The Soldier's Wife — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. 71 tied up to the accursed triangle and lacerated|was named Wyndham; and Lucy learnt, with with the diabolical scourge,—Oh! then it was|an augmenting grief, that he was a stern, se that her heart was racked with intolerable|vere, implacable man—not merely a rigid ‘dis pangs—that her brain was harrowed with ex-|ciplinari lan, but a tyrannical martinet. She eruciations of direst anguish—that her whole |likewise learnt that Gerald Redburn was with being was convulsed by one rending paroxysm of ineffable agony. She knew that when the punishment was over and he should have reco- vered from its effects, they would be enabled to meet-—that every day he could pass hours with her—and consequently that their separation was not eternal: nor did she fear that her own industry “would fail to procure sufficient for the wants of herself and little Frederick. But, oh! mm front of her, and closest of all objects to her mental vision, ‘stood the appalling punishment to which her husband was certain to be sub- jected. It rose like a wall of brass before her his regiment ; and thus the poor creature could not even console herself with the hope that some leniency might be shown in the awar] of punishment in respect to her husband. Never- theless, Lucy was resolved that the moment the result of the court-martial should be known, she would arm herself with all her courage and wait upon the Colonel to intercede on Frede rick’s behalf. - We need not dwell at any length upon the details of the military trial to which Lonsdale was subjected. Gerald Redburn was one of the officers forming the court-martial’; and in eyes, barring whatsoever hopeful or cheering|him the unfortunate soldier found a bitter ene- prospects that might possibly he beyond. It}my. There was not however much scope for was sad—very sad indeed, to think of this/the exercise of any particular malignity, nas beautiful, amiable, and aifectionate young wo- man, who had never injured a living soul— never done harm willingly to the meanest of God’s creatures—thus plunged into an abyss of puch appalling woe. It was at the house of an old couple in a re- tired part of the town of Portsmouth, that Lucy had tound a lodging. She had frankly told them her circumstances, and explained to them the position of her unfortunate husband. They were people who eked out their other little means by letting this one room in their hum- ble habitation ; and they cared but little who occupied it, so long as their rent was regularly paid. That Lucy possessed the power of satis- fying their demands in this respect, they re- ceived ocular demonstration; and therefore they had not hesitated to let her have the recom. ‘They were not actually bad-hearted people—but they certainly had little of the milk of human kindness in their constitutions ; and consequently their deportment towards/i Mrs. Lonsdale was that of a mere civility, with- out any attempt to bestow sympathy or con- polation. But even if such an attempt were made, it could in no way have diminished the unfortunaie young woman’s sorrows. They were too profound for the reach of sympathy— too colossal to be affected by the words of con- solation. Her’s was a grief, too, which made her court sclitude , and in her little chamber did she.remain ws:ustering to her child—at one time brooding in deep despondency upon her afflictions—at ancther so excited by anguish that she felt as if she could go mad! All communications of a direct nature be- tween herself and her husband was stopped: cut. the wife of one of hi: comrades called upon ber from kind motives, 10 let her know that he was well in health and bearing up with be- coming fortitude against his calamity. He was lodged in the black-hole, a sentry con- stantly keeping guard over him ; summoned to try him, and the regi- mental court-martial, as already stated, was Imuch as the case was plain enough, with little need for the sitting of evidence. ‘The fact that Lonsdale had deserted, was patent; and of course he did not attempt to deny it. Nob choosing to drag his beloved wife’s name before the court-martial, nor yet to give publicity to the tyrannous cruelty and treachery of her own father, Frederick contented himself in hig defence by the assurance that nothing save a circumstance of the most pressing and urgent nature could have induced him to desert. frankly admitted the magnitude of the offence, and throwing himself upon the mercy of the court, besought that the punishment to be awarded should be rendered as light as would be deemed compatible with the aim of military justice. There was a fine manly frankness in his demeanor, which could not fail to be no- ticed by all present ; and as there was not the slightest tinge of bold effrontery or reckless hardihood mingled with that air, he succeeded in creating a favorable impression upon the minds of three or four of the officers: but on the majority, whatsoever was noble, or lofty, or open-hearted in his aspect was thrown away, so far as concerned any benefit to him- self. Captain Courtenay, having the night be- fore lost a very large sum of money ‘at the gambling table, was in a particular il-humor at the time. Lieutenant Scott, who continued to be adjutant to the regiment as he had been to the depot, took his cue entirely from the captain, on whom he was accustomed to spunge. The Hon. Gustavus Ferdinand Richard Fitz- morris, not having been in bed all night, yawned fearfully, and played with ‘his dishe- velled locks in a conceited manner; while Mr. Paget, the youth from the Royal Military Col lege—now a little past eighteen—assumed a very grave look, and whispered to old Liea- tenant Heathcote, next to whom he sat, that it was as bad a ease as any he had ever known— just for all the world as if his experience in such matters was very large indeed! As for Mr. Heathcote himself, he: fixed a look of the We must now observe that the entire corps|sincerest compassion upon Lonsdale through of the regiment had a few months back arrived|the whole proceedings. He m England; and the depot was consequently| The room was cleared for the deliberation of ment therein, The — of the regiment'the court-martial—the ballot was taken—and | | COMIEMNOOKS.EO