Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-11-10
OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1853

| tie vile IN her lonely house, should
have given back to the man his hundred
dollars, and relinquished the cause.
took my seat. looking, am convinced,
more like culpril than the rogue was
to defend.
| When the time came for me to speak,
my heart died within me. | rose en-
barassed and dismayed and hammered
in opening my cause. went on from
bad to worse, and fel, was going down
hill. Just then the prosecutor, man OF
talents, bu, somewhat rough in his prac-
tice, made o sarcastic remark on some
thing | had said. 1t was an electric
spark, and ran iingling through every
vein in my body. In an instant my diff.
ticulty was gone.
My whole spirit was in arms. an
swered with promptness and bitterness,
for | fel. the cruelty of such an attack
upon novice in my situation. The
public prosecutor made kind of apolo-
gy. This, for a man of redoubtable
powers, was vast concession. re.
newed my arguments with fearful
glow carried the cause lriumphantly and
the man was acquitted.
This was the making of me. Every
body was curious to know who this law
yer was, that had suddenly risen among
them. and bearded the attorney general
at the outset. Tie story of my debut
at the inn the preceding evening. when
| had knocked down bully and kicked
him ou, of doors for striking an old man,
was circulated with favorable exagger
alton. Even my beardless chin aud ju-
vehile coun,enance was in my favor, for
the people gave me far more credi. than
| desired. The chance business which
occurs in our courts, came thronging up.
on me. was repeatedly employed in
other causes, and by Saturday night,
when the court closed, and had paid
my DILL at The inn, found myself with
hundred and fifty dollars in silver,
three hundred dollars in bank notes, and
horse that ] afterwards sold for two
hundred more. ~
Never did miser gloat more over his
pelf and with more delight. locked
the door Of my room, piled the money
in heap upon .hc table, and walked a.
round it, sat with my elbows on the Ia,
BILE. and my chin upon my hands. and
gazed upon il. Was | thinking Of the
money? Mol was thinking of my liz.
tie ife aud home.
Another sleepless night ensued, but
wha,a night Of golden fancies and splen.
did air castles! As soon as morning
dawned, was up. mounted the borrow.
ed horse which had come to court on,
and led the other which | had received
as fee. All the way | was delighling
myself with the thoughts of the sur.
PRISE had in store for my little wife;
for both of us had expected nothing but
ina, should spend all that had bor-
rowed and should return in debt.
Our meeting was joyous, as you may
suppose; but played the part of an In
dian hunter, who, when he returns from
the chase, never for a time speaks of his
success. She had prepared LILLE meal
for me, and while it wa, getting ready, !
seated myself at an old fashioned desk
in one corner. and began to count over
my money and put it away. She came
to me before had finished and asked
me who | had collected for.
For myself, to be sure, replied with
affected GOODNESS. made il at court.
She looked at me for moment in the
face incredulously. l tried to keep my
coun,enance and play the Indian, bu. i,
would not do. My muscles began to
twi,ch; my feelings all at once gave way;
| caught her in my arms, laughed, cried
and danced about the room like crazy
man. From that time forward we new
er wanted for money.