The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-01-15

pigmy pettifoggers dared not brave again
the sharp wit Of a Pike, and tho scathine
thunder of Prcntiss.
Have you no counsel ?" inquired Judge
Mills looking kindly at the plaindn.
"No, sir they have all deserted me, ant
am TOO puor TO employ any more" repIicc
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
ain such a case, will not some chivalrou
member of the profession volunteer 2" asked
the Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question
81 will, your honor said voice from
the ,hickest part of the crowd, situated be
hind the bar.
At the tones of that voice many startcC
half way from their seats and perhaps thcr,
was not hear. in the immense throng whicl
did rot beat something quicker-it was Sc
unearthy sweet, clear, ringing, and mourn
full
The first sensation, however, was changed
into general laughter when tall, gaunt
spectral figure, that nobody present remem'
bered to have seen before, clbowed his wal
through the crowd, aud placed himself with
in the bar His appearance was problem
to puzzle even the sphinx herself. Hi
high, pale brow, and small, nervously- y-twitch
ing face, seemed alive with the concentrated
essence and the cream of genius; but ther
his infantine blue eyes hardly visible be
meath their massive arches, look ked dim, drca.
my, almost unconscious; and his clothing wa:
so exceedingly shabby, that the court hesita-
ted to let the cause proceed under his man
agement.
" Has your name been entered on the
rolls of the Statcf' demanded the Judge
suspiciously.
I" 1t is inmaterial about my names being
entered on your rolls answered the stran-
ger, his thin, bloodless lips curling up into a
liendish sneer. may be allowed to speak
once, by the courtesy of the Court and bar.
Here is my license from the highest tribunal
in America !" and he handed Judge Mills I
broad parchment.
The trial Immediately went on.
In the examination of witnesses the stran-
ger eyinced but little ingenuity, as was COM
monty thought lie suffered each one to
tell his own story without interruption, tho
he contrivcd to make each one of them tell
it over two or three times He put few cross
questions, which, with keen witnesses, only
serve to correct Mistakes and he made no
moi es, which, in mighty memories, always
tend TO en.barrass. The examination being
ended, as counsel for The plaintiff he had Il
right to the opening speech, as well as the
close but to the astonishment of every one
he declined the former, aud allowed the de-
fence to lead off. Then shadow might have
been observed to fit across the fine features
OF Pike, and to darkcn even the bright eyes
of Prcntiss- They saw they had caught a
1artar; but who it was, or how it happened,
1t was impossible TO guess.
Colonel Ashley spoke first. lie dealt The
jury dish Of that close, dry logic, which,
years afterwards, rendered him so famous in
the Senate of the United States.
The poet, Albert Pike, followed with a
rich vein Of wit, and half.torrcnt Of caustio
ridicule, in which you may be sure neither
the plainii(l'no nor the plaintiffs ragged attor-
ney was either forgotten or spared.
The great Prentiss concluded for the de-
ftndant with glow Of gorgeous words, bril-
liant as showers Of falling stars, and with a
final burst of oratory that brought the house
down in cheers, in which the sworn iury
themselves joined, Notwithstanding the stern
" order ORDER of the bench. Thus won.
derfully susceptible are the southwestern
people TO the charms Of impassioned elo-
quencc.
Ii was then the strangers turn. He had
remained apparently distracted during all
the previous speeches. Still, and straight,
and moionless in his seat, his pale, smooth
forehead shooting high like mountain
cone Of snow; but for that eternal twilch
that came and went perpelualy in his sal
low cheeks, you would have taken him for
a mere man ol marble, or a human form
carved in ice, Even his dim, dreamy ewes
were Invisible beneath those gray, shaggy
eyebrows.
But now at last he rses-belore the bar
railing, not behind il-and so near 10 the
wondering jury that he might touch the
foreman with his long, bony fingers.
With eyes still half shut, and standing ris.
id as apillar of iron, his thin lips, curled as
ii in measureless scorn, slightly part and
The voice comes forth. AT first, it ia low
aud sweet insinuating itself Trough the
brain, as an artless tune, winding its way
INTO the deepest heart, like the melody oil a
magic incanation while the speaker pro-
ceeds without gesture or the least sign
oil excitement, to tear 10 pieces the argu-
ment Of Ashley, which mells away Al his
touch as lost before the sunbeam. Every
one looked surprised. This logic was al
once so brief, and so umnousIy clear, that
the rudest peasant could comprehend it
without effort.
Anon, he came to the dazzling wit ofthe
poet>awyer. Pike. The curl of his lip
grew sharper-his sallow face kindIed up
and his eyes began to open, dim and drea>
my no longer, but vivid as lightning, red
as lire globes, and glaring like lwnmeteors
Inc whole soul was in the eye, the full
heart Slreamed out on the face. In five