Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-04-21
replied the beastifSl Mary, bursting into

replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears. s. lat r4a. sr.., .s.a -.a 4
u such . case, will no. some chival-
rous member Of the profession volunteer 2
asked the Judge glancing around the : ar
The thirty lawyers were silent.
Ia II will, your honor said q VOICE from
the thickest Of the crowd, situated behinf
the bar
At the ions Of that voice many startet
half from their seats. and perhaps tber,
was not hesrt in the intense throng iha
did not best somewhat quicker--it was Sc
unesvtbly sweet. ringing and mournfrl.
The first sensation. however, wsi
changed into laughter, when . tail. gphn.
spectral figure. that no person present re-
membered to have seen before, elbowet
h;a way through the crowd, and p'aces
himself within the har His appearanc,
wasa problem to puzzle the sphinx her
self His high. pale brow. and his small
psr'ossly iHitchinR face seemed active
with the concentrated essence and cream
of genius: but then hi. inf.n'ile blne eyes
hardly visible beneash their massive arches
looking dim. dream =. almost unconscious
and bis clothing was 30 shabby that tn.
court almost hesi'aied to let the case pro-
ceed under his management.
i" Has your name been entered on ths
r"IIs of the State p demanded the Judgs
susricionslv. .....s..........s ...s... .0.
" Ii is MINISTERIAL about my name being
on your rolIs.' answered the stranger, hi,
thin lips curling np into 6endish sneer
1t may be allowed IN appear At once by
The courtesy Of the court and bar. Here
is my license from the highest tribunal o.
America" and he handed Judge Miles Z
broad parchment.
The trial Immediately went m. In the
examination OF the witnesses the stranger
svincrd yerv little ingenuity, as commopl,
thought. lie suffered each one TO tel
their own story. without interruption
though he generally managed 10 make
them tell il over two Or three times. He
put few cross questions, which with keen
witnesses only served to correc, mistakes
and he made no notes, which in mighty
memories only tend 10 cmbarrass 1.E
The examination being ended. as coun.
sci for the plsin,ifF. he had a right to the
opening as well a. the closing speech
but 10 the astonishemnt of every one, he
declined the former, and allowed the de-
fence to lead of
Then shadow might have been seen
10 fit across the features of Pike, aud 10
dsrksn the eyes Of Prentiss They saw
tha, they had I" "c.ugh, Tartar" but who
il was or how it happened, was Impossible
10 gness . 0"
Col. Ashley s.oke first. He deal. ib-
jury dish OF that coarse dry logic which
years afterwards rendered him iainou. in
the Senate OF the Union
The poet, Albe1 Pike. followed with q
vein OF Wit. aud . bali torrent of ridicuie,
in which neither the plaintiff nor ber
ragged attorney were forgotten or spared.
The great Pren,iss concluded for the
defendant, with glow Of gorgeous words.
brilliant ss shower OF fAlIiag stars, and
with bursts Of ora,ory that brough, the
house down in cheers, in which even the
sworn jury themselves joined, nn,with
standing the stern order Of the bench -
Thus wonderfully susceptible are ths
people 10 the charms VI impas-
stoned eioquence.
It was now the strangers turn. He had
apparently abstracted during all
The pr.v,ou. speeches S,ili and straight.
and mo,ionl IS in his seat, his pale, smooth
forehead shooting high. ike mountain
cone Of snow, and but for that continued
t~neh that came and went perpetually in
il face, you would have taken him for a
man Of marble. or human form carved
in ice. Even bis dim. dreary eyes, were
invisible beneath those grey, shaggy eye
brsws.
But now a. last be rises--before the bar.
not behind it. and 50 near the wondering
ary. that he might touch the foreman
With bis fingers. With eyes half shut, and
shading rigid ~ pillar OF iron, his thin
lips curled ~ il in Beasure!ess scorn.
slightly apart, and then the sound came
'orth.
At FIRST it is low and sweet. insinuatins
tself into the brain. as sn ariisss tune
its way into the deepest recesses
,f the heart. like the melody VI magic in
while the speaker proceeds with.
,ut . gesture Or the least sigosl Of excite
pena. " tear TO piece. ths argument Of
Ashley, which tnclis away at his touch as
rost before the sunbeam. Every one
ooksd surprised. His logic was n. once
Drief. and 10 UNANIMOUSLY Clear .hat the rud
~ pesss.t could eomprshend il without
~ effort. etsa ag 4g.ae
Asoa hs came TO the dazzling wi, Of
he poet lawyer, Pike. Then the curl If
ais lip grew sharper, his smooth face began
~ ki"dIe vp, end h;s ey.s to open. dim
md dreary no longer; but vivid NJ hight
,ing, red ~ fire globes, ~ glaring ~ twin
ns,eors. The whuie soul was ia ihi- eye,
he whole heart sireamed out Of hi, face.
|n five minates Pixies wit seemed like The
Dam OF folly, and his finest satire, horrible
when com pared With the mimi.
,bie saIli.s and exter,ninating sarcasm OF
he stranger. int-rspers.d with jes:s and
anecdotes that filled the forum with
aughter.
Then, without 80 much as bestowing an
ll,usioo upon Prent,ss, he turned round
Ihort Vt ths perjured witnesses Of Hopkins,
ore their testimony into atoms. and hurled
nso their faces such inyectiyes that al,
rembled as with ague. and two Of the M
.c.ually fled, in dismay from the cour,
Honse. 4s4
The excitement Of the crowd was be-
coming Tremendous Their united Iita aud
'ouls ssemed to hang upon the burning
OUNCE of The stranger. He inspired them
With the power Of his own passions. liz
'a.nrA,sd them with ,h. poison o; his own
nslioious feelings. He seemsd 10 have
'tolsn natures long hidden secret Of Vt.
he Was the sun TO ths seA Of
VI thought aHd snoiinn. which rose tand
sll. snd toilsd In the billovs A. be chose.
Bul hia greatest tris,pph was 10 come.
\ His syss began, 10 Rlancs turiivsly :.
no assassin Hopkins. ~ his lean taper
insers sssu@sd lhe same direction. lie
49, ~. - Aha s~s.fnk .t,h a -, q. i.