Cuthbert, alleging some extraneous cause for requiring his
presence. Three days after his arrival at home, I extorted a full
confession from him, and we were soon upon the Atlantic. For a
time I feared that inebriation had seriously impaired his
intellect, but, thank God! temperate habits and a good
constitution finally prevailed, and when a year after we left
America Cuthbert realized all that he had hazarded during his
temporary insanity, he was so overwhelmed with mortification and
horror that he threatened to destroy himself. Satisfied that he
was more 'sinned against, than sinning,' I yet endeavoured to
deal justly with the unprincipled authors of the stain upon my
family, and employed a discreet agent to negotiate with them, and
to try to effect some compromise. The old woman went out to
California; the young one refused all overtures, and for a time
disappeared, but, as I am reliably informed, is now living in New
York, supported no one knows exactly by whom. Recently she has
made an imperious demand for the recognition of a child, who she
declares shall one day inherit the Laurance estate; but I have
certain facts in my possession which invalidate this claim, and
if necessary can produce a certificate to prove that the birth of
the child occurred only seven months after the date of the
ceremony, which she contends made her Cuthbert's wife. She
rejects the abundant pecuniary provision which has been
repeatedly offered, and in her last impertinent and insanely
abusive communication, threatens a suit to force the
acknowledgment of the marriage, and of the child, stating that
you, sir, hold the certificate or rather the license warranting
the marriage, and that you will espouse and aid in prosecuting
her iniquitous claims. My son is now a reformed and comparatively
happy man, but should this degrading and bitterly repented