Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-09-06
aMi5tellanu.
The Intent MakeS the Crime
An OLD REPORTERS STORY.

in that It always comes to light under pecu-
liar circumstances. The story teller and
the circumstances under which the story
Is told, stand in such relation to the story
that the narrator comes in as a character,
and the circumstances follow as incidents
IN the narration. In this case, the cur
tain rises on a scene IN the little back par
Ior of the old National Restaurant, show
ing a circle of newspaper men gathered
about the cozy round table IN the center.
This was a select circle, and in the Ian
guage of the members, a jolly crowd
There was r., a ready writer, witty and
pointed in conversation, whose highest am
bItion. however, was 70 ape the manners
and to incorporate in his writings some
thing of the style Of the End Man Of a
minstrel troupe Young a, sensitive and
auet. a poet in his life, forming sentences
deIicateIv az if BY instinct shrinking from
contact with everything rough, and yet
writing living and most effective descrip-
tious Of most terrible or sorrowiul Incl
dents or events. Old Judge S, digniied
and polished, forming his letters with a
writing masters cxactncSs and his SEN
,anccs bv dictionary rule, careful as to his
statements, never soiling his hands nor
uubeuIing from his editorial Importance
Old c.. a veteran in the service, quick and
nervous In every movement, with the eye
and uneasy manner Of a sentry, always
on duty, always ready to move At a mo-
meut', uOtice-a fine robust figure, haIr
gray. with dark shades running through it
according to no established rule, andheavy
whsker=, darker than the bushy hair on
the head. This man had been 4 reporter
for forty years. and seemed still active al
tftv-cight ashe was at eighteen. Ills ner-
vousncss was an emphatic accomplishing
of results iu an orderly mauEer-his body
moved in au expressive way, pr with sort
ofuant0mimic emphasis with every thought,
and when much In earnest in conversation
bis hands always moved rapidly, as though
be wrote every word srOkenin phouograph
il characters He did this at table in the
rar.or, at the public meeting at his home,
where he would tell his child nursery
taIe, and indu9triou~Iy phonograph every
word. iu motion, On his knee.
This man rarely joined our circle, be-
cause his wife and little one. were the
Subjects Ut hi- special devotion. He never
touched sgin. or Intoxicating drinks Of any
A.nI. and was never more than his quiet,
orderly. emphatic -cf, compreheuding
what you meant TO say if you stammered
what YOU were On the point 0t saying, #
,ag~ .Iu't peak III all; diviniug It seemed.
goar every th9uEnt-
Ta.-earious old man. inspired. or warmed
lr rather bya cup Of coffee. rs necessary
10 A.m - s.as q bottle OF ale 10 the Judge,
4 ma1 aE beer ro Jolly pr. OR glass ot
lemonade 10 young y, was the story y-tc.ler
uf the .aaiue Playing with his -poon-
ae looked IS steadily ~ the young man
with the lemonade ~ ID much cmbarra-~
a.m. aud 10 such au extent that our jolly
mu- of beer man made diversion in his
favor. saying with minstrel twang, Why
Ioo-t thou thu-ly, mine ancient friend
Keep thv sharp looks for times when they
ars more needed than now. and more aC-
.ectab.e, and tel. Us such tale Of time as
yel.l make our breath chatter and our teeth
eemc short.
ID was thinking said the old man, mark
inr out gn the table cover with his spoon
handle the words In photographic charac-
tiers. l--was- thiukIag-thIn@ing .em-
phatic motion of the spoon handle as il
shading the word think beyond ml,tasel
what clear woman.y face our yCuug friend
Has. ana how unconscious he is ofthc fact.
lle So marriages in his ab-eut-mludad wa
to ..t those who please. See to the very
bottom Of his soul l like these faces
with the soul stealing out all over them.
Bas-I hex your pardon, Sir, Then to
the crowd -vc story 70 tell
strictly professional one
THIS Judge wlL. remember the murder
-r7.. - II I~j- I reported
the trial ana watched its course with uu-
common interest The prisoner had a
transparent laccthat allowed the spectator
or o. server 10 understand every emotion
.t u.- -u Ev-ry thought that iIved IN
tae mud -houo out in the face.
Apomneat lawyer had bsen murdered
st n.-ttiu his bel chamber, and this man,
=... MS call him Biakl-yas accused OF
aemlri-r Blake though not 4 bad man.
wis.,. Is, one. Laboring under the
.mrr. aa .a4s a.i lawyers had persecutcd
A.m. 4u.. tl.s olc in particular, he had az
.loa. Is tae deceased tor years. 1evcra
ume- :s Lad been arrested for petty Of
laa-. FL. omitted wbilo intoxicated, and
ou oHs charge. more serious, the lawyer
referred -) appeared as opposing counsel
atc.at. Tie accused was convicted and
.a,.r..l i. {. term .n the dungeon OF the
..I.-r 4.L The nj Lht after tine release.
ma.lea.4bY thirty days DroOdm9 in dark
".. 'i'.i io.''9lio 'liIio'Ii','t'
n '-i-o- "'-''-- 49,,
." --...l ,',.
house. Iu-'y 101e' 'ii'''1i ~
lla HnsN the mouse "5',' -oL oNo
.-. l"" men had be-h iul iIieii,''' "iH