Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-27

"D'"NN
b what quicker-it was so unearthly, swee
of clear, ringing and mournful.
II The first sensation, however, wa
y changed into general laughter, when
= tall, gaunt, spectral figure, that no on
|, present ever remembered TO have sea
i before, eIbowed through the crowd, an,
II placed himself within the bar. His ap
q pearance was problem TO puzzle lh
d sphinx himself. His high, pale brow
and small, nervous twitching face seemed
r alive With the concentrated essence anC
J. cream of genius; but his iufaniile but
eyes, hardly visible beneath their massive
arches, looked dim. dreary, almost un
conscious, and his clothing SO exceedingly
shabby, that The court hesitated to let the
case proceed under his management.
: "Has your name been entered on the
rolls of the state ?" demanded the Judge,
suspiciously.
1T is immaterial about my name ap-
pearing OF the rolls, answered the stran.
ger. his thin, bIoodless lips curling up
with fendi,h smile.
II may be allowed to appear once, by
the courtesy OF the court and bar. Here
is my license from the highest tribunal in
America and he handed Judge Mills a
broad parchment. The trial Immediately
went on.
In the examination of witnesses the
stranger evinced but little ingenuity, as
it was commonly thought. He suffered
each one to tell bis own story without in
terrupiion, though he contrived to make
each one tell it over two or three times.
He put few cross questions, which with
keen witnesses, only serve to correct mis-
takes; and be made no notes, which, in
mighty memories always tends to embar-
rass.
The examination being ended, as the
counsel for plaintiff he had a right to the
opening speech, as well as the close but
to the astonishment Of every one, he de-
clined the former, and allowed the defense
to lead off. Then a shadow might have
been observed TO fit across the fine bright
eyes OF Prentiss. They saw that they
had "caught a Tartar >" but who it was
or how it happened, it was impossible to
TO guess.
Col. Ashley spoke first. He dealt the
jury a dose of that close, dry logic, which
years afterwards rendered him famous in
The Senate of the Union.
Tie poet, Albert Pike, followed with
a rich train of wit, and hail torrent Of
,austic ridicule, in which you may be Il
sure neither the plaintiff nor her ragged
attorney were either forgotten or left
hone. &
The great Prentiss concluded for the ;
defendant, with glow of gorgeous words, u
brilliant as shower Of falling stars, aud 2
With final burst Of oratory that brought It
lown the house in cheers, in which the It
worn jury themselves joined, notwth- Ia
landing the "Order Order!" of The I'
ench. Thus wonderfully susceptible "I
re the Southwestern pl to the Vi
harms of impassionrd eloquence.
Ii was then the strangers turn. H. Vt
ad remained apparently distracted du :"
ing all the previous speeches. Still, and y
raigh, and motonless 10 his seat, and
ut for that eternal twilch that came and -"
ent on his sallow cheek, appearing like "'
mere man cf marble. Even his dim, W
reamy eyes, were invisible beneath those 90
ray, shaggy eyebrows.
But at last be rises-before the bar
liling, not behind it--and so near to the =
jury that he might touch the ~ -,
reman with his long bony finger. With
$ eyes half shut, and standing rigid as :"
pillar of iron, his thin lips curl as If :
rel
easurless scorn, slightly apart, and the
'ice comes forth. At first it is low and
rect, insinuating itselfthroueh the brain.
an artless tune, winding its way into !,
e deepest heart like the melody of an
while the speaker proceeds n
ihout gesture or the least sign of ex- r.r
ement to tear to pieces the argument al
Ashley, which melts away at b is g.,
ich as the frost before the sun :.
am. Every one looked surprise. His :,
,ic was at once as brief and so lumin- an.
sly clear, that the rudest peasant could bri
nprehend il, without effort.
Anon he came to the dazzling wit Of
, poet-lawyer, Pike. Then the curl 70
his lip grew sharper, his shallow face aut
'dled up. and his eyes began to open, doy
a and dreamy no longer, but vivid as mir
htning, red as fire globes, and glaring and
e twin meteors. The whole soul was nig
the eye-the full heart streamed out ,o1