New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-25
AILYCRESCENT'
THE DEVILS HOLLOW.
AN INCIDENT OF REAL LIFE.


In the town of Catskill, On the Hudson river,
there dwelt, some twenty years ago, an attorney
of the name or Mason. He was in considerable
practice, and had two clerks in his office whose
names were Mansell and Van Buren, In point
of ability these young men were nearly on n
par, but they differed widely in disposition.
Van Buren, was cold, close, and somewhat sullep
in temper but in business shrewd, active and
Mansell, although assiduous in
his duties, was of gayer temperament; open
as the day, generous, confiding and true
Mason, without being absolutely dishonest,
was what is called keen lawyer, his practice
being somewhat of the sharpest and as the dis
position of his clerk, Van Buren,, assimilated in
many respects to his own. he was great favor
ite---more intimately in his confidence, and usu-
ally employed in those delicate matters which
sometimes occur in an attorneys business, and
in which tie honesty of Mansell might rather
hinder than help.
Mason had neice who, he being bachelor,
lived with him in the capacity of housekeeper.
She was lively, sensitive and clever girl
very pretty, if not positively handsome. She
had the grace of sylph and the step of fawn.
1t was quite natural that such maiden should
be an object Of interest to two young men living
under The same roof; and by no means matter
Of establishment that one or both of them should
fall in love with her; and both of them did
But, as the young lady had but one heart, she
could not retain the love of each. 1t is scarce
ly necessary to say that in making her selection
the choice fell upon Edward Mansell. greatly to
the chagrin of his rival, and to the annoyance
of Mason, who would have been pleased to find
Van Buren the favorite suitor. However, Man
sell was the chosen lover, and Mason could not
alter the case by argument, nor was he disposed
to send away his neiee, who was in some measure
essential to his domestic comfort: and, more
over, he loved her as much as he could love
anything.
Matters went on this way for some time;
great deal of bitterness and rancor being dis
played by Mason and Van Buren on the one
hand, while Kate and Edward Mansell found in
the interviews they occasionally enjoyed more
than compensation for the annoyance to which
they were necessarily exposed.
1t happened, at the time when Edwards en-
gagement was within a month of its expiration,
that Mason had received sum of money, as
agent for another party, amounting to nearly
three thousand dollars, of which the greater
portion was in solid coin. As the money could
not be conveniently disposed of until the follow
ing day, it was deposited in tin box in the
iron-safe, the key Of which was always in the
custody of Mansell Soon after he received the
charge, Van Buren, quilted the office for short
time, and in the interim an application from a
client rendered it necessary for Mansell to coup
to the Court House. Having dispatched his
business at the hall he returned with all expe-
dition, and in due time he took the key of his
safe from the door to deposit therein, as usual,
the valuable papers of the Office over night
when to his uncomfortable horror he discovered
that the treasure was gone!
He rushed down stairs, and meeting Van
Buren, communicated the unfortunate circum-
stance. H Elm turn expressed his astonishment
in strong terms, and indeed exhibited something
like sympathy in his brother clerks misfortune.
Every search was made about the premises,
and information was given the nearest magis-
trate: but as Mason was from home. and would
not return till the next day, little else could be
done. Edward passed a night of intense agony
nor were the feelings of Kate more enviable.
Mason returned some hours earlier than was ex-
WAS closeted with him for a long time.
Mansell, utterly incapacitated by the over.
| whelming calamity which had befallen him
from attending to his duties, was walking, ig.
norant of Masons return, when Kate came, OF
rather flew towards him, and exclaimed, g Oh
Edward, my uncle has applied for a warrant to
apprehend you: and, innocent though | know
you are, that iend in human form, Van Buren,
has wound such web around you that | dread
the worst. I have not time to explain fly in
instantly, and meet me at nightfall, in the Dew
Mansell, scarcely knowing what he did, rushed
out OF the garden, and through some fields; nor
did he stop till he found himself out of town on
the banks of the river. Then, for the first time
he repented of having listened to the we'll meant
but unwise counsel of his dear Kate. But the
step was taken, and he could not trace it now
He proceeded until he arrived at thick grove
in the vicinity of the DEVILS Hollow, where lie
lay hid until night closed upon him.
He then approached dark opening in which
there was deep hollow, which had acquired a
celebrity from it's having been the scene of a
murder some years before, and hence was an OBJ
ject of such superstitious awe to the farmers OF
the vicinity, that he was considered bold man
who would venture after night-fall. This
doubtless, had influenced Kate in her choice OF
such place of meeting, inaslnuch as they would
be secure from interruption.
Mansell returned and fingered on the skirts
of the grove, until the sound of a light footster
on the graveled path which led to the place an,
nounced the approach of the loved being whom
he felt he was about to meet for the last time
The poor girl could not speak word when they
met, but bowling her head upon his shoulder
burst into flood of passionate tears By de
grees she became more calm, and then detailed
| to him a conversation she had overheard be-
| tween Van Buren, and her uncle; and gathered
| thence that the former had succeeded in conyin
cling Mason of Edwards guilt, by an artful com
| bination of facts, which would have made out ;
| priina ,tacse case against the accused---tht
most formidable one being the finding of a con
siderable sum of specie in Mansells trunk
| Knowing that he could not satisfactorily ac
count for the possession of this money, without
the evidence of near relative who had depart.
ed for Europe week before, and whose address
| was unknown, and return uncertain, Edward
to avoid the horror and disgrace of lying in tn,
county prison in the intermediate time, resolved
on evading the officers of justice, until he coulC
surrender himself with the proofs of his limo
cence in his hands.
| The moon had now risen above the hill which
bound the prospect, and warned the lovers thai
| it was time to separate.
| ssAnd now, dearest said he, 's | leave yot
with the brand of thief upon my fair name, t,
be haunted like beast of prey from one hiding
place to another. But oh, Kate | bear will
me the best assurance that one being, and tina
being the best loved of MY heart, knows me t.
be innocent; and the thought shall comfor
me-"
ga remarkable pretty Speech and well deli
vered p exclaimed voice, which caused th
youthful pair to start, and turn their eyes il
the direction whence it proceeded, when, from
behind a solitary tree that grew in the Hollow
a tall figure, wrapped in an ample cloak walked
| toward them. The place, we have alread,
mentioned, had an evil reputation, and althougl
| Edward and his companion were, of course, FIRE
from the superstitious fears which characterize
the country people, an undefinable feeling stol
l i n