Cruel As The Grave

"A brow half martial and half diplomatic,

An eye upsoaring like an eagle's wing."

John Lyon Howe was the younger son of a planter, residing in one of the

wildest mountain regions in central Virginia. The elder Howe was blessed

with a large family, and cursed with a heavily mortgaged estate--a

combination of circumstances not unusual among the warm-hearted,

generous and extravagant people of the Old Dominion.

John Lyon Howe had been educated in the Law School of the University of

Virginia, where, at the age of twenty-three, he graduated with the

highest honors.

Then, instead of commencing his professional life in one of the great

Eastern cities, or striking out for the broad fields of enterprise

opened in the Far West, young Howe, to the astonishment of all who were

acquainted with the talents and ambition of the new lawyer, returned to

his native county and opened his law office in Blackville, a small

hamlet lying at the foot of the Black Valley, and enjoying the honor and

profit of being the county-seat.

But the young lawyer had strong motives for his actions. He had great

talent, an intense passion for politics, and quite as much State pride

as personal ambition. He wished to distinguish himself; yes, but not in

Massachusetts or Minnesota, nor in any other place except in his native

State, his dear old Virginia.

Sometime to represent her in the National Congress, and to do her

service and credit there, was the highest goal of his youthful

aspirations.

For this cause, he settled in the obscure hamlet of Blackville, and

opened his law office in one of the basement rooms of the county

court-house.

While the courts were in session he attended them regularly, and did a

good deal of business in the way of gratuitous counselling and pleading;

advocating and defending with great ability and success the cause of the

poor and oppressed, and winning much honor and praise, but very little

money, not enough, indeed, to pay his office rent, or renew his napless

hat and thread-bare coat.

Besides his unprofitable professional labors, he engaged in equally

unprofitable political contests.

He took the liberal view of State craft, and sought to open the minds of

his fellow-citizen to a just and wise policy, or what he, in his young

enthusiasm, conceived to be such. He wrote stirring leaders for the

local papers, and made rousing speeches at the political meetings.

He was everywhere spoken of as a rising young man, who was sure to reach

a high position some day. Yes! some day; but that desired day seemed

very far distant to the desponding young lawyer.