The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-08-09
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THE MERcHAMT,s WIFE
BY AN ENGLISH PHYSICIAN.
A Thrilling Sketch, fopaacd or Fac

By An ENGLISH PHYSICIAN.
AT period towards the close of m,
professional career, domestic tragedy
occurred, with the persons concerned IN
Whlch was IN some measure mixed up
IA tragedy of so dreadful nature. in.
volvin9, as it die, destruction TO several
and unhappiness to many. that for a
long time | had hesitated whether OF
not to give IT record on these pages
And yet, so true picture of human
nature do the events portray, and so
much IS there that may be learned from
this recital, suppressing the real names
OF the actors IN the melancholy drama.
am at last tempted to lay before nv
readers one of the mos; secret, if not
the most sacred passages of nv diary.
Although did not become acauaint-
ed with the facts in the order in which
shall relate them, still. from dilivent
and patient inquiry. | was enabled to
collect the tragmental pieces of the
family history, which from time to time
| heard, luto one perfect whole in nv
dIary, and then, not until then, was |
fairly enabled to Judge of what appear
ed to me at first. and without perfect
and complete Information. the most ex-
fraordtnary aud contradictory circum.
stances.
was not called upon to interfere in
the calamltous affairs which my story
will comprehend until frightfui catas.
trophe had occurred: but will begin
carrier, so that my reader shall have the
advantage, which had not, of really
beginning al the beginning.
One oi the most opulent and respected
merchants which London had ever pro-
duced, was a Mr. Markham. What he
exactly called himself, or dealt in.
don't know, bat he had many ships. and
ii was well known that his commercial
transactions extended TO all parts of the
habitable globe. He was man of con-
siderable ability, and possessed great
tact IN his commercial Undertakings
His only fault was petulent irritability
at temper, which always tempted him
into disputes about trifes which were |
really uifdeserving of notice.
Ii was late in life before Mr.. Mark |
ham thought that his accumulated for
tune would, with the addition of an
amlable woman as his domestic partner.
make an exceedingly happy home; and
when once possessed of this idea, he was
In his endeavors to discover
some young person possessed of the
qualifications which he looked for and
expected in wife. Fortune he sought
not-he had enough himself to satisfy
his widest wants. He wished for y
loving, kind, amiable companion: nor
was he long in fixing his choice upon
'ne whom he considered, and who was
n every respect qualified to make any
lome happy.
This young lady,s name was Emma
Dorrlngton. She was the youngest
:hlld OF poor gentleman who had for
1ears been struggling with very large
amily to preserve the station in life
which, In the earlier part of his career, |
le mad been accustomed. Beneath that .
truggle he sank into an early grave. !
savlng widow and five children to
he tender mercies of a tender and y
nefcifui ~ world, and the scanty COM |
orts attainable from an annuity Of sixty s
ounds per annnn. e
Emma, at the time of her fathers 1
cath, was but ten years of age, and il a
,as seven years after this event that b
ir. Markham saw her, and at once felt +,
lat she was the person destined 10 meet i
IS wishes IN every respect. His age
IS then forty; but this disparity of
sars did not strike him as any pariicu-
r objection, seeing that his Creat "
ealth enabled him at once TO settle a
lndsome competence upon his Young
lie, who, In the natural order of events,
ould outlive him.
Now Mr. Markham, although a man on
unblemished integrity and kind
'art, was BY no means a very sensitive hs
romantic individual, and when he 70
q once made up his mind that he
onio hke Emma Dorrington to be fa,
=. Markham. he set about the affair A,
. oasiness.like manner, thai is to th,
7, he made an offer at once. which he