Warren telegraph. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1857-1861, 1859-07-23
THE DEVILS HOLLOW.


there dwelt some twenty years ago, an attorney
Of the name Of Mason He was in considerable
practice, and had two cl6 ks in his Office who's
names we're Man ell and Van Buren,. In poin
Of ability these young men were nearly on I
par, but they differed widely in disposition
len in temper but in business, shrewd, activ'
and persevering~ Mansell although assiduou
in his duties, was of q gayer temperament
open as the day, generous, condding and true
Mason, without being absolutely dishonest
wa' what is called keen lawyer, his pracsic
being 20 newhat of the sharpest; and as tn,
disposition Of his clerk. Van Buren,, assimilatet
in many respect to his own, he was a great IA
vorite-more intimately in his confidence, ant
usually employed in those delicate matter.
which sometimes occur in an attorneys bust
ness, and in which the honesty Of Mansell nigh
rather hinder than help.
Mason had niece who, he being bachelor
lived with him in the capacity of house-keep
er. She was a lively, sensitive and clever CIR
very pretty, If not positively handsome. She
had the grace of sylph, and the step Of fswn
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 astonishment that one or both Of them should
fall in love with her and both of them did
could not retain the low of each. 1t is sea cely
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 niece, who was in some meas
ure essential to his domestic comfort; and,
moreover, he loved her as much as he could
love anything.
Matters went on this way for sometime; a
great deal Of bitterness and rancor being dis
played by Mason and V'n Buren, on the one
hand, while Kate and Edward Mansel found in
the interviews they o. casionaly enjoyed more
than compensation for the annoyance to which
they were necessarily exposed.
1t happened, at tho time when Edwards en-
gagcment was within month Of its expiration,
that Mason had received sum of money as
agent for another party, amountin, to nearly
three thousand dollars of which the greater por-
tion was in solid coin. As the money could not
be conveniently disposed of until the following
day. it was deposited in tin box in the iron
safe, the key of which was always in the csisfy-
dy Of Mansell. Soon after he received the
charge, Van Buren, quit I'd the Office for short
time, and in the interim an application from a
Client rendered it necessary for Mansell to go up
to 9 c,urt-hous, Having dispatched his
business at the h Ill, he returned with all expo
dition, and in duo time he took the key of his
safe from the door, to deposit therein, as usual,
the valuable papers of the office over night
whe to his uncomfortable horror he discovered
that the tr, aSure was gone.
He rushed down stairs, and meeting Van Bu-
rem communicated the unfortunate circumstance.
IL k,,r h., etr
terms, and indeed exhibited something like
in his brother clerks misfortune.
Every search was made about the premises, and
was given the nearest magistrate
but as Mason was from home, and would not re-
turn until the next day, little else could be DONE
Edward passed a night of intense agony-nor
were the feelings of Kate more enviable. Ma
son returned some hours earlier than was ex-
pected, sent immediately for Van Burcn, and
was closeted with him for long time.
Mansell, utterly incapacitated by the over
calamity which had befallcn him,
from attending to his duties, was walking igno
rant of Mason's return, when Kate came, or
rather few towards him, and exclaimed,
"On, Edward, my uncle has applied for a
warrant to apprehend you 1; an innocent
though know you arc, that fiend in human
orm, Van Buren, has wound such web around
you that dread the worst. have not time to
explain; fly instantly, and meet me at nightfall
n tie Devils Hollow, and will explain ALL"
Mansell, scarcely knowing what he did, rush.
ID out of the garden and through some fields
Tor did he stop until he found himself out Of
own on the banks of the river. Then for the
irst time, he rcpented of having listened to the
vell-meant but unwise counsel Of his dear Kate.
But the step was taken, and he could not re-
race it now. He proceeded until he arrived at
thick grove in the vicinity Of the Devils Hol-
ow, where he lay hid until night closed upon
hin.
He then approached dark opening in which
here was deep hollow, which had acquired a
celebrity from its having been the scene Of
murder some years before. and hence was an
object Of such supers.itious awe to the farmers
If the vicinity, that he was considered bold
nan who would venture there after nightfall.
This doubtless, had influenced Kate in her
,hoice Of such place Of meeting, inasmuch as
hey would be secure from interruption.
Mansell returned and fingered on the skirts
# the grove, until the sound of light footstcp
IN the gravelcd path which led to the place an
,ounccd the approach Of the loved being whom
10 was about to meet for the last time. The
,oor girl could not speak word when they
net, but bowling her head upon his shoulder,
,urst into flood of passionate tears. BY de-
rees she became more calm, and then detailed
o him conversation she had heard between
1aD Burcn and her uncle; and gathered thence
hat the former had succeeded in convincing
Mason of Edwards guilt, by an artful combina-
ion Of facts which would have made out a
,rima tacie case against the accusci-the most
ormidabe one, being the finding Of consider
blo sum Of specie in Mansclls trunk. Know
ng that he could not satisfactorily account for
he possession Of this money, without the ovi-
lence Of near relative wno had depart d for
europe week before, and whose address was
and return uncertain, Edward. to
void the horror and disgrace Of lying In the
ounty prison In the intermediate time, resolved