The Soldier's Wife — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. Three hurs+ed blows having been inflicted, diere was a lorger halt. The surgeon felt Lons- dale’s pulse for some minutes in the presenee 17? they were avenged for the rebuff which they had respectively received from Lucy. And now, what of pow Lucy? She knew ef Colonel Wyndham, who had stationed him-jthe day and the hour when the punishment self near the triangle. “]T can endure more,” said Lonsdale, in a low subdued voice: “and would rather receive at once all that is intended to give me.” “Then d n his eyes, let him have it!” vociferated the Colonel, resolved to avenge upon the husband the humiliating rebufi he had received at the hands of the wite. “Go on, Langley.” “T don’t think, sir,” returned the Sergeant- major, carrying his hand tv his cap, “that these two boys can do any more.” “Then let us have two fresh ones,” said the Colonel, and forthwith the order was obeyed. The punishment was resumed with strong and vigorous arms, and with fresh cats. But that point had now at length been reached when the intensity of the pain began to sub- side; and Lonsdale’s head falling forward, he had no longer need to compress his lips or ex- ercise any control over his feelings; for there was a sort of dull, heavy, dead numbness upon him. Yet his senses had not abandoned him: he knew what was going on, but he had not the same active power of thought as hitherto; while to the eyes of the beholders, it seemed as if the drummers were wielding their weapons against a lump of inanimate raw flesh. All traces of distinct wales had become merged into one general mass of rawness, from the nape of the neck to the waistband of the trou- sers, and round upon the ribs. [t was one tre- mendous laceration, as if the whole skin had been flayed away in a piece, and then the flesh had been cut up with myriads of sharp short hacking instruments like those used in the pro- cess of cupping. Thus did the atrocious punish- ment progress until the end. The whole five hundred lashes were administered; and the two drummer-boys, who had succeeded the first set, retired from the scene as besmeared with blood as their predecessors. It was done—the satanic work was over— and Lonsdale, now in a state of total uncon- sciousness, was borne away to the hospital— to be cured, if possible—or to die, if beyond the reach of medical aid. Thus was it that the same medical man, who disgraced and disho- nored the sublime art which he professed, by consenting to attend at the infernal scene, was called upon to cure the iiideous injuries which he had sanetioned, and to the infliction of which he had been a party. Sergeant Langley experienced a degree of satisfaction which was only damped by the thought that as Lonsdale had endured the entire amount of punishment at once, he would not have to be brought out again as soon as healed. But he however found a consolation in the resolve that it should not be Ads fault if the young soldier did not seon undergo another taste of the cat at the triangle. As for Colonel Wyndham and Gerald Redburn, they likewise experienced a fiendish satisfaction at the spectacle they had witnessed; and as they sipped their wine at the mess-table in the evening, they felt that was to be inflicted upon her husband: and as that hour was proclaimed by the church clocks of Portsmouth, she had locked the door of her chamber—she had fallen upon her knees by the side of the bed—and burying hey face in her hands, she had put up such prayers to heaven, that, for fervor, and sincerity, and earnestness of pleading, never befove ascended from the human heart. She had besought Om»ipoten$ Providence to inspire her beloved husband with fortitude te bear his punishment, and with physical power to survive it: she had prayed, too, that this same Providence would move the hearts of those who had the author- ity to mitigate the amount of the chastisement. O God! who can describe that poor young wo- man’s terrific feelings of anguish and agony as she thought to herself that, even hen, as she knelt there, the fearful instrument of torture was lacerating, and tearing, and rending, and faying, and all but murdering the being whom she loved most in the whole world, and to save whom the slightest pain she would cheerfully have laid down her life! As her imagination, excited almost to a frenzied pitch, followed each blow that was dealt upon her husband’s back, by a sympathetic feeling it appeared as if every stripe struck at the same time upon her own heart. Very terrible was the anguish thus endured by Lucy Lonsdale: her own soul was torn, and lacerated, and rent—boiling oil and molten lead were upon her own fibres—vul- ture-talons fastened themselves upon her own muscles—thrills of the acutest agony shot through her from head to foot. Such was her sympathy with him whom she loved so tender- ly—so adoringly—so fervidly ! For two mortal hours did the unhappy young woman pass through this frightful ordeal of mental and imaginative excruciations. — for- tunately, during the whole time, the child slept. soundly; for she felt that if it had awakened and craved nourishment, she would not have had sufficient energy to bestow it. At length knock was heard at her room-door: she rose from her knees to open it—and the friendly soldier’s wife made her appearance. At first the good woman was startled and horrified at Lucy’s aspect—so ashy pale was her counte- nance—so utterly woe-begone her looks—so de- spairing her regards! The soldier’s wife came to announce that the punishment was over— ‘that Frederick had endured it all—that le had ‘been taken to the hospital—and that now that everything had been done to cut him to pieces, everything was being done in its turn to heal him again. Lucy gratefully thanked the wo- ‘man for her kindness, but did not ask her te remain: for she wished to be alone. Then, when once more alone, Lucy: took ner babe upon her knees; and weeping over it lit- terly, bitterly, she murmured half aloud, “ Poor at the expiration of those two hours—-s, child! little do you think the awful horrors 'which your father has this day endured, or the anguish which your mother has experienced! COMICDOOXS.COMM