Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-07-03
From the London Punch.
THE STORY OF
A r H. A II HI II R.
(COncided.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
by DOUGLAS JERRoLD.
THE TRIAL OF CLICK ABRAM AND PATTY
BUTLER.

! 1
BUTLER.
As the highwaymen glanced round thu
court. it was plain he felt the greatness
of his reputation. He was to be tried be
fore a most crowded and most fashionable
assembly. His courtesies of Finchey
and Hounslow had not been lost upor
a rejecting world, that thronged to see
a thief who robbed lady of a watch, as
though it had been her heart; who wout
pick pocket with little mingled grace
and serenity with which statesman
would propose money-biII. Clickly Alb
ram had elevated his profession; he hac
made robbery like war, at the worst as
people say, but necessary evil. Hence
high and beautiful woman had migrated
from the west-end to the Old Baily, anc
with scrutinizing, sympathizing eyes, saw
the lion in the cage--lhe hero in the
dock. Clickly Abram, with smile o.
killing sweetness, laid his hand upon his
breast and bowed. He was dressed in
the fulness of the mode. His linen-the
gift of the widow--was of the finest web
and diamond ring flashed upon the little
finger of the highwayman's white right
hand, which, with graceful negligence, he
rested on the bar ofthe dock, A jeweler
had visited Newgate to fit Mr. Abram with
that ring and thirty gunieas, the late
money of the late Mr. Cramp, had paid for
it. fl thought ofth tlme.-the per.
versrty OF an English jury should send the
highwayman to that far country where
the card"maker abided, what misery
might the widows lover wreak upon the
husband ghost! But no; it was impossi.
Bile. Hang such man, with such a
smile upon his face, such ruffles at his
wrists, such a coat upon his back! No
law could not be so arrogant. ClickIy
Abram was not thief. No; he stood in
the dock graceful, Iight-hearted gentle
man, summoned for some good he had
performed to receive a sentence of thanks
from greatful generation.
Patty stood beside the highwayman.-
She was pale, and after brief tine, tran
quill as statute. When she entered the
dock, momentary blush, deep as blood
covered her face and arms; and she stood
struggling against the beating of her
heart. The highwayman played his gal
lan,ry; for he bowed and smiled very
powerfully upon his feIIow-prisoner: he
could not hive been more polite to the wld-
ow at Raneagh. The courtesy was,
however, cast away upon Patty. Though
she thought not to vindicate her own gull
tessness by scorn of her companion, she
stood in soul apart from him. She felt a.
lone in that dock-alone with innocence.
| looked around the court, and to my
surprise, saw many Of my old acquainan-
ces. Seated close to the bench, with her
eyes upon the highwayman, was Lady
Dinah WlIoughby. She, Of course,
came to give days recreation to her
breaking heart she was there to solace
her sorrow with highwayman in jeop-
ardy Of Tyburn. as she would have re-
garded her poodle, the pupil of MIR Span
neu, on the breast OF chicken. A trial
for life or death was tit-bit for what
she thought her constitutional melancholy.
Not far from the Lady Dinah sat the
owners of Man-trap Park, the Miss
Peacbicks. They looked about the court
and then in each others face, and then
at the highwayman and Patty, and then
threw up their hands and eyes, and shifted
in their seats, in a state of wandering ag-
itation. In near neighborhood to them
were the FIamingos. could see the
reathcr.merchant look very judicial, as
he scanned Patty, and then whispered
something to his help-mate, who nodded
in apparent affirmation. Flamingo was
not juryman; but he had already passed
a verdict of guilty against the feather
dresser.
Mrs Gaptooth, with gleesome wick
edness in her looks, was amongst the
crowd, and Mrs Traply and honest Luke
Knuckle. Poor fellow! he sat staring at
Patty and vigorously gnawing his thumb
nail, unconscious olthe feast.
HcIc, tOo, WAS Tue WluOW tramp,
with the faithful eBcky at her side. Poor
widow! Tears had touched her beauty
her face looked scaIded with weeping
and there, seeing nothing befor her but
one form, one face, she sat working her
pocket handkerchief into a ball, in her
burning hand. Abram saw her, and with
blthe look kissed his fingers towards
her, The tenderness was too much for
the poor creature; she broke into hysteri-
cal sobbing, whilst the homely Becky,
with one tear trickling down her nose, took
her mistress like a child TO her bosom
and man of Office with fierce eye cast
towards the mourner, beloved out-'Si-
lence in the court
Lintley, his wife, and Inglewood were
together Once only did IngIewood ex.
change glance with Patty, He then
seemed to avoid her; seemed as though
he had retired into his soul and was there
praying for her deliverance. The apoth-
ecary bowed to Patty, who meekIy smil-
ed; and little Mrs Linlley herself allow.
ed the recognition, never even hinting
that there must be something In it,
Mr. Curlwell was among the crowd
fidgety and restless. Now he looked al
Patly-now he blew his nose-and now
he appealed for tranquility to his snuff,