Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-11

1
fast, on the next day after the verdict-the
judgment still delayed, partly by request, and
partly by the judges curiosity being yet un-
appeased-I sailed out with package in my
hand as if going to the post-office. Sam was
on the street. know if there was anything
to be concealed by him, the only way to get
at it was by a coup d'etdt. So half passing
him, and putting my hand on his shoulder,
and looking him in the eye, broke into laugh,
saying
Well, Sam, that quarrel between Beech
i'm and Cousins in New Orleans, and the
thing that it grew out o-didn't it beat ev-
erything you ever heard of! Wasn't it the
queerest affair that ever happened! | am de-
Tending Beechim, and would you believe it I
he never told me up to last night what was the
cause of the fight Don't the whole thing
| look curious I"
said this very fippantlv, and with a
knowing air, as if knew all about it. Sans
eyes twinkled as he answered.
"Well, b., isn't it the blandest piece of
business you ever heard off"
Yes, said I, "and we must get Paul out
of this scrape-the judge is viperish and if
we don't do something, six months in Jail is
the very lowest time we can get Paul off with
Now, Sam, just step here-tell me the par
ticulars of the matter in New Orleans, as you
understand them; for you know any discrepan-
cy between Paul's statements and yours might
hurt things nightly, and | want to know ex-
actly how the case stands"
No." said Sam, Il can't do it, prom
ised Paul, on honor, that wouldn't mention
it to a soul, and won't do it unless am COM
PEELED. So you need not ask me, unless you
bring note from Paul, relieving me from the
PLEDGE
saw he was determined, and it was use
less to press the point
The Judge, in the meantime, was on thorns
Of anxiety. He had been cOnversing with the
clerk, and sheriff, and States attorney, but to
no purpose; they only inAamed his curiosity
the more; the mystery seemed inscrutable-
He came to my room twice that night-but |
was QUITO see me on the subject Early in
the morning, as was taking a comfortable
snooze, his honor came into my room and
woke me up. "B.' said he, ''this thing
about young Beechim dstresses me a great
DEAL | feel really concerned about his case.
and if you will tell me how that difficulty orig
mated, I-I-I-ehall feel better about it.
My mind Would-yes, my mind would be re-
heved. OF course, b., you know all about the
matter, and assure you it will be to the inter
est of your client to reveal the whole affair
decidedly his interest What is itl'' l
told him really did not know, and could not
find out as yet but l thought | had got the
clue to the mystery, and if he would aid me,
it could be brought to light; / was convinced
that if it did come out, it would make decid-
edly for the benefit of Paul. The Judge told
me might rely on him, and he would see if
any one dared hold back anything which it was
proper to bring out.
Finding great indisposition still, to reveal
anything, on the part of Beechim, and fearing
that if he were present, he would interpose OBJ
jections to the presentation of the proof as to
the ProvocatiOn, arranged it so that the sher-
iffshould detain Paul from the court house un-
til he could get the testimony in.
In order TO more perfect understanding of
the matter, | had as well state here that
Beechim was young gentleman who had
some two or three years before "lOcated' in
the county, and was doing general land
agency and collecting business, surveying
lands, &C., having been engaged as principal
in an academy He had graduated at the col
lege at Knoxville, Tennessee; and cherished
sentiments Of great reverence for his venerable
alma mater He thought very highly of the
respectable society of that somewhat secluded
village. verify believe he considered Knox
vile at once the Athens and Paris of Amer-
ing with the polish of a rare and exquisite
civilization-the seat of learning, the home
of luxury, and the mart Of commerce. Let
ters and arts, and great men, and refined
modes, and cultivated manners, and woman
of type that they never before had been
moulded into, there abounded in his partial
fancy, prodigal of such generous appreciation.
The magnificent selfdelusion of dear old
Capt. Jackson, immortalized by Ella, scarcely
equalled the hallucination of Paul guOdd the
sights and scenes, the little short of celestial
story Of and about the city of Knoxville, as he
would persist in calling that out-of-the-way,
nOt-tO-be-forgOtten, Sleepy Hollow town, fifty
miles from the Virginia line, and thousand
miles from anywhere else. speak Of its pre-
railroad times. Paul had been assiduous in
the cultivation of manners. His model was
Of course, that he found at Knoxville. He
had great penchant for fashionable life, and
fashionable life was the life of the coteries,
the upper tens of Knoxville. Rusticity and
vulgarity were denominations to him. To 90
back to Knoxville and get to the top of the
ton there, was the extreme top-notch of Pauls
ambition. Paul was an excellent fellow,
sometimes vain sensitive to fault, and thin
skinned; something pretentious as to fash
Ion, style and manners;-indeed, the girls had
got to regard him as sort of village Beau
Brummell.
got out subpoena and sent the sheriff
after Roberts, with orders from the Judge, for