The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
The UnnafaraI Father.
\ TRUE STORY.

;
4 TRUE STORY.
Many years ago, l happened to be
one OF the referees in case that excl
ted unusual interest in our courts,
from the singular nature Of the claim,
E and the strange story which it dis
closed. The plaintiff who was cap
tain of a ship which traded principal
ly with the West Indies, had married
quite early, with every prospect of
happiness. His wife was said to be
extremely beautiful, and no less love
ly in character.
| After living with her in the most
uninterrupted harmony for five years
during which time two daughters were
finally added to the family, he SUDDEN
ly resolved to resume his occupation
which he had relinquished on his
marrige, and when his Youngest child
was but three weeks old sailed, once
more for the West Indies. His wife.
who was deyotedly attached to him
sorrowed deeply at his absence, and
found her only comfort in society of
her children and the hope of his return.
/ But month after month passed away
and be came not, nor did any letters
those insufficient but welcome subst-
tutes, arrive to cheer her solitude.
Months heightened into wears, vet no
tidings were received from the absent
husband; and, after hoping against
hope, the u happy wife was compell-
ed to believe that he had found a
grave beneath the weltering ocean.
lIer sorrow was deep and heartfelt
but the evils of poverty were now
added to her Affections and the widow
found herself obliged to resort to some
employment in order to support her
children Her needle was the only
resource, and for ten wears she labOred
early and late for the miserable pit
tance which is ever grudgingly be-
slowed on an humble seamstress.
A merchant in New York. in mod
crate but prosperous circumstances,
accidently became acquainted with
her, and, pleased with her gentle man
ners no less than her extreme beauty,
he endevored to improve their acquain-
tance into friendship.
After some months, he offered his
hand, aad was accepted. As the wife
of successful merchant she soon
found herself in the enjoyment of COM
forts and luxuries such as she never
before possessed. Her children became
his children, and received from him
every advantage which wealth and
affection could procure.
Fifteen years passed away the
daughters were married, and by their
step-father were furnished with COM
fort requisite to their new avocation
as housekcepers. But they had hardly !
quilted his roof when their mother /
was taken ILL., She died in a few DAYS |.
and from that time until the period Of
which speak the widower had resid- /
ed with the younger sister
Now comes the strange part of the |
story, After an absence ofover thirty
years, during which time no tidings
had arrived from him, the first hus- /
band returned as suddenly as be had |
departed. He had changed his ship, |
adopted another name and spent the !
whole of that period on the ocean,
with only transient visits en- shore,
while taking and dischargeing cargoes /
having been careful never to come /
nearer home than New Orleans. Why /
no had acted in this objectionable /
manner towards his family no one /
could tell, and he obstinately refused I
an explanation.
There were strange rumOrs of slave /
trading and piracy ahoat, but they were /
whispers ofconjecture rather thantruth 4
Whatever might of been his conduct 1
he was certainly anything but indiff-
erent to his family concerns when he
returned. He raved like a madman
when informed of his wife's second /
marrige and subsequent death, VOW
ing vengence upon his successor, and /
terrifying his daughters by the most 4
awful threats in case they refused to
acknowledge his claims He had re-
turned wealthy, and one of the mean
reptils of the law, who are always to
be found crawling about the halls of
justice, advised him to bring a suit
against the second husband, assuring
him that he could recover damages.
The ahsurdity of instituing claim for
wife whom death had released from
the jurisdiction of earthly laws, was
so manifest, that it was at length agreed
by all parties to leave the matter to
be adjudged by five referees.
1t was on a bright and beautiful
afternoon in spring, when we met TO
hear this singular case The sunlight
streamed through the dusty windows
of the courtroom, and shed a halo
around the long gray locks and broad
forehead Of the defendant-while the
plairtiff-s harsh features were thrown
into still bolder relief by the same
brain which softened the placid coun-
tenance of his adversary
The plaintiffs lawyer made a most
eloquent appeal for his client, and had
we not been informed about the mat
ter, our hearts would have been melt
ed by the touching description of the
return of the desolate husband, and
the agony with which he now beheld
his household goods removed to con-
secrate a strangers hearth.
The celebrated Aaron Burr was
counsel for the defendant, and we an
tieipated from him splendid display
of eloquence. Contrary to our expec-
tations, however, he made no attempt
to confute his opponents oratory. He
merely opened book of statues, and
pointing with his thin finger to one of {
the pages, desired the referees to read
it while he retired a moment for the !
ritaess.
We had scarcely finished this sec
ton, which fully decided the matter
in our minds, when Burr re-entered
with tall and elegant female leaning
on his arm. She was attired in IA
IL IL -