The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-12

by the same beam which softened the
placid counteuance Of his nd, ersary.
The plaintiffs lawyer made \ most
eloquent appeal for his client, and had we
not been better informed about the matter
our hearts wonld have bee melted by his
touching description Of the return Of tho
desolate husband, and the agony with
which he now beheld his household goods
removed to consecrste q strangers hearth.
The celebrated Aaron Burr was counsel
for the defendant, and we anticipateL
from him asplendid display of OF atory. I
had neve- before seen him, and sL,lI
certainly never forget my surprise at his
appearance.
small in person but remarkably well
FORMED, with an eye as quick and brilliant
As m eagles and brow furrowed by care
'ar more than time, he seemed n yery
different being from the arch traitor and
murderer | had been accustomed to con-
slider him. His voice was one of The
hnest ever heard, and ihe skill with
which he modulated it. the variety of its
tones, and tho melody Of its cadences,
were inimitaLle.
But there was one popularity about
nun that reminded Inc Of the depths Of
darkness which lay beneath that fair
surface. You will smile when tell YOU
that the only thing disliked was his step.
lie glided rather than walked; his foot
had that quiet, stealthy movemeut which
Involuntary y makes one think of trcach-
cry; and IN the course Of long life, have
never met with frank and honorable
man to whom such a step was .habitual.
CONTRARY to our expectations, howev-
er, Burr made no attempt to confute his
opponents oratory. lie merely opened
book Of statutes, and pointing with his
fingers to one Of the pa :,cs desired the re.
ferees to real it, while he retired for mo-
mcnt to bring in the principal witness.
I'VE had scarcely finished the section
which fully decided the matter in our
minds, when Burr re,entered, with a tall
and elegant female leaning on his arm.
She was attircd In simple Write aFess,
with wreath Of ivy leaves encirclinc her
large straw bonnet, and lace veil COM
Petely concealing her countenance. Barr
whispered few words, apparently en-
couraging her to advance;and then grace.
fully. raising her veil, disclosed to us u face
of proud, surprising beauty. recollect
as well as if it had happened yesterday
how simultaneously the murfnur Of nd
miration burst from the lirs Of all present.
Turning to the plaintiff, Burr asked. in a
cold. quiet tone -.
"Do you know this LADY,"
81 do"
"Will you swear to that"
III will; to the best Of my knowledge
and belief, she is my daughter"
Can you swear to her indentityl"
II can"
"What IS her agei"
She was thirty years ofage on the goth
day Of April" ........,
"When did you last see heri"
AT her own house fortnight siuce."
when did you last see her pre-, ious to
that meetingl"
The plaintiff hesitated, long pause
enused-the question was repeated, AMI
the answer. At length Was
"On the 14th day of May, If"
"Wben she was just three weeks DID,
added Burr. .Genuewen, continued he,
turning to US, II have brought this ladv
here - an import, mt witness, and such,
think, she is. The plaintiffs counsel has
pleaded eloquently in behalf of the bereay.
ed husband, who escaped the perils Of the
sea, and returned only to liud his home
dcso!a,e. But who will picture TO YOU
the lonely wife bending over her daily
toll devoting her best years to the drudg-
cry Of sordid poverty, supported only by
the hopse Of her husbands re,urnl Who
will psiat the slow progress Of heart.sick
ness the wasting anguish Of no, 6 defer
red, and finally, the overwhelming ago
ny which came upon her when her last
hope wss extinguislied and she was com.
pelled to believe herself indeed widowl
Who can depict aIithis without awaken.
ing in your hearts the warmest sympathy
Of the deserted wife, and the bitterest
scorn for the mean, pitiful wretclI, who
could thu, trample on the heart Of her
whom hs had sworn 10 love and cberishi
We need not inquire into his motives for
acting so base part. Whether it was
love OF gain, Of licentiousness, or self.in-
difference, u matters not; heis too vile q
thing to be judged by such laws as govern
men. Let Us ask the witness, she who
bow stands before us with the frank, fear.
less brow Of lrue.hearted woman, let US
ask her which Of these Two has besnso
her a father, 1l3f tJI;3gL
Turning 70 the lady, IN tone whose
sweetness was instrange contras. with the
accent that had jass characterized his
words. he besougbt her 10 relate briefly
| the recollection Of her early ne. A sIigii,
6psh passed over her proud aud beautiful
face as she replied 80
-My fmt recolIectious are Of small, i'll
furnished apartment, which my sistef and
myself shared with my mosheF. She
ussd 10 carry out every Saturday evening
tho sork which had occupied her during
| she week. and bring back smploymeni
fcs ths following caa Saving The weasi.
sems visit % her employer. and her reg.
lnlar atleoisfce sschuaeb, che Deves Leo