922 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
years of age, and one of the leading men, in a quiet way, of 
the patriot party. 
Since his marriage, and up to this time, Smith’s character 
seemed to have undergone a change, which was specially re- 
marked by those who had watched his entrance upon public 
life. Up to the time of his marriage he had exhibited the 
most recklessly spendthrift disposition; although enjoying a 
lucrative practice, yet it was observed that he always wanted 
money. He had no such apparent habits of extravagance as 
could account for such expenditure, so that he had the full 
benefit of all sorts of dark hints and vague surmises, not one 
of which was in the neighborhood of true. 
There were a few who knew him better, who could have 
told how the base vultures and harpies that always flock 
around where there is a great heart to be torn and fed upon, 
regularly fleeced him of more than half the dues for his ser- 
vices, by some servile and whining appeal to his well known 
magnanimity, and singular disregard of gold. He was sys- 
tematically victimized by a whole flock of such foul birds, 
who chuckled over the thought that they were gulling the 
smart young lawyer; a great mistake !—for his intuition of 
character and motive was as quick as lightning. 
His keen, gray eye was never at fault; and he gave them 
what they cringed for out of contemptuous disgust for the 
creatures and the filthy god they worshipped. He loathed 
the one as much as the other, and was equally anxious to get 
rid of both. His charities were just as reckless, though it 
began soon to be found that he was rather a dangerous per- 
son to task the patience of too far. 
From the day he married Mattie he became a cautious, 
saving man; and the hungry wretches that had battened upon 
his lofty generosity, or rather, scorn, were soon scattered in 
dismay before the stern brow and powerful arm that hurled 
them right and left from his path. He had Mattie, beloved 
