True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-01


portion Of the estate was settled inaliena-
bly, upon her infant heir. r. Y a4dl4
g Meanwhile he kept his greedy eye up
on Moreland Farm. The marriage of
Elanthan Moreland had been childless,
and the estate encumbered only with the
widows dowery. would dfevert 10 Claudia
in case ofhis death. AS-the years rol
led on and Elanthan's falling health made
his death seem near, Harland's spirits
roses He had long since squandered
all of his wife's fortune, and but for the
small income derived from that portion
settled upon their child, they would have
heen in utter poverty. ''r'3t
AT this period, a child was born in
Moreland farm, and scarcely had the cra-
die of he heir been installed in his nur-
sery, than ElantIlan Moreland died and
thus life and death met beneath its roof.
The widow and her child we're left
in sole possession Of the large property
and Harland CRASHED his teeth in impo.
tent rage as he saw the prize for which
he had waited, torn from his grasp
Moreland left no will, and no portion Of
his property passed into CIaudia'S pos
session. a1
Strange As it may seem 10 those who
have not deeply studied. the nature of
Of woman, Claudia, who had first been
attracted to Harland only by gratitude,
had learned. in the early days of their
union, to love him; and through all the
sorrows and trials Of her life with him,
had clung 10 him with an almost unpar-
alleled devotion. She never opposed his
desires or lhwarted his wishes; not even
when he proposed, soon after her broth
er's death, that Elizabeth and her child
should reside with them in the city.-
She shrank from the very anticipation
Of such an inmate az Elizabeth. but even
that shudderng repuIsion she hid beneath
hen usual quiet but alert Obediance tC
Harand's slightest requests. ..
pc Elizabeth came, and Claudia felt thai
4 her last CLEAN of hope had died in gloom,
as she crossed the threshold of thai desc
Grated home. And she was right
Hitherto Harland had manifested toward
her some occasional and ftful CLEANS Of
tenderness, but, from the period of Eliz-
abeth's coming, All unyarying and con.
tempIous coldness marked his manner
He entirely neglected her, devoIing all
his time and ,houg his 10 Elizabetb, who,
on her part, hesitated not t0 show by
her triumphant manner, that she we'll
understood the position which she held.
i, Clsudia's health had resisted repeated
trials, but under this last and worst, il ut.
'erly failed A year from the time Of
ElizabetRs entrance into her house, she
became 80 i'll as to make it necessary to
. seek medical attendance abroad. Eliza.
beth accompanied the sufferer 10 a dis.
tant city, and 10 the residence Of q nolo.
rlous quack, whose advertisements OF
wonderful cures had made his own for.
tune and that Of sundry newspapers.---
She remained with The invalid shorI
lime, and then, on pretence Of The illness
Of her child, returned 10 New York, car.
Tying The report that she wass recovering
and already convalescent Claudia was
lei! to the mercy of thisunprincipled and
irresponsible imposter. Three weeks af-
terward letter from him announced her
death TO her husband; and the same day
the coffin containing her remains was
landed in New York. There was an os.
.entatious funeral, and q display of mourn
ling badges and white 'kerchiefs, but few
tears were shed, except by the orphan
Igirl whose only friend had departed.
By what hellisb arts, or devices, the
death Of Claudia had, been compassed,
none may know. Suspicion was strong
among the few who knew the facts Of the
relations of the parties-but suspicious
unsupported BY proofs avail nothing
And no one mad sufficient interest in The
,matterto seek for proofs. f
Even when, a few months later, the
marriage Of Harland aud Elizabeth was
announced, tbough thrill Of horror was
| feltby many, though the affair was made
1.-THE subject Of comment in the various
Ecifcles Of city life, another item Of news
something more startling, or more ter.
Irible, soon swept away even its memory,
Herland and Elizabeth retired 10 More
Hand Farm upon their marriage. They
were soon forgotten in The city, and theil
| few neighbors at MoreIand Farm, though
they might wonder and exclaim, knew
10 little Of the case to do more. 0&
There, then. they lived in plenty ant
prosperity. II the pale faces Of the vic
Ptims of their arts ever arise before then
Fin dream or fancy,if ever the memory 0
/ those pure aud loving natures comes bacl
toithem from The pas. in mild yet terribl,
rebuke, if ever The pictures onthe WALL
4 Of those who once dwelt there, III aroma
atmosphere Of love, look frowningly up
foaaheir fierce and blasphemous quarrels
, only their own stricken consciences attes
what they feel Outwardly they ar
happy and prosperous Atheir day OF ret
riUdtioh hashot yet come,--it may nSve
come, save in lhessiings of accusing con
science, But none reed envy ihoiF faie
When The wicked triumph, /. Is better I,
be the victim than the victor, better, lilyi
/ l.Clauaia, 70 die beneath unmeriled perse
j l. Il. 80 = p