The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-02-16
52lisrellaneons.
A TRUE STORY.

Many years ago ! happened 10 be one Of the
Iclcf',s IN casc that excited unusual interest
IN o,Ig court, irom the singular NATURE ~ the
claim. ri.d tie strange story which {; disclosed,
The fla'nin. Who was cariaia of ship which
traded principally with the Wet lndics, had
inatii~l quite early with every prospect Of happi-
mes His wife was Faid 20 have bceu cxtpine-
J. h,au,iiul, aud nc icss lnvcnhlc In character
A'i,r living Hiii. hcr In tic E,us: Unni,:fup,-
81 harmony '"r ivc year lugrg which time
two tiHu.'l'D @ptr added iu the family, he sud-
derly .'."i.'' to rcsuuic lis occupation. which
he l.ad it'iup'i bed on Ills marriage and whcI
tis nrng,. 90 Ia Wa hul three weeks old. hr
.iilci tus ih" Wrt Indie. iiis wii who WA
dc'"''''l! attached in him. For!owcd deeply in
his .i'-'vrc' all found her only comforic,l
in the society OF Ter children, and llc hope Of his
rvIUgu. liut mo,ih after month passed away,
and he not nor did any letters, those insult
iic'ni hut ever welcome substitute, arrive TO
cheer her bitter solitude. Months lungthcncd in
10 years, yet NO idings were received from the
absent husband ani after hoping against hope,
the unhapl; wife wns compelled ,u hcligc that lie
!.nd found grave hcncath thc wAiery ocean.
iici gortow was drtp and hear, fvlt, hut the
evils oi poverty wcTc uow added g. her affections
and the widow found herself obliged To tCsor; 80
soiuc employment IN order 90 support her chill
dpn. Her needle was tie only resource, and
for ton Yeats ,he lahuIcl easly and late for. the
miserable riiiaace which is ey,i so-grgdgingly
bte;o"ol on M humble scam'ress.
\ merchant in New York, IN moderate bu;
prosperous circumstances accidentally became
acquainted with her, and, pleased with her gem
ilc manncrsenO less ;liaE Lcg beauty, he inproy-
81 tLcir acquaintance into iiituisiiip.
A;;,r sonic months hc offered his hand aud WAS
accepted. ~ the wife ~ successful merchant
Sic .ooi. :ouud hc,s", IN ;hc enjoyment of such
comforts and luNufi's Size had never possessed
Her children i,camc his children and received
from him every advautase which wealth Anl
affection could procure
Fifteen years passed away; the daughters mar
ried, AID hy their slcI-fAihcr furnished with
every comfort requisite 20 their new .yocaiou ~
houscktcpefs lIul they hal hardly quilted his
roo; when their mother was iaicu II. She died
after !cw iays, aud from ,ha, time unit, the
period # which speak, the widowot had resided
Will tie younger daughter.
Now comes the strange, Part o. n" story. NJ
ies an aisCvnce fihi:iy years during which time
IJ tiliugs Ind arrived iToin him. tie fFsi hus-
band .,i.raci is suddenly rs l.y had departed.
lie la! changed Ais siip, naop.ing another
naie, ana spcu; illc Whole Of that .ons period on
the ocean, with only iranscn; visits on shore,
while taking in or discharging cargocs, having
been careful never 10 come nearer home than
New Orleans. Why he had acted IN this uniaF-
dOrnble mauue! towards the family no one could
tell, and hC obsiina;el, refused all explanation.
There were strange Tumors u slavc-trading
and piracy Ri.Oat, but they were only whispered
conjecture rather than truth. Whatever might
have been his motives for lis conduct, he was GER
iainy anything but indifferent TO his family con-
Germs when he returned. lie raycd like a mad
man whch informed Of his wiic's second mar
G.agc and Subsequent death, vowing vengeance
upon his successor, and terrifying his daughters
with the most awful threats, In they refused
20 acknowledge his claims. lie had returned
f.N.. a. r IL l..
are always to be found crawling about the halls
OF jusiice-RdSised him to bring suit agairs, the
second husband, assuring him that he could ~
cover heavy damages. The absurdi;y o: nstiu-
ting a claim for wife whom death had relieved
from tie Jurisdiction of nil earthly laws, was so
manifest that AT length il was agreed 10 10y all
parties to leave thu matter 10 bc adiuigei by five
rvscrcts.
II was upou IA bright and beautiful afternoon
in the spring when we met TO hear this singular
Casc. Tie sunlight stTcamed through the dusty
windows of the cour, room, and shed halo
around the long, grey locks. and broad forehead
at the dciendan,-whilc the plaintiff harsh ;ca-
;urs were thrown into still holder relief hy the
same beam which seemed tn soften The placid
couniorancc Of his adversary.
The plaintiffs lawyer made a most eloquent
appeal for his client, and had we not l--cn inform
al about the matter. our hearts would have been
melted by his touching description OF the return
Of the d,solaic husband, aud the great agony
with which be- hchuld hs household goods re-
moved to cons,cnic "a strangers hearth. The
q cbfatcd Aaron Burr was the counsel for the
defendant, and Ne anticipated from him splen-
did disilay of oraiory
Contrary 60 our { expectations, however, Burr
made ro attempt tu rcfuc his opponents clO-
qGcni ofa'ory. lie merely opened book of stat
ut's. Rud pointing, with lis thin Fingers, 10 one
uf the lagc. desired the referees To Rad il. while
h. retired a moment ;or the principal wincss
We had scarcely finished the section which full
Is decided the matter in our mnds, when Burr
r,-cnicfcd with an elegant f,malc ON his atm
She was aiiir,d 10 a simple white drcss with
a wreath Of ivy leaves cncig,ng her large straw
bonnet. aud lace veil completely conccaling her
eounitnancc. Burr Whispered - few words, mp
Iarcnlly encouraging heT 10 advance, and then
gracefully raised her veil discovering 10 IA u
face Of proud, snrpassing beauty. rccoilcct, ~
well as lit had haiicncd yesterday, how simul-
L1ncous the murmur of admiration burst from the
lips of all present Turning Ia the llaintia, Mr.
Burr askod in "a cold quiet tone.
" DO you know this LADY,
Z" DO
Will you swcag 10 that 2
" will, 10 tho best og my knowledge and be-.
liei /; she is my daughter p
" Can you s"car To the identity ?
can
What IL her age ?
"She is 80 yeats old on tho Goth day OF April"
When did yon last sec her ~
Ather own house, about fortnight since. 4"
When did you Sc her previous to tina, meet
ing ?"
The plaintiff hcsita,ed-a long pause Cnsued---
the question was repeated, and the answer at
length Was
When she was jns, three weeks old" added
Burr 'tienilcmen, continued be, ssturning 10 uR
% have brought this lady here a. nm important
witness, aud such think she is The plaintiff 8
counsel has pleaded sloquen,ly In behalf Of the
bcreavcd husband, who escaped the pcrls Of the
sea and returned only TO find home desolaic. Hut
who will picture To you the lonely wife, bending
over the daily toll, devotng her beat years 10 the
drudgcty of eordid poverty, supported only by
the hope Of her husbands ru,utn3 Who will pie
iufc the slow process OF heart sickening, the
wasting anguish Of hopc deferred, and finally the
overwhelming agony which came upon her wheu
her last hope was cxiinguishcd, and she was
compelled tn believe herself a widow. Who can
depic, all this without awakening In your hearts
the warmcsi sympathy for the deserted wife, and
the utter scorn for the mean vile wretch, who
could thus ,rample on the heart other whom he
sworc TO love and cherish We need not inquire
into his motive for acting 80 base part. wheth-
cr u was love OF gain, or RIGHTEOUSNESS, or se-
fish indifference, II matters not he is too vile q
thing ,o he indged By such laws ne govern men.
Let us ash the witntss--Ehc who stands before us
With the ifank, fearless brow of n irue-hrartttl
| wutunns-lpt ua nsk which nf ths.se tao has A,,sn