Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-09


his children, and received from him every
advantage that wealth and affection could
procure. Fifteen years passed away; the
daughters married, and by their step-father
were furnished with every comfort, requi-
site in their new avocation of house keep
ers. But they had scarcely quilted his
roof, when their mother was taken I'LL
She died after few days sickness, and
from that time until the period of which /
speak, the widower had resided with the
youngest daughter.
Now comes the strangest part of the sto
r.. After an absence of thirty years, du-l
fring which no tiiings had been received Of
him, the first husband returned as sudden
ly as he had departed. He had changed
his snip, adopted another name, and spent
the whole of that long period on the ocean,
with only transient visits on shore while
taking in or discharging cargo; having
been careful also never to come nearer
home than New Orleans.
Why he had acted in this unpardonable
manner towards bis family, no one conld
tell, and he obstinately refused all expla-
nation. There were strange rumors of
slave-trading and piracy aAoat, but they
were only rlnors of conjecture rather than
truth. Whatever might have been his
motives for such conduct, he was certainly
anything but Indifferent to his family con-
Germs when he returned. He raved ike a
madman when informed of his wifc's Sc
cond marriage and subsequent death, VOW
ing vengeance upon his successor, and ter
rifying his daughters by the most awful
threats, in case they refused to acknowl-
edge his claims.
! He had returned wealthy, and one of
those mean reptiles of the law who are al
ways to be found crawling about the halls
of justice, advised him to bring a suit
against the second husband, assuring him
that he could recover heavy damages
The absurdity of instituting claim for
wife, whom death had already released
, from the jurisdiction of earthly laws, was
so manifest that it was at length agreed
by all parties to leave the matter to be ad-
judged by FIVE referees.
II 1t was on bright and beautiful after
! noon in spring, that we first met to hear
this singular case. The sunlight streamed
: through the dusty windows of the court
room, and shed halo around the long
! gray locks and broad forehead of the de-
fendant; while the plaintiffs harsh features
: were thrown into bolder relief, by the same
4 nance of his adversary. The plaintiff!
: lawyer made most eloquent appeal fol-
: his client, and had we not been better in
: formed about the matter, our hearts woulc
: have been melted by his touching descrip
! ton of the return of the desolate husband
;, and with what agony he beheld his house
hold gods removed to consecrate a stran
gers hearth. The celebrated Aaron Burr
> was counsel for the defendant, and We an
!, ticipated from him splendid display 0
oratory, [ had never before seen him
! and shall never forget my surprise at hi
appearance. Small in person, but remark
ably well formed, with an eye as quick anc
brilliant as an eagles, and brow furrowec
by care far more than time, he seemed /;
very different being from the arch-traito
and murderer I bad been accustomed t,
consider him. His voice was one of tn
h finest had ever heard, and the skill witt
!, which he modnlated It, the variety of If
!, tones and the the melody of It's cadences
! were inimitsble. Bot there was one pecu
= liarity about him, that reminded me Of tn
: depths Of darkness which Law beneath tha
\ dark surface. You viii smile when l tel
: : you, that the only thing | dishked was hi
> step. he glided rather than walked; hi
II foot had that quiet, stealthy movement
50 which involuntarily makes one think G
~ treachery, and in the course Of long lif
- have never met with frank and henors
/. bic man to whom such step was habitua
Contrary to our expectations, hoveve
= Burr made no attempt to ceufnte bis oppc
i nent's oratory. He merely opened boo
"A Of statutes, and pointing his thin finger t
of one of the pages, desired the referees t
- read it-while he retired for a moment t
II bring m the principal witness. We ha
"a scarcely finished the section which full
= decided the matter IN onz minds, whe
- Bnrr rerentered with q tall and elegant f
"A male leaning GA his arm. She was attire
Al in simple white dress, with wreath
,;s ivy leaves encirchng her straw bonnet, an
a lace veil completely shading her count
nance. Burr whispered few words, a
70 pareatly encouraging her to advance, ar
N then gracefully raising her veil, disclose
~ - to US a face of surprising beauty. Ireco
: leet as well as if it had happened yesterda,
na how simultaneously the nurmur Of admir-
!. ton burst from the lips Of all present
90 Turning to the plaintiff, Burr asked in
lcold, quiet tone, do you know this lady
= Answer.-I do.
- Burr.-WM yoa swear to that.
- Answer-I will: to the best of n
- knowledge and belief, she Is my daughte
~ Burr.-Can You swear to her identit
Answer.-I can.
III Burr.-What is her age?
toI Answer.-She was thirty years Of a.
,alf T on the goth day Of April. t
- Burr.-When did you last see her, pr
vious to that meetingl
al The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause g
ate L sued-the question was repeated-and Il
- answer at length was, On the fourteen
M. M day of May, II
when she was just three weeks oil
ate added Burr gentlemen,' continued b
.lly turning to US, 4 have brought this la'
sed here as an important witness, and such,
her think she is. The plaintiffs counsel b
,ye pleaded eloquently in behalf Of the berea
Ter ed husband, who escaped the periis of {
and sea and returned only to fin1 his home d.