The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-12-18
THE wIrE,s DEFENDER.

=
/ shall never forget my first vision of
William Denton. It was in the Court
House in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the
summer Of 1884. The occasion itself
possessed o terrible interest. well calcu.
lated to fix in the memory all its circum-
stances. A vast concourse Of spectators
had assembled TO witness the trial of Q
young and very beautiful girl on an in
dictment for murder. The Judge waited
at the moment for the Sheriff to bring in
his prisoner, and the eyes of the impa-
tient multitude eagerly watched the
door, for the expected advent, when sud-
denly Q stranger entered, whose remarka-
BILE appearance riveted universal atten-
tion. Here is mis- portrait, done as accu-
rately as pen can sketch it.
A figure tall. lean, sinewy and straight
aa an arrow; q brow massive, soaring and
smooth ns polished marble, intersected
by q large blue vein, forked like the
tongue Of serpent; eyes reddish yellow,
resembling wrathful eagles, as bril-
liant, rs fearfully piercing; and finally q
mouth slight, cold and sneering
living embodimento unbreathed cursesl
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 phenomenon that needed explana-
tion, the singular being advanced. and
with the naughty air of q king taking his
throne, seated himself within the bar,
crowded as il was with Coke and Black
stone, several Of whom, it was known,
esteemed themselves far superior to
those old and famous masters. The con-
trast between the disdainful countcnance
and 0utlandish garb Of the stranger ex-
cited especially the risibility of the law
yers, and the junior members began O
suppressed litter. which soon grew
louder and swept around the circle. They
doubtless supposed the intruder to be
some Wild hunter of the mountains who
had never before been in the halls of JUS
tice.
Instantly the cause and object of the
laughter perceived it. Turning his head
gradually, that he might give each
laugher q look Of infinite scorn he eiacu-
lated the single word, ssSavaRes."
No pen can describe the unspeakabIe
malice, the defiant force which he threw
into that term; no language can express
the internal furore of his utteranee. al
though it hardly exceeded a whisper.
But he accented every letteras If it were
separate emission Of FIRE that scorched
his quivering lips, laying horrible en-
phasis on the ''ss both at the beginning
and end Of the word. It was q mixed
sound, intermediate betwixt the growl OF
red tiGes and the hiss Of q rattlesnake
fsSavages p It cured everybody of
the disposition to laugh.
The general gaze, however, was then
diverted by the advent of the fair pris-
oner, who came IN surrounded by her
guard. The apparation was enough to
drive sven cynic mad, for hers was a
style OF beauty to bewilder the tamest
imagination and melt the coldest heart,
leaving In both imagination and heart
cleaning picture enameled with hre and
fixed in frame of gold from the
stars. It was the spell of an enchant-
ment to be felt as well as seen.
You might feel it IN the flashes Of
her counfenance, clear as sunlight, bril-
liant as the IRIS; IN the classic contour
~ her features, symmetrlcai as II cut
rich rlngiets, flowing without braid
her eyes, blue as the heaven OF southern
summer. large, liquid, dreamy; IN her
motions, graceful, swimming like the
gentle wattures OF q BIRDS wing IN the
sunny air; IN her figure, slight, ethereal
"A sylph's or seraph's; and more than
all, in the everlasting smile OF the rosy
lips, 80 frank, so serene, so like starlight,
and yet thrilling the soul as shock OF
+. laakrsoitv
AS the unfortunate girl, so tastefully
charms, calmly took her place before the
har Of her judge, q murmur of admira-
lion arose from the multitude. which the
scarcely repress from swelling into deaf
ening cheer. The murmur was followed
l,y loud. uneaFthly gfoan from soil.
sary bosom, as Of some one in mortal
anguish. All eyes were centered on the
stranger. and all were struck with sur
prise and wonder, for his features
writhed as If in tortur9- torture that his
rain Of tears could not assuage. But
what could be the cause of his sudder
emotion Could any connection sxisi
between him, and that fairy girl, more
beautiful than . blossom Of summer, and
ia countenance celestial as q star?
The judge turned to the prisoner
Emma Greenleaf, the court has beer
informed that your counsel, Colonel Lin
tor. Il sick. and can not attend. Have
Won employed any other?"
She answered IN voice sweet as the
warbieof q nightingale and clear as the
song Of skylark. my enemies have
bribed ell the lawyers, even my own, I'd
f-.1:-1.. rs.-t (t..Y IN 1sso,,5 Az, 49,.