The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American RevolutionAbrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
History
The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American Revolution
Abrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
Confederate States of America -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
"Then the--the--" said Harry, hesitating to use the word theft, "then,
it was not discovered that you had taken the money until your child
was dead and buried."
"No," she said, "listen--my child lay enrobed in her garment of death,
and the sun was fast declining in the west, when Mr. Swartz and two
constables entered the room and arrested me. On my bended knees I
appealed to him not to tear me from the body of my child. Yes," she
continued, excitedly, "I prayed to him in the most abject manner to
leave me until my child was buried. My prayers were unavailing, and
from the window of this cell I witnessed a lonely hearse pass by,
followed by none other than my infant boy and the kind old negro. Oh
God! Oh God!" she went on, bursting into tears and throwing herself on
the wretched pallet in the cell, "my cup of misery was then full, and
I had drained it to the very dregs. I have nothing more to live for
now, and the few days longer I have to spend on earth can be passed as
well in a prison as in a mansion."
"Not so," interrupted Dr. Humphries, "I trust you will live many, many
years longer, to be a guardian to your child and a comfort to your
husband."
"It cannot be," she answered sadly. "The brain, overwrought, will soon
give way to madness, and then a welcome death will spare me the life
of a maniac. I do not speak idly," she continued, observing the look
they cast upon her; "from the depths of my mind, a voice whispers that
my troubles on earth will soon be o'er. I have one desire, however,
and should like to see it granted."
"Let me know what that is," remarked Dr. Humphries, "and if it lies in
my power it shall be accorded to you with pleasure."
"Your companion spoke of my husband as his friend; does he know where
he is at present, and if so, can I not see him?"
"I promise that you shall see your husband before many days. Until you
are removed from this place I do not think it advisable, but,"
continued Harry, "I shall, on leaving this place, endeavor to secure
your release."
Mrs. Wentworth made no answer, and, speaking a few words of
consolation and hope to her, the two gentlemen left the prison. The
next morning Harry called on the Mayor and asked if Mrs. Wentworth
could be bailed, but on his honor mentioning that her trial would come
off the next day, the court having met that evening, he determined to
await the trial, confident that she would be acquitted when the facts
of the case were made known to the jury. On the same day he met Alfred
Wentworth, who informed him that he was more strongly impressed than
ever in the belief that the pretended Englishman was a spy.
"I will inform you of a plan that will prove whether you are right or
not," observed Harry, when he had concluded. "Tomorrow at about three
o'clock in the evening persuade him to visit the Court House. I will
be present, and if he is really the spy you imagine, will have full
evidence against him."
"What evidence?" enquired Alfred.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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