Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-05-31
Is GOVERNED TOO MUCH"
nj l 8 G. Il l. l. A N Y.
From the i.adi..' Repository.
THE TRAITORS WIFE.
ny MRS. q. n. fERKINs.

Tory families Of wealth and distinction
when the British army had possession ol
the city. during our Revolution. Many ol
the officers were men Of talent and address,
and the beauties OF the city rendered ,h,
homage which woman ever yields to true
manlincss and courage. Andre Was there
with his humorous poets, his iaueiful senti-
men,. and h,. interesting love history, the
pet,ed favori,e in ladies bower ~ In the
camp OF war.
Among the young ladies Of the city. wa'
one whom all regarded with admiration,
whose graceful manners and peerless lo,li'
nes. were the ,hcms Of every tongue. This
WAS Miss shippsn. q daughter OF q gentle.
man Of intelligence and distinction, after
wards the wiic Of Benedict Arnold. Little
did she imagine daring that festive season,
when her name was tout among the gal
liant young officers, that that name would
ever be linked with disgrace snd infamy.
And no dreams came 10 her In the dark Ia.
ture ia re.srvo for her. Hers was tho light.
est step In tho dance. and her laugh rang
ou, rs clear ss the ripple oi a mountain
s,rcamlet.
The time camc for the departure OF the
British FROM Philadelphia, and Miss Ship
pen bade Adieu 20 crowd Of admirers with
scarce sigh OF regret. Soon afterwards
she became acquainted with Arnold, whose
fair fame va, then unsullied. whose name
Was then justly honored throughout the
country lor tho heroic services no had ren.
dcrcd in times Of pressing danger. During
he command Of Philadelphia the succeed.
ing winter. he sought to win her tor his
own: snd like = true gentleman hc irst OBJ
,ained permission from her father to pay
his addresses. ILL.,. request was willingly
granted. and the wooing wen, on amid par
tie, and brilliant entertainments OF which
Arnold seemed at that time 80 fond His
coach and four wcrc at her service, and the
co.ilie-t. mo.i si,ra,agant presents were
laid at her feet. This, too. ai o time when
he was deeply in deb, and the country poor
wasted by . long war, and u is not sur
prising ,ha, murmur. began 10 hoal in the
air ,ha, all was no, right.
Arnold heard these complaints. and loud.
ly demanded q settlement OF his accounts by
his country that he deemed unsra,eful for
the gallant services he had rendered her IN
times OF despe', peril. 40 one time he
feared ,ha, Miss Shippsn nigh, be alienated
from him by ,he.c accusations. and he
wrote her that IL was the work Of his enc.
mics. and would not harm him in the least
Ills fears in regard To her proved groutd
less. H.. had won her heart, and, as love
is blind, she ,aw no defects in the brave Of.
Gcer she had chosen. Her briliian, imsgi.
ton thrsw around him halo Of glory. and
she wondered that others should not appre.
cia,o him a. he deserved. Her knich,-her
hero-her beloved Arnold. why should his
enemies seek to bring him down to their
own degraded level. Thc.c were her
thoughts n. she resolved 10 walk fearlessly
BY his side through oil her future life.
Alas for wonan's trus,! What q sad
awakening will DO hers. when che finds
she has worshiped an idol and what bitter
tears will bcdew her pillow. when she hnds
that ,ha, hear, in which she repOsed 90 con-
fden,ly. had no, only betrayed her trust,
but proved recrcan, TO every throb Of manly
duty and honor.
Sprng threw her warn breath over the
earth. sending ten thousand s'rcamle,.
hushin: on their way, and clothing the
earth in riches, green, ani dsctei 10 With
violet. and recalled the robin from the
SOUTH. when Arnold lei the accomplished
Mi-s shiPrcn to the altar. The msrriag.
,ow - fur better or for worse" vas calmly
spoken. amid the pomp and iesti'ine. wcr'
thy Of m othcer'. bridal. Many Who NV
them. and admired the beautifal bride. re-
memberci her afirwaris as . fair vision
that had crp..ei their pathway. and .in.
ecrely pi,ied her. when serpsn,. hi'sed be-
fore her. and che va. obliged 10 wear
through life. the name Of her traitor hu.-
band.
No, long were the happy rair permitted
to enjoy unmoles,ed the romance OF welded
bliss. Creditors were clamorous Tor their
due.. and the fertile brain Of Arnold be-
came busy with projects. How could he 50
cure gold for the present necessities. How
could be msintain the splendid style Of lIv'
ing he had adopted. Ills bead seemed
turned by the vain mAsn,Gcence he had ere.
ated around him. lie forgot his humble
parentaee. the almost incredible hardsbip'
he had endured q few years before in the
forests Of Maine. the suGerings Of wound
ed soldier. and darrled by the vanities oI
earth. he bsrtered q soldiers birthrishs and
q courageous heart for another m'ss Of pot
tage. lie spurncd the idea Of loug years OF
industry and economy. Riches must come
suddenly. Tho golden stream must be
quict and violent.
A, one time bc thought Of going out as
privateer. and secure TO himself the treas
urcs Of the enemy. But one idea after
another was dismissed. until, Judas like.
the devil entered into him. and he secretly
opened reasonable correspondents with
the enemy.
I, was some time before Sir Henry Gin.
ton, then ct New York ascertained who wsi
the author Of tho anonymous eps,les he