The Sepoy's Wife

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Unusual? Very! A drama written on facts during the Sepoy War, 1859. A Sepoy, even more taciturn and moody than is naturally characteristic, hates the English rule and despises the Englishmen, whom he considers intruders and usurpers, not to mention a particular dislike for the surgeon. His spirit is rebellious, and he is every ready to inflame his fellows against the foreigners, although he is a member of the Imperial Regiment of the English government. His child is taken seriously ill, and his wife decides to go to the English surgeon and entreat his services in behalf of her little daughter. She finds the doctor fatigued and almost prostrated with exposure from the intense heat of the tropical climate. At first he refuses to leave his home and offers to give her a prescription to the garrison druggist. She supplicates him to go to the child, and through his wife's pleading and reference to his own child he goes with the woman, administers to the little one and restores her to health. The Sepoy's wife is extremely grateful, while the husband becomes more bitter and antagonistic. He meets his comrades, throws off his uniform and arouses them to rebellion, assumes the leadership and starts to go out to pillage and destroy the Englishman's homes. The wife overhears their treachery and runs at once to the doctor's home to tell his wife and child of their impending danger, then she leads them to a place of safety. The rebels burn the doctor's house, and when he arrives there and sees the ruins he concludes that his wife and child have perished in the flames. While gazing upon the smoking pile the Sepoy's wife comes to him, telling him that his family is safe and she will conduct him to them. The insurgents attack the English garrison with a ferocity that means extermination to all hands within the fortification. The exchange of shot is fast and furious, but the besieged hold off the enemy until a company of highlanders, with pipes and kilts, notified by the Sepoy's wife, come to their relief, completely routing the Sepoys and putting an end to the rebellion. The doctor and his wife, who escaped to the garrison under the guidance of the Sepoy's wife, now join the cheering soldiers as they welcome the Highlanders within the garrison. The Sepoy woman, who brought the relieving forces into the stockade, enters with them. The doctor and his wife seize her hand to thank her for the aid she has given them. She looks surprised and says, "You saved my child. I have saved you and your child. I am glad."