Eastern times., 1855-08-30

atOry. lie merely opened OO0k 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 princi-
pal ,oiinesS.
We had scarcely finished the sentence,
which fully decided the matter in our minds,
when Burr re-enlered with tall and elegant
female leaning on his arm. She was attired
in simple white dress, with wreath of ivy
leaves encircling her large straw bonnet, and
lace veil completely concealing her counte-
nance. Burr whispered few words, apparent
ly encouraging her to advance; and then
gracefully raising her veil, disclosed to US
face of proud, surprising beauty. recollect,
as well as if it had happened yesterday, how
simultaneously the murmur of admiration
burst from the lips of all present. Turning to
the plaintiff, Burr asked in cold, quiet tone
Do you know this ladyl
Il do
'Wlll you swear to that =
Il will ; to the best of my knowledge and
belief she is my daughter
Can you swear to her identity!'
Il can
What is her age1'
She was thirty years of age on the twenti-
eth day of April
When did you las, see hertz
'At her own house, fortnight SINCE
When did you last see her previous to that
meeting!'
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause en-
sued the question was repeated, and the an
swer at length was
On the fourteenth day of May, IL
When she was just three weeks old, ad-
ded Burr. Gentlemen continued he, turn
ing TO US, have brought this lady here as an
important witness, and such think she is
The plaintiffs counsel has eloquently pleaded
in behalf of the bereaved husband, who
capped the perils of the sea, and returned only
TO find his home desolate. But we will pic
ture 10 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 sickness, the
wasting anguish deferred, and finally the over
whelming agony which came upon her when her
last hope was extinguished, and she was COM
PEELED 10 believe herself widowl Who can de-
pict all this without awakening in your hearts
The warmest sympathy for the deserted wife ,and
the bitterest scorn for the mean, pititul wretch
who could thus trample on her heart of her
whom he had sworn to love and cherish We
need not inquire into his motives for acting so
base part. Whether it was love Of gain, or
licentiousness, or self-ndiference, it matters
not he is TOO vile thing to be judged by such
laws as govern men. Let ask the witness
she now stands before with the frank,
fearless brow of the ue-hearted woman-let
us 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 characterized his words,
he besought her to relate briefly the recollec-
tions of her early life. A slight flush passed
over her proud and beautiful face, as she re-
piled:
MY first recollections are of small, ILL.,
furnished apartment, which my sister and my
self 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 attendance at church, she new
er left the house. She often spoke of our
father, and Of his anticipated return, but at
length she ceased to mention him, though | OBJ
served she used TO weep more frequently than
ever. then thought it was because we were
so poor, for it would sometimes happen that
our only supper was bit OF dry bread, and
she was accustomed to see by the light of the
chips which she kindled to warm her famish-
ing children, because she could not afford to
purchase candle without depriving us of our
morning meal. Such was our poverty when
nv mother contracted her second marriage,
and the change was like sudden entrance in
to paradise. We found home and father.
/ She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
met cried the plaintiff, as he impatiently
waved his hand for her to be silent.
The eyes OF the witness flashed fire as he
spoke.
You are not my father = exclaimed she
vehemently. The law may deem you such,
but disciaim you utterly. What call you
| my faihes. you, who basely left your wife to