'1iflE SOLDIERS WIFE.

A THRILLING SKETCH. \
{"newspaper_name": "The Columbian fountain.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
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\ F sE


One OF the most striking cases Of
presence OF mind and self-possession,
of which have any recollection, came to
light in. trial which took place some years
since in Ireland. The story looks like a
fiction, butt have every reason to believe
1t quite true. g,9ur (.


A woman travelling along road to join
her husband,l who was a soldier and quar-
tered at ,Athlone, was joined by pedIar,
who was going the same way. They en-
tered into conversation during walk OF
some hours. but as the day began to wane,
they agreed that they should stop for the
night at a house of entertainment, and pur-
sue their pedestrian journey the next day


They reached an humble inn, situated in
a lonely spot by the roadside, and fatigued,
after a long days walk, they were glad TO
find themselves under the shelter of roof.
Having refreshed themselves with the sub
stantial supper set before them, they ex-
pressed wish to retire to bed. They
were shown Into the travellers room, and
went to rest in their respective beds. The
pedlar before retiring, had called the land
lord aside, and gave into his keeping
the pack which he had unstrapped from his
back, till the morning, telling him that it
contained considerable sum of money and
much valuable property.


They were not long in bed before the
pedar fell into sound sleep, but the poor
woman, perhaps from over fatigue or from
the thought Of meeting her husband next
day, lay awake.


A couple Of hours passed, when she saw
the door slowly open, and person enter
holding light, which he screened with his
hands. She immediately recognised in
hin one of the young men she had seen be-
lowr-son Of the landlord. He advanced
with stealthly step to the bedside of The
pedlas, and watched him for few seconds.
He then went out and entered again with
his brolher and father, who held in bis
hand INV pewter basin. They went on
tiptoe Me bedside Of the pedlar, where
he lay in abdecp sleep. One Of the young
men drew olt knife, and while the father
held the baSn to catch the blood, he cut
the poor victims throat from ear TO ear. A
slight half-audble groan, and all was still,
save the cautious movements Of the party
engaged in the fatal deed. They had
brought in with them large sack, into
which they quickly thrust the unresisting
body The poor Woman lay silent in her
bed, fearing that her urn would come next.
She heard low mutterhg among the men,
from which she gatheredthat they were de-
batting whether they shouh murder her, as
they feared she might havesA in her power
to betray them. One of them said he was
sure that she was fast asleep, and there was
no occasion to trouble themselves more
but to make sure Of this being the case, one
came to the bedside with the candle in hu


hand, and the other with knife.


She kept he eyes cPsed as if in sleep,
and h.u suea e1nipteie command over her.
,seIfas not to betray in her countenance any