Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-01-07

ovcf ntgnt-Wnen, 10 'nl0 lnc0ncelv0
BILE horror, he discovered that thu
treasure was gone
he rushed down stairs, and meet
ing Van Buren, communicated the. uu
fortunate circumstance. He in turr
expressed his astonishment in strong
terms, and, indeed, exhibited some
thing like sympathy in his brothe
clerks misfortune. Every search wal
made about the premises, and infor
nation given to the nearest magis
trate but, as Mason was from home
and would not return until the mex
day, little else could be done. Ed
ward passed q night Of intense agony
nor were the feelings Of Kate more
enviable. Mason returned some hours
earlier than was expected, sent imme
diately for Van Buren, and was clos
eted with him fof q long time.
Manscll, utterly incapacitated By
the overwhelming calamity which had
befallen him. from attending his du.
ties, was walking. ignorant of Ma,
sons return, when Kate came, OF
rather flew toward him, and exclaim.
ed, Oh, Edward, my uncle has ap
piled for warrant 70 apprehend you
and, innocent though / know you tt
be, that fiend in human form, Van Blu
rem, has wound such q web around
you that ! dread the worst. I hav,
no time to explain fy Instantly, ant
meet me, at nightfall, in the Eel Hol
lor. when will tell you all.D
Mansell. scarcely Knowing what be
did, rushed out Of the garden, ani
through some fields nor did he .stoI
until he found himself out Of sight o
the town, on the banks of the river
Then, for the first time, lie repentct
of having listened to the well-mean
but unwise counsel Of his dear Kate
But the step was taken, and be coule
not retrace it now. lie proceeded un
til he arrived at thick grove, in the
Of the Erl Hollosc
where he lay hidden until night closed
in upon him.
He then approached dark open
ing in which was . deep hollow
which had acquired celebrity from
its having been the scene of Q murder
some years before, and hence was an
object Of such superstitious ave to the
farmers Of the vicinity, that he was
considered a bold man swho would ven
turc there after nightfall. This, doubt
less, had influenced Kate in her choice
Of such place for- their meeting, in
asmuch as they would be secure from
interruption.
Mansell returned and still fingered
onHthc skirt Of the grove, until the
sound Of light footstep on the grav.
81 path which led to the place, apnoun.
ced the approach of the being whom
he felt he was about to meet for the
last time. The poor girl could not
speak . word when they met, but,
her head upon bis shoulder,
burst into food Of passionate tears.
By degrees she became more calm,
and then detailed to him o conversa.
tion that she had overheard between
Van Buren, and her uncle and gather
ed thence that the former had succeed.
ed in convincing Mason of Edwards
guilt, by an artfnl combination oi
facts, which would have made out a
prima face case against the accused
tire most formidable one being the
finding Of a considerable sum. in spe-
Gle. in Manselps trunk. Knowing
that he could not satisfactorily &C
count for the possession Of this money,
without the evidence Of q near rela-
tive who had departed for Europe a
week before, and whose address was
and return uncertain, Ed
ward, to avoid the horror and dis
grace of lying in the county prison,
in the intermediate time, resolved on
evading the officers Of Justice, until
no could surrender himself, with the
proofs of his innocence in bis hands.
The moon had now risen above the
hill which bounded the prospect, and
warned the heart-broken lovers that
It was time to separate. And now, =
said he, dearest ! leave you, with
the brand thief upon my fair name,
u be hunted like . beast Of prey,
from one hiding place to another
But, oh, my Kate l bear with me
the tlessed assurance that there ia
one bcing-and that being the best
beloved Of my heart--who knows me
to be innocent, and that thought shall
comfort me-" sa s,e ~.
"a remarkably pretty speech, and
well delivered I" exclaimed . voice,
which caused the youthful pair to start,
and turn their eyes in the direction
whence j proceeded. when. from be.
hind q dccaycd and solitary tree thai
grew in the Hollow, . tall figure
wrapped in an ample cloak, advanced
toward them. The place, IS we have
already noticed, had an evil reputa
tion and, although Edward and hil
companion were, Of course, free from
the snperstitious fears which charac
terized the country people, an undef'
nable feeling stole over them, as they
gazed upon the tall form before them
Mansell, however, soon. recovered
himself, aud told the stranger that
whoever he was. it i'll became him Il
overhear conversatiou which was mo-
intended for other ears than theil
own.
:" Nay was the reioinder. be mo-
angry with me |; perhaps you ma,
have reason to rejoice ID my preeence
since. being in possession Of The sto
~ Of your grisf. Il may be iu my po~
or to alleviateit. Ihave assisted mel
in greater straits. = S s -
Edward did not like the last cen
tence, nor the tone in which it WAS ut
tered but he said, al see not hoy
you can help me you can NOT Civ
me : clue By which to iind the box 1.
"Ycs. hero ia dss . replied th
other, 40 he held forth about three
yards Of strong cord here is line
go to the river At point exactly oppo
site tho hollow oak wade ont in ,
straight liue until you And the box
attach one end Of the cord TO the bo,