Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-08-18

liked was his step. He glided rather than
walked; his foot had that quiet, stealthy moves
ment, which involuntarily makes one think of
treachery; and in the course of long life,
have never met with a frank and honorable
man to whom such step was habitual.
Contrary to our expectations, however, Burr
made no attempt to c0nfute his opponents ora.
! tory.
He merely opened book of statutes, and
pointing with his thin fingers to one of the
pages desired the referees to read it, while he
retired for moment to bring in the principal
witness.
We had scarcely finished the section which
F.! fully decided the matter in our minds, when
| Burr re entered with tall and elegant female
leaning on his arm She was attired in sim.
pie white dress, with a wreath Of ivy leaves en-
| cirling her large straw bonnet, and lace veil
completely coqeealing her countenance. Burr
whispered few words, apparently encourag-
ing her advance; and then gracefully raising
her veil, disclosed to US a face of proud, sur
passing beauty. recollect, as we'll a. if it
had happened yesterday, how simultaneously
the murmur Of admiration burst from the lips
Of all present. Turning to plaintiff. Burr ask
ed in cold, quiet tone
DO you know this lady!'
Ido.'
'Wlll you swear to that's!
4 will; to the best of my knowledge and be.
lief she is my daughter
'Can you swear to her identity"
Il can.'
sWhat is he. age!'
tieth day of April
when did you last see here
AT her own house fortnight since."
when did you last see her previous to that
meetingp
The plaintiff hestated-a long pause ensu.
ed; the question was repeated, and the answer
at length was
'On the fourteenth day ofAiay, IL;
when she was just three weeks DID, added
Burr. Gentlemen continued he, tnrning to
US, 4 have brought this lady here as an mpor-
tant witness, and such, think, she 10. The
plaintiffs counsel has pleaded eloquently for
the bereaved husband, who escaped the perils
of the sea, and returned only TO find hi- home
desoate. But who will picture to you the
lonely wife bending over her daily toll devo>
ting Ter best years to the drudgery Of sordd
poverty, supported only by the hope Of her
husbands return! Who will paint the slow
progress of hart. sickness, the wasting anguish
Of hope deferred, and the overwhelming ago.
ny which came upon her when her last hope
believe herself widow! Who can depict all
this without awakening in you. hearts the war
NEST sympathy for the deserted wife, and tho
bitterest scorn for the mean, pitiful wretch,
who could thus trampIe on the heart of her
whom he had sworn to love and cherish? We
need not inquire into his motives for acting 80
base a part. Whether it was love Of gain
licentiousness, or self.indifference, it matters
not; he is too vile thing to be judged by such
laws as govern men. Let Us ask the witness
she now stands before us with the frank, fear
less brow of the true hearted woman-iet ~
ask, her which Of these two has been her father
Turning to the lady, in tone whose sweet
ness was in strange contrast with the scornful
accent that had just characterised his wosds,
he besought her to relate briefly the recolIec-
tions of her early life. A slight Aush passed
over her proud and beautiful face - abe re.
piled
My first recollections are Of small, il.fur.
nished 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. Sa-
wing that wearisoms visit to her employer, and
her regular attendance at church, she never
left the house. She often spoke Of our father
ceased to mention him, though observed she
used to weep more frequently than ever. then
thought shs wept bsoanse We were 90 poor
for it would sometimes happen that our only
supper was bit of dry bread, and she WAS &C.
customed to sew by the light Of the chips
which she kindled to warm her famishing chill.
dren, because she could not afford to purchase
q candle without depriving Us Of our morning
meal. Such was our poverty when my moth.
er contracted second marriage, and the change .
to as was like sudden entrance into paradise.
We found home and father
She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
met" cried the plaintiff, a. he impatiently waved
his hand for her to be silent.
The eyes Of the witness flashed FIRE - che
spoke.
You are not my father exclaimed she, vehs-
mently. The law may deem you such, butI
discaim you utterly. What! call you my fath-
you, who basely left your wife TO- toll. and
your children to beggary? Never! Behold there
my father, pointing to the agitated defendant
there is the man who watched over my infancy
who was the sharer Of my childish sports,
and the guardian of my inexperienced youth.
There is he who claims my affections and
shares my home; there is myt father. For you>
der selfish wretch, know him not. The best
years Of his life have been spent in lawlss free
dom from social ties; let him seek elsewhere
for the companion Of his decrepitude. nofd dars
insult the ashes Of my mother BY claiming the
duties of kindred from her deserted children
She drew her veil hastily around her - she
spoke, and giving her hand to Burr, moved %
If to withdraw.
Gentlemen said Burr. 4 have no more .
say. The words Of the law are expressed d
the book before yoo; The voice of truth yoa
have just heard from voman's purs lips & il
for you to decide according 70 ths rsqsiaitioas
Of nature and the decree 81 jastise.
i need scarcely add that or deellien ~