Page:Irish assassin, or, The misfortunes of the family of O'Donnel (3).pdf/6

 insisted on accompanying him. The army was soon ordered to the field, and ere long the dreadful confusion of war burst around them. Still, however, his wife followed him with persevering attention. One morning his regiment, with others, was ordered to Ostend, and having taken an affectionate farewell of his Maria, he marched with a palpitating heart to a scene of carnage and blood, from whence he was soon carried back to the camp in consequence of a wound he received in the left knee by a musket ball.

The anguish of his amiable wife may well be conceived on his return; but resisting the feelings of nature, she soon exerted herself in preparing the necessary comforts for his unhappy situation. Those exertions were, however, too severe for her tender frame, already weakened by a succession of hardships. In a few days she became unwell, and was confined to her bed, where shortly after she was delivered of a daughter.

A few mornings after the birth of his daughter, when the health and strength of his consort seemed fast returning, he awoke, and called to her to know how she felt herself. To his first call he received no answer; he repeated his cries, but still a death-like silence prevailed. Alarmed at this unusual circumstance, he called aloud for a soldier's wife who attended his Maria. She soon entered, and by her master's desire, approached the bed of her mistress. But, oh God! who can describe the sensations of the lieutenant, when, on the clothes being turned down, he observed his beloved Maria bathed in blood, and his infant daughter immersed in the purple stream! Notwithstanding his dangerous situation, he tottered from his bed, and then threw himself on the couch of her he adored; where, overcome by the horror of the scene, he became senseless. While in that situation, the cries of the attendant attracted some of the soldiery to the spot, who, on examining the body of Mrs Farrel, discovered, that, during the night, a random shot from the enemy had entered the tent, and with it came