and almost immediately afterwards an open chaise, containing a gentleman and two ladies, and drawn by two high-spirited horses, came rush- ing along behind me. At a glance I perceived that the horses were running away; the gen- tleman had dropped the reins, and the vehicle was swaying from side to side in a manner which threatened it with an immediate upset. Besides which, there were several heaps of stones along the side of the road; and the chaise was whirled by the maddened horses over them one after another in rapid succession. I sprang forward—caught the rein—and_al- though dragged along for upwards of a minute, I must contess, Lucy, to the imminent danger of my life—I succeeded in stopping the animals. The thanks which I received from the gentle- man and two ladies, were of the most fervid kind: indeed I had saved their lives. The gentleman made me a present of ten guineas; end bidding me farewell, pursued his way. You may conceive the joy which I experienced! Did it not look as if heaven itself had thrown me in the way of this adventure, that I might obtain the means of prosecuting my journey ? And, Oh! it was an unspeakable relief to be able to put off my uniform, and purchase a suit of plain clothes. It appeared to me as if there were safety and security in the change; and I seléeted a suit of this kind—the better to disguise myself—for no one would think of looking fora deserter in sucha garb. I walked on with hope in my heart; and presently I obtained a ride in a tradesman’s cart that was proceeding for several miles in the same direc- tion as myself. Then there was another long walk—and then a coach overtaking me, con- veyed me into Coventry; and I alighted in the very street where a few moments afterwards, to my surprise and joy, I happily encountered ou.” Having given mutual explanations, the lovers lost no time in discussing the plans which were their position. Lonsdale entertained not the slightest idea of returning to his regiment. He had suffered too much, even apart from other considerations, to return voluntanly to that earthiy pandemonium whence he had escaped. Besides, he knew fll well, although he breathed not a hint thereof to Lucy, that if he did return, it would be with the certainty of undergoing the frightful lacerations of the cat-’o-nine-tatls, His idea was that they should repair with the least possible delay to some remote place, and naturally suggested by the circumstances of 3 62 THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. . , there fix their abode for a few weeks, while the banns of marriage were put up in the local chureh; then, after their union, that they should repair to some other place, where undeg a feigned name they might settle down in the hope that he would effectually baffle any search that might be instituted after him as a desert. er, and where by his honest industry a liveli- hood might be obtained. Lucey eoincided with her lover’s views. What objection had she te offer¢ He spoke of their immediate marriags with so much delicacy and tenderness, that she loved him more devotedly if possible than ever; and with blushes on her cheeks, but happiness in her eyes, she signified her assent, When their little plans were settled, the examined their stock of money, and found that they had exactly sixteen pounds in their pow- session ;—namely, the ten which Lucy had so fortunately brought with her, and six remaining out of the suin presented by the gentleman to Lonsdale. It was not much to begin the world with, particularly as all their personal proper- by In,respect to wearing apparel pont of the things they had on them at the time; but they were determined upon practising all re- quisite frugality and economy—and they had hope in their hearts, as well as an abundance of love; and therefore they considered their prospects to be sufhciently cheering. Having rested and conversed for nearly an hour in the grove, they continued their wa across the fields,—not exactly knowing in which direction they were proceeding, but resolved to wander on until they reached some main road, where they meant to take the first publie conveyance bound for any place sufficiently distant to answer their purposes. In another hour their design was so far carried out that they found themselves seated together on the outside of a coach proceeding to York; and as the vehicle sped farther and farther on, their spirits rose in proportion to the distance which was thus increasing between themselves and the midland counties. On arriving at York, they immediately hired two distinet lodgings, and at once took the requisite steps for having the banns of marriage put up in the parish where they had thus taken up their quarters. In a few days any latent misgiving which Lucey might have experienced in respect to her father, was completely dissi- pated by the appearance of the following ad- vertisement in a London newspaper, which happened to meet Frederick’s eye, and which he lost no time in showing to his well-beloved :— “L. D. of Oakleigh,— You are earnestly en- treated to return home to your father, who is distracted at your flight. He faithfully prom- ises that his intentions on a certain matter shall not be persevered in, All is ended and broken off in that respect.” Lucy’s mind was now completely set at rest with regard to her father’s safety: but not for a moment did she entertain the thought of complying with the above requisition. Much as she deplored the painful necessity whick had compelled her te fly from the paternal com comicbooks.com sss