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

Many years ago happened to be one o!
the referees in a case that excited unusual
interest in our courts, from the singular ma
,ure Of the claim, and the strange story
which it disclosed. The plaintiff. who was
captain of a ship which traded principally
with the West Indies, had married quite
early, with every prospect Of happiness. -
His wife was said to have been extremely
beautiful, and no less oveahle in character.
After living with her in the most unintcr.
rupted harmony for five years, during which
sine two daughters were added to the family,
he suddenly resolved to resume his occupa-
lion, which lie had reinquishcd on his mar
riage. and when his Youngest child was but
three weeks old, he sailed for the West In
dies. His wife, who was devotcdly attat he'd
to him, sorrowcd deeply in his absence and
found her only comfort in the society finer
children, and the hope Of lis return. BIT
month after month passed away, and he
came not, nor did any letters arrive TO cheer
her bitter solitude. Months heightened into
wears, yet no tidings were received from the
absent husband, and after hoping against
hope, the unhappy wife was compelled to
believe that he had found watery grave.
Her sorrow was deep and heart felt, but
the evils Of poverty were now added to her
Affections and the widow found hcrscIroblig
ed to resort to some employment in order
to support her chlcrcn. Her needle was
the only resource, and for ten years she
I,l., IL. IL Al. T. a
lance which is ever 50 grudgingly bestowed
on an humble seamstrcss.
\ merchant in New York, i'll moderate
but prosperous circumstances, accidentally
became acquainted with her, and, pleased
with her gentle manners, no lees than her
beauty, he improved their acquaintance III
10 friendship.
After some months he offered bis hand
and was accepted. AS the wife Of sUc.
ccsslul merchant she soon found herself in
the enjoyment Of such comforts and lux
ures as she had never possessed Her chill.
drcn became his children, and received from
him every advantage which affection and
wealth could procure.
y
married, and by their stcp-!athcr were fur.
q nished with every comfort requisite to their
new avocation as housekeepers. But they
had hardly quilted his roof when their moth.
or was taken i'll. She died after few da} ),
and from that time until the period of which
speak, the widower had resided with the
Younger daughter.
Now comes the stranger part OF the story.
After an absence Of thirty years, during
which time no tidings had arrived from him
the first husband returned as suddenly a,
-hc had departed.
He had changed his ship, adopting anoth
or name, and spent the whole of that lonc
perod on the ocean, with only transfer
visits on shore, while taking in or disclarg
ING cargoes, having been careful never tt
come nearer home than New Orleans VII.
ne had acted in this objectionable manner
towards the family no one could tell, an'
he obs.nately refused all explanation.
There were strange rumors of slave trad
ing and piracy atioat, but they were onl,
whispered conjecture rather than truth
Whatever might have been his motives 70
his conduct, he was certainly anything bu
Indifferent to his family concerns when 1t
returned. He rayed like a mailman whe'
5pfornel of his wife's second marriage am,
subsequent death, yowing vengeance upol
his successor, and terrifying his daughter
with the most awful threats, in case the.
refused to acknowledge his claims. lie ha
returned wealthy, and enc Of the reptiles o
the l.,w-who are always to be found craw
ing about the halls of jushce-advisad hi
to bring suit against the second husband
assuring him that he conld recover heav
damages. The absurdity OF insttutng
claim for u wife whom death had relieve
from the jurisdiction of all earthly law
was so manifest that at length it was by a
parties agreed to leave the matter to be ad
Judged by five referees
it was upon bright and beautiful afte
noon in the spring when VIC met to HEARTH
singular case. The sunlight streame
through the dusty windows oftho courtroom
and shed a halo around the long, grey Look
and broad forehead of the dcfendant-whi
the plaintiff harsh features were throw
y into holder relief by the same beam wble