The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-30


stars. 1t was the spell OF an enchant-
ment to be felt as well as. seen.
You might feel it in the flashes of
her countenance, clear as sunlight, bril-
liant AS the iris; in the classic contour
of her features, symmetrical rs if cut
with an artists chisel; in her hair of
softer than silk, finer than gossamer; in
her eyes, blue as the heaven of southern
summer, large, liquid, dreamy; in her
motions, graceful, swimming like the
gentle waftures of birds wing i'll the
sunny air; in her figure, slight, ethereal
ii sylpns or a seraph's; and more than
all, in the everlasting smile of the rosy
lips, so frank, so serene. so like starlight,
and vet thrilling the soul as n shock OF
electricity.
As the unfortunate girl, so tastefully
dressed. so incompatible rs to personal
charms. calmly took her place before the
bar of her Judge, murmur of admira-
ton arose from the multitude. which the
prompt interpositlon of the court could
scarcely repress from swelling into deaf
ening cheer. The murmur was followed
by loud, unearthly groan from soli-
tarv 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 torture torture that his
rain of tears could not assuage. But
what could be the cause of his sudden
emotion? Could any connection exist
between him, and that fairy girl, more
beautiful than a blossom OF summer, and
in countenance celestial as star?
The Judge turned to the prisoner
Emma Greenleaf, the court has been
informed that your counsel, Colonel Lin
ton. is sick. and can not attend. Have
you employed any other?"
She answered IN voice sweet as the
warbleof nightingale and clear as the
song of skylark My enemies have
bribed all the lawyers. even my own, to
be sick; but God will defend the inno-
cent
At this response, so touching in its
simple pathos, portion OF the auditors
buzzed applause and the rest wept. On
he instant, however, the leather-robed
stranger. whose aspect had previously
created so much merriment, approached
the prisoner and whispered something IN
her ear. She bounded several inches
from the floor. uttered a wild shrek and
then stood pale and trembling rs If IN
the presence of ghost from the grave.
All. now. could perceive that there must
be some mysterious connection between
the two. and tue -uene assumed the pro-
found interest Of genuine romance.
The stranger addressed the court in
accents as sonorous a the tone of an
organ.
May it please your honor will de-
fend the legal rights of the lady
What exclaimed the astonished
Judge, ARE you licensed attorney"
The question is immaterial and irrcv
alent, replied the stranger, with sheer.
as your statute entities any person to act
as counsel at the request Of a party
But does the prisoner request it,"
asked the Judge.
Let her speak for herself" said the
stranger.
Il do" was her answer, as long
drawn sigh escaped that seemed to rend
her very heart strings.
what is your name, as it must be
placed on the record 2" Intercepted
the Judge.
William Denton said the stranger.
The case Immediately progressed. We
will briefly epitomize the substance of
the evidence. About twelve months pre-
viously the defendant had arrived in the
town and opened an establishment of
millinery. Residing in a small back room
of her shop, and ali alone
she prepared the various articles
of her trade with unwearied ioil and
consummate taste Her habits we're Sc
al,
she might have hoped to escape noto-
riety, but for the perilous gift of that ex
traordinary beauty, which too often, and
TO the poor and frlendless always proves
curse. She was soon sought after by
those gay fire-fies of fashion, the bust
ness of whose life everywhere is seduc-
ton and ruin. But the beautiful
stranger rejected them all alike with I'M
utterable scorn and loathing
Among these disappointed admirers
was one Of a character from which the
fair milliner had everything to fear Hi
ram Shore belonged to family at once
opulent, influential and dissipated. He
was himself licentious, brave and re-
vengetul, and a duellist of established
and terrible fame. 1t was generally
known that he had made advances to win
the favor of the lovely Emma, and had
shared the fate Of all her other woocrs-
disdainful repulse.
At o'clock on Christmas Eve, 1888,
the people of Little Rock were startled
by loud Scream, as if from some one
IN mortal terror; while following that,
with hardly an interval, came successive
reports OF tire-arms-one, two, three-a
dozen deafening explosions. They flew