Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-02-27
miscellaneous.


in cur courts, from The singular nature OF The
claim, and the strange story II dsoiosed.
The plaintiff, who was oap'ain Of a ship which
traced principaliy with the wet indies mad
married quite early with every pospec' Of
happiness. His wife was said TO hove been
extremely beautiful, ana DO less loyeabie IN
character
AFTER living with hef IN ihe most unntef-
rupted harmony Iol h'e years. duhhe wblch
time TWO daughters were ADDED TO the family,
he suddenly resolved TO resume has occupation
which be had rem qusheo On his Marin ee
and when his youngest ehild was but Three
weeks old be sailed Tor tho West Irdies.
His wife, who was deyctcdy atieeitd 90 Aim.
Borrowed deeply ln his absence, ana iound her
only comfort IN The society % her ciiIdfer,
ana me nope OF has return. bul month after
month passed a"oy' ana be ctme no'' nor did
any ieueIs' nose lhst ih~ent out ever well
come substitutes, arrive 10 cheer her bitter
solitude Months heightened into years, yet
10 uoings were received rom NE absent hus-
bard snd' amer hePne ghinsI rope, ne un-
happy wife was compelled to believe uai he
had found grave beneath the weitering ocean
her sorrow was deep and heartfelt, out lhe
evils Of poverty were now added 20 her hlic-
tons, and the widow found herself obliged
to resort to some emp loyment IN order 20 cup
port her children. Der needle was the only
resource, and for ten years she abored early
and late for the miserable pittance which is
ever grudgingly bestowed on humble scam
stress.
merchant in New York, in moderate but
prosperous circumstance, accidentally became
acquainted with her, and, pleased with her
gentle manners, no less than her beauty, he
improved Their Acquaintance into inendsmp.
Atter some months be cHt1ed his hand and
was accepted. As The vile Of successful
merchant she soon found herself in the en-
JoymeDt Of such comforts and luxuiies az she
had never potsesscd Her children became
his children, and received from him every adj
vantage which wealth and tfeoucn could be-
stow.
fliteen years passed away The daughters
married, ind by their step-iather were fur
nished with every ccmiott requisite to their
new avocation as housekeepers. But they
had hardly quilted his 1901 when the mother
was taken Ill. She died after few days, and
from that time until the period Of which |
speak the widower had resided with the
younger daughter.
Now Genes the strange part Of the story.
Alter sn absence OF over thirty years, during
which time no udlngs had arrived nom him,
the first husband returned as suddenly as be
had departed.
He had changed his ship, adopting sIrot Their
name, and spent the whole Of that long pc
Rod on the ocean, with only transient visits
on shore, while taking in or discharging car
goes, having been careful never TO come near
er home than New Orleans. Why he acted
in this objectionable manner toward his FAM
lily no one could tell, and he obstinately re-
fused all explanation
There were strange rumors Of slaye-rad-
ing and piracy afoat, but they were only
whispered conjectures rather than truth
Whatever might have been his motive for his
conduct he was certainly anything but ndif-
ferent to his family concerns when be roturn-
ed. He raved like mailman when informed
of his wifes second marriage and subsequent
death, vowing vengeance on bis successor,
and terrifying his daughters with the most
awful threats in case they refused to sckn09l-
edge his claim. He had returned wealthy,
and one OF the reptiles Of the law--who are
always to be found crawling about the halls
of justice - advised him to bring suit
against the second husband, assuring him
that he could recover heavy damages. ] he
absurdty of instituting claim for a wife
whom death had relieved from the jurisdic-
ton Of all earthly laws was so manifest that
at length it was agreed by all parties to leave
the matter to be adiudged by five referees
1t was upon a bright, beautiful afternoon
in the spring when we met to hear the singu-
lar 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 defendant--while the plain
tf's harsh features were thrown into still
holder relief by the same beam which seem
ed to soften the placid countenance Of his
adversary.
The plaintiffs lawyer made a most eloquent
appeal for his client, and had we not been in.
formed about the matter, our hearts would
have been melted by his touching description
of the return of the desolate husband, anc
the great agony with which he beheld his
household gods removed TO contecrate
strangers hearth. The celebrated Aaron
Burr was the counsel for the defendant, auc
we anticipated from him a splendid displa,
of oratory.
Contrary to our expectations, however
Burr made no attempt TO confute his oppo