The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-03-26
NOT GUILTY.
A Scene in Court.

summer of 1884 The occasion itself pos
sessed terrible interest, well-calculated to
fix in the memory 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 his prisoner, and the eyes
of the impatient multitude eagerly watched
the door for the expected advent, when
suddenly a stranger entered, whose remark
able appearance riveted universal attention.
Here is his portrait done as accurately as
pen can sketch it.
A figure tall, lean, sinewy and straight
as an arrow; brow massive, soaring, and
smooth as polished marble, intersected by
large blue vein forked like the tongue of
serpent; eyes reddish yellow, resembling
wrathful eagles-as brilliant, as fearfully
piercing; and finally, mouth slight, cold
and sneering--the living embodiment of
unbreathed curses He was habited in
leather, ornamented, after the fashion of
Indian costume, with beads of every color
in the rainbow.
Elbowing his way proudly and slowly
through the throng, and seemingly alto
gether unconscious that he was regarded as
a phenomenon that needed explanation, the
singular being advanced, and, with the
naughty air Of a king taking his throne,
seated himself within the bar, crowded 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.
The contrast between the disdainful
countenance ard outlandish garb Of the
stranger excited especially the visibility of
the lawyers, and the Junior members began
suppressed litter, which soon grew loud
er and swept around the circle. They
doubtless supposed the intruder to be some
wild hunter of the mountains, who had
never before seen the interior of hall of
justice.
Instantly the cause and object of the
laughter perceived it. Turning his head
gradually, 30 as to give each laugher look
of infinite scorn, he calculated the single
word-"Savages p
No pen can describe the unspeakable
malice, the defiant force which he threw
into that term; no language can express the
internal furore of his utterance, although it
hardly exceeded a whisper. But he ac-
cented every letter as if it were separate
emission of fire that scorched his quivering
lips, laying horrible emphasis on the letter
s both at the beginning and ending of the
word. 1t was a mixed growl, intermediate
betwixt the growl of red tiger and the
hiss of a rattlesnake-" Saoages !" 1t cured
everybody of the disposition to laugh.
The general gaze, however, was then di-
verted by the advent of the fair prisoner,
who came in surrounded by her guard.
The apparition was enough to drive even a
cynic mad, for hers was style of beauty
to bewilder the tamest imagination and
heart cleaning picture, enamelled with
fire and fixed in frame of gold from the
stars. 1t was the spell of an enchantment
to be felt as well as seen. We might feel
it in the flashes of her countenance, clear
as sunlight, brilliant as the iris; in the
classic contour of her features, symmetri-
cal as if cut with an artists chisel; in her
hair Of rich ringlets, flowing without a
braid, softer than silk, finer than gossamer;
in her eyes, blue as the heaven of southern
summer, large, liquid, dreamy; in her mo-
tions, graceful, swimming, like the gentle
waftures of a birds wing in the sunny air,
in her figure, slight ethereal-a sylph's or
seraph's; and more than all, in the ever
lasting smile Of the rosy lips, so frank, SO
serene, so like starlight, and yet thrilling
the soul as shock of electricity.
AS the unfortunate girl, so tastefully
dressed, so incompatible as to personal
charms, calmly took her place before the
bar of her judge, murmur of admiration
arose from the multitude, which the prompt
interposition of the court could scarcely re-
press from swelling into deafening cheers.
The murmur was followed by loud un-
earthly groan from solitary bosom, as of
some one in mortal anguish. All eyes were
centered on the stranger, and all were
struck with surprise and wonder, for his
features writhed as if in torture--that his
rain Of tears could not assuage. But what
could be the cause of this sudden emotion ?
Could any connection exist between him,
the apparently rude hunter, and that fairy
girl, more beautiful than blossom of sum-
mer, and in countenance celestial as star ?
The judge turned to the prisoner" EN-
ma Greenleaf, the court has been informed