The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-03-29


The pigmy pettifoggers dare not
brave the sharp wit Of Pike aud the
scathiug thunder OF Prentiss.
"Have you no counsel I" inquired
Judge Miles, looking kindly At the
plaintiff.
"No sir; they have all deserted
me, and am too poor TO employ any
mOre," replied tho beautiful Mary,
bursting into tears.
"In such case will not some Chiv-
alrous member of the profession vol.
unteer?" asked the Judge, glancing
around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
al will, your honor" said q voice
from the thickest Of the crowd, situa.
ted behind the bar.
At the tone of that voice many
started from their seats, and perhaps
there was not heart in the intense
throng that did not beat somewhat
quioker--it was so unearthly sweet,
ringing and mournfUl. tf I
The first sensation however, was
changed into laughter, when tall.
gaunt, spectral figure, that no person
present remembered TO have seen be.
fore, elbowed his way through the
crowd and placed himself within the
bar. His appearance was u problem
to puzzle the sphynx herself. His
high, pale brow, and his small, nerv-
ously y-twiLching face seemed active
with the concentrated essence and
cream of genius; but, then, his iIifan-
tile blue eyes, hardly visible beneath
their massive arches, looking dim,
dreamy, almost unconscious, and his
clothing WAS so shabby that the court
almost hesitated to let the case pro-
ceed under his management.
elias your namo been entered on
the rolls Of the Statel" demanded
the Judge, suspiciOusly.
alt is immaterial about my name
being on your rolls" answered the
stranger, his tEin lips curling up into
fiendish snoer. ~ may be allowed
by the courtesy of the court and bar.
Here is my license from the highest
tribunal of America" and he handed
Judge Miles u parchment.
The trial Immediately went on. In
the examination of the witnesses the
stranger evineed very little ingenuity
as commonly thought. He suffered
each one to tell their own story, with
out interruption, though he generally
managed to make each one tell it over
two or three times. He put u few
cross questions, which with keen wit
nesses only served TO correct mistakes,
and he made no notes, which, In
mighty memories, only tend to om-
barrass,
The examination being ended, as
counsel for the plaintiff, he had a right
to the opening us we'll as the closing
speech but, to tho sstonisbment of
every ono he declined the former and
allowed the defence TO lead off,
Then u shadow might have been
seen toAit across the features Of Pike,
and TO darkon the bright eyes Of Prem.
tiss. They saw that thoy had
caught Tartar but who it was, or
how it happened, was impossible to
guess.
Col. Ashley spoke first. lie dealt
the jury dish Of that coarse, dry
logic which years afterwards rendered
him famous in the Senate Of the
Onion
The poet, Albert Pike, followed
with vein Of wit aud In u half Lof.
rent Of ridiculo, in which neither the
plaintiff Or her ragged attorney we're
forgotten or spared. ..
The great Prenliss concluded for
the defendant with'a glow of gorgeous
words, brilliant ~ u shower Uf falling
stars, and with bursts OF orratOry
that brought tho house down in
cheers, in which oven the sworn jury
themselves joined, Notwithstanding
the stern order of the bench. Thus
wonderfully susceptible are tho South
era people 70 the charms VI impas-
stoned oloquenee.
II was the strangers turR. He had
remained apparently absUracted dur
ing all tho previous speeches, Still
straight and molionless in bis seat,
his pale, smooth forehead shooting
high like 4 mountain coas Of sACw,
and but for that continued twich that
came and wont pOrpaually in bis
face, you would have taken him fot a
mere man vi marble, Or u human
form carved in ice. Even his dim
dreamy eyes were invisible beneath
those gray, shaggy eyebrows.
But now, ut last, lie Iiscs-befor'
tho bar, not behind it--and 80 neaI
the wonderiDg juicy that he nigh
touch the foreman with his long, bonJ
fingers. With his eyes half shut, ant
standing rigid as \ piller Of iron, hi
thin lips ourled Rs Ii 10 measurelos
soOrn, slightly apart, aud then th'
sound came tOrth.
At first IL 10 low and sweet, insinu
ating itself ints the braiu, AS au art
lsss tune vindiag iva way into th'