Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-21

,ot cold blooded murderer, and the cheek h,
flushed redly at his own words. 4 did th
owe Mary and my children. God! what is
horrible dream,' he muttered, as he bow it
d his face in the open book before him, pl
until the pages were wet with hot tears. til
But [ have not farthing in the world, b.
aid Ricks, looking up. in
Don't speak of money quickly replied to
8rayton. l am young, and have no ex- b
oerience, but it will afford me happiness n
you will not deny me, / am sure, to allow o
ne to aid you what can h
Well, let it be as you wish, but it will $;
be of no use. Yet shall owe you much n
for your kindness, for the friends who have
me in my misfortune are few G
rDutonGfriend- besides yourself and the Il
jailer, sir, has ever been within these walls. !
May God bless her for what she has done
for me. Her father, though he has ruined
me, has even ordered that friend should
not see me-
Her father! And she whom we met
Minnie Hermon,' added Kicks. Her
! kindness alone has made life bearable.-
Would that | had her faith in the Redeem
erp
Walter went out with holier love for
the rumseller's daughter.
The streets of Oakvale were thronged
early on the day of trial By the time the
court opened, the courtroom was packed by
the people of the village and the surround
ing country, the dense mass swaying in ex
element as the prisoner was brought in and
placed at the bar. Revcngeful feelings gave
way in many heart to the nobler one of
sympathy and pity, as those who had known
Kicks once, looked upon him now He had
come forth from his c5ff with h;s M hair hair Of 2
snowy white, and the form and bearing of
an old man. In the darkness of his i'm
prisonment, the bronze had faded from his
cheek and brow, and they were now of an
ashy paleness. There was slight flush
OF his features, as he looked round upon
the multitude. AS he seated himself, his
eye fell upon a pitcher of flowers standing
before him, made up of the choicest of the
season, and tastefully arranged. The pris
oner we'll knew what hand placed them
there, and the thought of her, with the
perfume of the flowers, stole like cooling
shadow upon his burning cheek.
Who is your counsel ? asked the judge
of the prisoner, as it was we'll known thai
Skillet had refused to have anything more
to do with the defence. Kicks looked a
round, and shadow passed across his fea
lures, as he felt that young Brayton, too
had been overawed by the strong sentimen
against him. At that moment the stalwar
form of Walter Brayton was seen crowdin,
up the opening in front of the bar. Slight
ly pale, but apparently calm, the boy advo
cate took his seat by the prisoner, and t.
the usual question, firmly answered no
guilty.!
The outside interest increased at til
prospect of struggle, but the cause of tn
defence seemed so utterly hopeless, that tn
better portion of the audience turned wit
pity from the prisoner and his counsel, an
all wondered at Brayton's temerity in ur
dertaking the case against such odds. Ski
lott, now engaged on the prosecution, smile
with ill-concealed contempt, not unmingle
with delight, as he counted upon an eas
triumph. Walters eye fell upon the b
quet before him. To his better intorme
mind, it read language which nerved e
: cry purpose within him. Hope, faith, cou
age, detiOerance Walter at once kne
that the messenger spoke to the prisone
. and felt thrill as he recognized the har
of the author. But what could it mean
AS he raised his eyes he saw the sailor g
zing upon him with meaning but myst
rious look
We need not follow the trial of Ric
through in detail. The proof was concl
sive, and left not a loop-hole for the pris
0 ner to hang hope upon.
u All eyes were turned upon the prisone
L counsel as he arose to address the jury, a
g Brayton himself felt crushing weig ht l
d on him. There was a tremor in his vol
d and the brief shook slightly in his hand.
An insulting sneer rested upon the face
: Skilott, as he leaned back in his chair, al
IT with his thumbs in his vest, looked Br;
ton full in the face
- Brayton was evidently embarrassed, a
" =, blundered in his opening. To remark t
'0 he was inexperienced, Skillott retorted i
whispered insult, but distinctly heard
- Brayton and the bar The half-suppres
4 10 litter stung the young man, but he Y
q :, calm -fearfully cool and calm. The crc
II II were taken with surprise at the matter
- manner of the young advocate. To VI
~ of unusual depth and power, and m
~ - noble and commanding, he added rich
,C' ~ agination, mind well stored with readi
= and logic relentlessly close and con,
49, 80 cling. Turninghis kindling eye upon S
= lott, he deliberately stated the cause of
~ treachery to the prisoner, with comment
- withering, that the smile passed quic
lS l1 from the face of the veteran advocate,
=. - he looked more like guilty one than
'l prisoner The bold and successful cast
ton of one so dreaded in the courts,
l.. duced sensation in the room, and pc
e 'a essayed more eagerly to catch the tone
r -" the speaker. But as he warmed and 70
Nv .Lo himself, they swelled and rolled until
'"0 tnctly heard by the vast throng assem-
without. The oldest il the profession
u - taken by surprise. Brayton's argument
%. hibited so perfect knowledge of all
a'o intricacies of the law; so wide and |
ou ough an acquaintance with authorities
'uy complete mastery of every avenue to
our human heart-skill in attacking and d.
n, 'W- ding, and exhaustless power of illustra
tne ~ that old counselors were spell-bound {
inc nr3ooa1ed