The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-03-02

| fully decided the matter in our minds, when
Burr re entered with an elegant lady on his
arm. She was attired in a simple white
Dress with u wreath of ivy leaves encirclil
her straw bonnet, and lace veil complete
ly conccaling her countcnance.
| Burr whispered u few words, apparently
encouraging her to advance, and then grace.
fully raised her veil, discovering to usa face
Of proud, surprising beauty. | recollect.
as well as if it happened yesterday, how
! simultaneous the murmur otadmraton burst
from the lips Of all present. Turning to the
| plaintiff. Mr.. Burr asked in ~ cold. quite
| tone:
- DO you know this lady"
| II do"
VIII you swear to that ~
. | will, to the best of my knowledge and
belief: she is my daughter
Can you swear to the iientity?'
- | can.
What is her agc?'
"She is thirty years old on the twentieth
day OF April"
| w ntlI tll YOU ltSt see IlGf .
sat her own house, about fortnight
since
When did you see her previous TO that
meeting
The plaintiff hcsitatcd--a long pause en-,
sucd--thc question was repeated. and the
answer ut length was
. When she was three weeks old, added
| Barr. Gcntlcmcn.' continued he, turn.
ing " us, = ! have brought this lady here as
AN important witness. and such think she
Is The plaintiffs counsel has pleaded clo-
/ qncnty ii behalf Of the bereavcd husband,
who escaped the periIS Of the sea aud re-
turu.d only to find his home dcsolatc. But
who will picture to YOU the lonely wife,
bending over the daily toll, dcyuting her
F. best years to the ,(rudYery of sordid poverty,
supported ouly by the hope of the husband 5
return? Who will picture the slow process
Of heart sickcning, the wasting anguish Of
agouy which came upon her when her last
hope was cXtingu,hcd, aud she was cpm-
PEELED to believe herself widow. Who
can depict all this without awakening in
your hearts the warmest sympathy for the
deserted wife, and the utter scorn for the
mean vile wretch, who could thus trample
on the heart of her whom he swurc to love
and cherish? We need not inquire into his
motive for acting so base Il part. Whether
it was love of gain, or RIGHTEOUSNESS, or sell
H. l. 4, ~ :.
vile Il thing to be Judged by such laws as
govern men. Let us ask the witness she
who stands before US with the frank, tcarlcs:
brow of truc,hcartcd woman-lct Us ask
which ofthcsc two has been to her sthcr.."
Turning To the lady, in tone whose
sweetness was strange contrast with the
scorntul accent which characterised his
words, he bcsought her to relate briefly the
recollection Of her early life. \ proud flush
passed over her beautiful face Us she replied
Ny first rccollcctions are Of u small, i'll.
furnished apartment. which my sister and
myself shared with my mother. She used
to carry out every Saturday the work which
had occupied her during The week, and brin :
back employment for the following. Saving
her wcarisome visits to her employers, and
her regular attendance ut church, she ncvc,
left The house. She spoke ogten Of my
father, and OF his anticipated return, but at
length she ceased to mention him. though
observed she used to weep more frequently
than ever. then thought she wcpt because
, we were poor, for it sometimes happened
that orr support was only bit of dry bread
and she was accustomed to sGc-by the ligh
of chips, which she kindlcd to warm hcI
, lamishing children, because she could no
= purchase candle without dcpriving us o
| our morning meal. Such was our povcrt,
when my laothor contracted her secont
marriage and the change to us was like
y sudden entrance to Paradise We found
- home and father She paused.
= e" Would you excite my own child agains
t me-" cried The plaintiff, as he impaicntl
q waved his hand for her to be silent
\ Tho eyes of the witness flashed fire as Sh
| >ro';e:
A - You are not my father exclaimed she
5 ychcmcntly. ''What, call yon my father
! you who 50 bascly left your wife to toll TO
/. your children TO heggary Never. Behol
# there, my father pointing to tho calm de
l. PENDANT, " there is the man who watche
II over my infancy, who was the sharcr Of Ia
|, childish sports, and the guardian of my il
y experienced youth. There is the man VIII
a claims my affection and shares my home
d there is my father. For yonder scihs
:, wretch, ! know him not The best years
II his life have been spent in lawless freedol
l. from social ties let him seek elsewhere fc
the companion Of li3-decrepitude, nor dan
r. insult the ashes Of hay aged mother by no
is claiming the duties Of kindred from her d'
i serted children.
!, She drew her veil hastily around her {
;. She spoke and moved rs if wishing to will
c draw.
n !" Gentlemen" said Burr, :" have Il
III more to say. The words of the law are e.