The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-06-16
VOL. VIII.---No. AZ

VOL. VIII.---No, AZ
the plaintiffs harsh features were still
thrown into holder relief, by the same beam
which softened the placid countenance Of
his adversary.
The plaintiffs lawyer made most elo-
quent appeal for his client, and had we not
been informed about the matter, our hearts
would have been melted by his touching
description of the return of the desolate
husband, and the agony with which he
now beheld his household goods removed
to consecrate strangers hearth. The Gel
ebrated Aaron Burr was counsel for the
defendant, and we anticipated from him a
splendid display of oratory.
Contrary to our expectations, however,
Burr made no attempt to confute his OPP
ponent's oratory. He merely opened a
book of statutes, and pointing with his thin
finger to one of the pages, desired the ref
erees to read it, while he retired for mo-
ment to bring in the principal ,citnes. We
had scarcely finished the section which
fully decided the matter in our minds,
when Burr re-entered with tall and ele-
CANT female leaning on his arm. She was
attired in simple white dress, with a
wreath ofivy leaves encircling her large
straw bonnet, and face yelled completely
concealing her countenance. Burr whis-
pered a few words, apparently encoura-
ging her to advance, and then gracefully
raising her veil disclosed to us face Of
proud, surprising beauty. recollect as
well as lift happened yesterday, how SIM
ultaneously the murmur of admiration
burst from the lips Of all present. Turn
ing to the plaintiff, Burr asked in cold,
quiet tone
"Do you know this lady"
Ans.-"I do"
Bur-" Will you swear to that"
Ans" will ; to the best of my knowl-
edge and belief she is my daughter"
Burr" Can you swear to her identityp
Ans.-s'I can"
Burr-ss What is her age %
Ans.-"She was thirty years old on the
Goth day of April"
Burr" When did you last see her'"
Ans" At her own house about fort
night since"
Burr When did you last see her pre-
vious to that meeting?"
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause en-
sued-the question was repeated, and the
answer at length was
"On the 18th day of May, II"
"When she was just three weeks DID,, y
added Burr. "Gentlemen," continued he,
turning to us, 81 have brought this lady
here as ar important witness, and such, l
think, she is. The plaintiffs counsel has
pleaded eloquently in behalf of the bereav-
ed husband, who escaped the perils of the
sea, and who rsturned only to find his home
desolate. But who will picture to you the
lonely wife bending over her daily toll,
devoting her best years TO the drudgery OF
sordid poverty, supported only by the hope
of her husbands return Who will paint
the slow progress of heart-sickening, the
wasting anguish of hope deferred, and fl
nally, the overwhelming agony which
came upon her when the last hope was ex-
tingushed, and she was compelled to be-
lieve herself widow! Who can depict
all this without awakening in your hearts
the warmest sympathy for the deserted
wife, and the bitterest scorn for the mean,
pitiful wretch, who would thus trample on
the heart of her whom he had sworn to
love and cherish? We need not inquire
into his motives tor acting so base part.
Whether it was love of gain, or licentious-
ness, or selfish indifference, it matters not !;
he is too vile thing to be judged by such
laws as govern men. Let us ask the wit
ness-she who now stands before us with
the frank, fearless brow of true hearted
woman-let us ask which of these two has
been to her father9"
Turning to the lady in tone whose
sweetness was in strange contrast with the
scornful accent that had just characterized
his words, he besought her to relate briefly
the recollectlons of her early life. A slight
flush passed over her proud and beautiful
face as she replied
"My first recollections are Of a small i'll
furnished apartment, which my sister and
myself shared with my mother. She used
to carry out every Saturday evening the
Work which had occupied her during the
week, and bring back employment for the
following one. Saving that wearisome
visit to her employer, and her regular at
tendance at church, she never left the
house. She often spoke of my father, and
of his anticipated return, but at length she
ceased to mention him, though I observed
she used to weep more frequently than ever
l then thought that she wept because we
were poor, for it sometimes happened that
our only support was bit Of dry bread ;
and she was accustomed to sew by the light
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