Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-05
MISCELLANY.
From the London Ladies' Companion.
CIRCUmsTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

II was on this very circuit, and in this
town. ] was young at the bar then, one
of the least known Juniors. and very
poor; anxious to work hard, but without
either interest or connection TO bring me
forward. had been the circuit four
times, and except twico had never held
a brief; and those two were given TO me
by anoiher man, who was summoned
from iIie bar to his mothers dea,h.bed.
Still | did not despair; l had two incen-
tives 10 courage and perseverance,
The FIRST was a firm trust in Gods mer-
cy; and the second my engagement to
your mother. But it was hard work
sometimes. lasses. and needed all my res
olu,ion to endure; but l did endure, and
the end came. Well it was the Lent
Assizes, and Lord Cranston, the Lord
Chief Justice, was on the criminal side.
The calendar was unusually heavy, and
we knew from his I.ordship's charge that
he came prepared "to make an exam
pie" as he called it.
The commission was opened late in
the day, after which The cour. adjourned
,ill the morrow. II happened that, for
some reason or other. remained in
cour, short time after every one else
had quilted it. II seemed but an acci-
dent, although doubtless it was Gods
doing. and ordained by him. | remem-
her that was gazing idly on the empty
benches. when | heard rapid footsteps
approaching through the deserted pas
sage, and moment after was accosied
by an attorney.
II beg your pardon" he said hurried.
~, scan you ,ell me where | can find
Mr.. Ashly"
..Indeed cannot. Some mistake has
occurred with his clerk, and when we
came into town to-day we found that he
had no, procured lodgings as usual"
$50 learn. have been to the rooms
Mr.. Ashly usually has, and | hear ,ha,
they are taken for SERGEANT Keats. !
wish TO see him as soon as possible. and
am in the utmos, perplexi,y."
II sm very sorry cannot help you,
Mr.. Page'; Mr.. Ashlv had some inten.
,ion of going to Malvern this evening,
in which case he offered TO drive me over;
therefore, if you will come to my rooms,
we may hear some .idings of him; al.
though, perhaps, as declined his pro
posal, he may not call. It's all chance" /"
"fiow did you know me!' asked the
attorney, as We walked together.
You are an Oxford man, I think;
were you not a, Magdalene!"
"Yes; and you! ! do not remember
yon."
II was al Worcester. Do you no,
recollect that wine patty in Lloyd's
rooms a, Orial, when the chimney took
FIRE. and the punch was spoiled! me-
you there"
"To be sure; how could l forget!-
And what have you been doing since!'
"Marvellously little"
..Is this your first circuit"
"N0, the fourth"
II never saw you before; did you read
with Chan.ry"
.'No. with Monk; whyr"
"Because he had an Oxford man o
your name with him few terms since
and he married cousin Of mine.
wish had seen you before, should
have asked you to hold this brief for ne.
But now--sh, here is Mr.. Ashley"
Ashley had been TO my rooms, and
not finding me there. had sailed forth in
search of me, and now turned back with
Us. As soon as his eye caught the
name upon the brief which Mr.. Page,
handed to him, he said. "Sorry can,
take il sir; am retained 10 prosecute y
Ashort conversation ensued, which re.
suited in tie brief being handed to me-
"And now, Mr.. Conway" said the
attorney, scan y on give me a conference!
We must get an acqui.tal if possible;
and know ,ha. no efforts will be spared
by the prosecution TO convict my client,
who is, / believe, as innocent of the
charge as you are; when can you see
mel"
"Now; this moment" The guinea.
were nesting comfortably in my waist
coat pocket, and The novel excitement
caused me to forget the dignity | ough1
TO have preserved.
"Thank you; then if you will glance
your eye over the case upon your brief
You viii al once be in possession of the
names Of the parties and the offence
charged. When you have done SO ]
viii explain the prisoners previous his.
tory, which il is material that you should
know"
II was prosecution for arson; the
prisoner. an apprentice girl, and her mas
ser's premises, those which had been
destroyed.
M "Well," said Mr.. Psget when ! had
finished reading, "now you must listen
10 long story. Eighteen years ago, a
large basket, containing an infant. appa.
rently about six months old, was lei. al
! the door Of surgeon in this town.
The child was handsomely dressed, and
3 letter inclosing bank bill for twenty
pounds, and stating that the infants
name was Miriam Lyndon. were found
beside her.
"Ths surgeon was bachelor. an &c.
centric and strange man. although a We
ry humane and charitable one. snd, in