Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-04-20
A Romantic Courtship.

'Sonth, will be interesting to many of our
readers, us one Of the parties TO the romance
is well known in our midst:
-Four years ago, in the progressive
young city of Fort Worth, Texas, hot
blooded South Carolinian got into an alter
cation with man, and was so unfortunate
as to wound him DANCE, ously. There were
circumstances which greatly mitigAtcd the
guilt OF the deed, but the excited citizens
did not take them into account The
young man was stranger and appearances
were strongly against him. lie was thrown
into Jail, with every prospect of being found
guilty aud sentenced to the pcniteutiary.
10 his extremity, he sent for rising Young
lawyer of the place to visit him 10 his cell
and entrcated him to take his case in
hand.
III have no money to give you as rce,"
he said, "and shall not apply to my father
lie bitterly opposed my coming West. |
shall not aud to his troubles by letting him
know my wrctchcd situation. My home is
WaIhalla, South Carolina. have q dear
old father aud mother, and am their only
sou | have sister-as tender and noble
creature as ever lived. Their hearts
will be broken if | am sentenced to the
lgnominlous peniteutiary. Will you take
my casc?"
The lawyer considered. lie was Young
and ambitious His foot was on the ladder
of his profession, and he meant to mount
higher; but this was case that could bring
him neither gold nor glory. There would
be no remuneration for his efforts, aud dc.
teat was almost sure; moreover, to under
tske the case might make him unpopular
10 the town: lie had determined to be
prudent; SO he thanked the prisoner for his
confidence in him, and declined to take the
case. But after he had left the Jail, the
words he had heard in the cell, cau,e to him
with persistent and pathetic appcal-"An
only son, with dotins old parents aud de-
voted sister, whose hearts would be broken
| If the shadow Of the shameful pcniteotiary
should blight my life" IIo went back to
the cell aud said to the prisoner, ri will
take your case"
III news flies fast, particularly in these
days when the press and tho telegraph give
1t wings. The terrible tidings of their
sons impending doom reached the far home
among the hills of Walhala, and brought
woe to the fond hearts there The parents
found out who would defend their son, and
wrotc to his counsel, the young daughter
being their amanucnsis. Her letter was
so eloquent with feeling that it reused the
young lawyer to deep interest in the case.
lle wrote, feeling as though he were speak,
ing, face to face. with that sorrowiny true
hearted sister, and tried to soothc and re-
assure, promising to do his best at the com
ing trial He kept his word; but the tide
was too strong for him to stem; the case
went against him, aud the young Caroin
IAN was sentenced t. the pcnitcutiary for
term of years His counsel conveyed the
s1d news to his friends as quickly as posi-
be; then came passionate appeal from the
sister. lie must not give it up-hc must
take the clso to another tribunal. VIII
lingiy, but with !i,,lc hope, he reviewed
the conduct of the case, and found in il
flaw that gave him ground to appeal against
the decision.
lie oarried the case to tho Supreme
Court twas sometime before he could
OBTAIN hearing there, and in this trying
intorrcsnum, he had opportunity to admire
tho deep devotion, the clear sense, the
hopeful energy of the prisoners sister An
hour before the case was called, he received
one Of these lctters-so IL throb With emo
tioo aud carnestness that it inspired him,
and hc made the best speech of his life, |
drawing tears FROM the eyes of the jury and |
the court.
IL" prisoner was acquitted lie was
hardly more rcjoiced Mt his freedom than
was his counsel, whose first thuuyhts we're
of the sister aud parents who waited the is
sue in agonzed suspense, and whose first
act was to send the message that brought
relief. Then camo the 0utpourng of
thanks from tho old parents through the
g'rlish interpreter, accompanied by the
prayer that he would send his picture They
wanted to see the face of their sons bone.
factor. The picture vas s,nt and appended
WAS request that he nigh: hayo the
privilege of possessing the sembancc of bis
fair correspondent, who, though unseen, he
could not think of AZ Il stranger Ills
wish was complied with the littIc SUM-
picture of a sweet womanly f,oo was re-
ceived, and with it a frank modest letter
over her ow0 signature. Then Of course he
must writc to express his thanks, and his
sense of the honor she did him in begging
him to DO her brothers friend aud adviser.
Thus tho correspondence did not end with
the case, but continued, and grew more in
innate, until tho two gained deeper Insight
lOto each others Characters than face TO
face communication would have given. From
this intercourse of soul, blossomed feel
ing tenderor than pity or friendship. But