The Lincoln County herald., 1870-11-10

flesh; and If one judged him solely by
the eye, as school girls are wont, the
judgment was quite likely to be against
him. He was . tall and thin man Of
about thirty, as straight ss . lire, with q
sallow complexion, . bristling beard, u
long nose, aud dark and very prominent
eyes-plessant enough, these eyes, when
you become accustomed to them, but
liable to startle and onbarrass others
than school girls merely, when 6rst en-
cOuntered. HIS whole countepauce wore,
in repose, an expression Of gloomy and
burdensome thoughtfulness; while, to
add still further to his forbidding aspect
he appeared on all occasions clad in un
relieved black.
Though souvreigne came in time to
have large number Of acquaintances in
Baltimore, and though he was received
every ywhere and at all times with most
Aattering cordiality-as such man could
not fail to be after he had once become
known, yet he appeared to make few in-
innate friends, and was . frequent CUES,
in not more than two or three households.
Among these two or three was that of the
late Judge Benhs Ito whom, among
others, Souvreigne had brought letters Of
introduction from philadelphia, and
whose daughter became one Of his earl-
est pupils. Judge Benham will bo long
remembered as man who, from the
humblest beginning, wrought out for him
self, by bis unaided cxertions, and held
uuchallenged for many years, q position
in the front rank Of bis profession, at q
bar long and widely distinguished for
learning and brilliuncy. Between him
and Souvreigue there grew up from the
6rst q mutual interest and admiration
and in response to often reiterated invita-
tions it became the habit of the latter,
after while, to spend at least one even
ing q week, and sometimes two or three,
with the Judge at his library at home.
Judge Beuham was at this time wild.
over, his family consisting only OF him
self aud two chillren--a daughter OF
about sixteen, named Adele, and . son
three years younger. When quite young,
the Judge then just beginning to dis
tineuish himself in bis profession, but as
yet scarcely known outside his native
/ icity-surprised bis friends by marrying,
after a brief courtship, Miss Adelaide
Harnden, a famous beauty, and at the
time leading belle in society at Wash
lngton, but older by some few years than
himself. This lady's father, Colonel
Harnden Of Louisiana, had then but re.
Gently returned with his family from,
Paris, where he had spent several years
as an attache of the United States lego
tSp saa hs n9E elauthA no1idiqna ls
Miss Harnden had been noted for her
grace and beauty, and frequent rumors
reached her friends at home Of her bril-.
liant couquests in the gay capital. II
was even reported at one time that she
had formed a matrimonial engagement
with high dignitary indeed-a member
Of the royal household, who afterwards
became somewhat distinguished in con
uectiou with the French diplomatic ser.
vice. But time brought no confirmation
of this report, and the story had been Sc,
at rest by the return Of Miss Harndcn to
America with her fathers family, as hat
been said. With q crowd Of suffers il
her train, some of whom were by no means
insignificant personages, Miss Harndel
chose at last to accept the hand Of The
handsome but comparatively obscure
young attorney, who loved her ardently
as she knew, and who, from that day
until the day Of her dcath-a period o.
ten years-never wavered 10 his devotion
to her.
On the occasions Of Souvreigne's visits
to Judge Benham, Adele, who was tht
idol of her father and his favorite com
panion at all times, was almost Away
present as listener to the conversation
aud sometimes herself joined iu it. Iu
decd, Souvreigue's bright spirits ut thes'
times, his quick apprehension and ready
sympathy, were oil so infectious that ever
the dullest mortal could hardly listen fo
half an hour to his glowing talk wi.hou
being himself moved to speak as vel
IS listen. Adele was far from dull; ant
il not unfreqpently happened that Judg
Benhpm. who Was of more phelmati
aud methodical habit than either hi
daughter or bis guest, would suddeul.
end himself left far behind in contr 0
versy which he had been conducting pa
t,ently and logically, while the impetuo
Adele fought out his battle for him will
such spirit aud vigor % to quite bewilde
him. A. for Souvreigue, however b
may have been impressed with the weigh
Of her argument, he at any rate found
difficult to Withstand the flushed cheek
and flashing eyes Of bis vehement littl
adversary; and thus she often had tn
dubious satisfaction, deprecated by man,
Q clever woman whose misfortune II wa
to be beautiful as we'll as clever, Of seein
her most impreguable logic entirely mis-
carry, while her dased antagonist yielde
point after point, and ultimately th
whole 6sld to the mere force Of he
beauty.
Judge Benham may bs excused 70