The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-11-03
An Incident in Arkansas Life.
BY JUDGE ARLINGTON,

| | shall never forget the first vision of VIII.
| liam Denton. It was in the court house at
| Little Rock, Arkansas, in the summer of
1884 The occasion itself possessed terri
bic interest, we'll calculated to fix in the mem
DRY all its circumstances A vast concourse
of spectators had assembled to witness the
trial of a young and very beautiful girl on an
| Indictment for murder, The Judge waited
at the moment for the sheriff to bring in the
prisoner, and the eyes OF the impatient null
titude eagerly watched the door for the ex-
pected advent, when suddenly stranger en-
tered, whose remarkable appearance rivitcd
universal attention. Here is his portrait,
done as accurately as pen can sketch it:
A figure, tall, lean and sinewy, and straight
as arrow, brow massive. soaring, and
smooth as polished marble. ntersected by a
large blue vein forked like the tongue Of a
serpent; eyes redish yellow, resembling a
wrathful eagles eyes-as brilliant and as
fearfully piercing and finally, a mouth slight,
cold aud sneering-the living embodiment of
nnbreathed curses! He was habited in leath
er. orna'nented after the fashion of Indian
costume, with beads of every color OF the
rail- bow
Elbo~lng his way proudly and slowly thro'
the throng, and seemingly unconscious that
he was regarded as phenomenon that needed
explanation, the singular being advanced, and
with the naughty air Of king taking his
throne, seated himself within the bar, crowd
ed as it was with the disciples Of Coke and
BLACKSTONE, several of whom, it was known
esteemed themselves far superior to those old
and famous masters tsit3Isat
The contrast between the disdainful coun-
tenance and out!andis!4 garb Of the strang-
er excited especially the visibility Of the law
yers, and the junior members began sur
pressed litter, which soon grew louder and
swept around the circle They doubtless sup.
posed the intruder to be some wild hunter of
the mountains, who had never before seen the
interior of a hall of Justice. aai ai#
Instantly the cause and object of the laugh
ter perceived it. Turning his head gradual
ly, so as to give each laugher a look Of inf
mite scorn, he calculated the single word
sayages" 4 -
No pen can describe the unspeakable NAL
Ice, the defiant force which he threw into that
term; no language can express the internal
furore OF his utterance, although it hardly
exceeded whisper But he accented every
letter hat scortched his qniverins lips laying
horrible emphasis on the letter S, both at
the beginning and ending of the word. 1t
was mixed growl of a red tiger and the hiss
OF rattlesnake-' sauages y 1t cured ev
erybody Of the disposition to laugh.
The general gaze, however, was then divert.
ed by the advent of the fair prisoner, who
came in surrounded by her guard. The ap-
partition was enough to drive even cynic
mad. for hers was style of beauty to bewild.
er the tamcst imagination and melt the coolest
heart, leaving in both Imagination and heart
cleaning picture enameled with fire and
fixed in frame Of gold from the Stars 1t
was the spell of an enchantment to be felt as
we'll as seen We might feel in it the flashes
Of her countenance clear as sunlight. brilliant
as the iris; in the classic contour of her fea
lures, symmetrical as if cut with an artists
chisel; in her hair of rich ringlets. flowing
without braid, softer than silk, finer than
gossamer; in her eyes blue as the heaven of
southern summer. large. liquid and dreamy !;
in her motions, graceful, swimming like the
gentle waftures of birds wing in the sunny
air in her figure, slight etherial-a sylph's
or seraph's; and more thar all, in the ever
lasting smile of the rosy lips, SO frank, SO Sc
rene, SO like starlight; and yet thrilling the
soul as a shock of electricity. e9s zss. et
: As the unfortunate girl, so tastefully Dress
ed so Incompatible as to personal charms,
calmly took her place before the bar of her
Judge, a murmur of admiration arose from
the multitude which the prompt interposition
of the court could scarcely suppress from
swelling into loud, deafening cheers. The
murmur was followed by al loud unearthly
groan from solitary bosom as of some one
in mortal anguish. All eyes were conferred