The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-01-27
TnE DEVILS HOLLOW.

10 The town Of Carskill, on tho Hud.
son River there dwelt, sone yearS ago.
an attorney of the nsmO Of Mason. He
was 10 considerable Practice, and had
two clerks in his Office whose names
were Msnsell anI Van Burea. 10 abil
itY these young men were nearly on o
par. but differed widely in disposition
Van Bursn was cold. close, end somss
what suIen in temper; buI in busine g
active and perseveriug Mlnsell,
although assiduous 10 his duties. was Of o
gsSer temperament, open ss tho day,
generous. eonffing and true.
! Mason, without being absolutely dis i
honest ives what Is caiIsd5 Keen lawyer,
his practice being somevLat Of the
sharpest; end aS lths7 dispt sition of 1.-the
clerk, Van Bufen, assimilated in many.
respects to bis owu, be vas a great favor.
ite-;mote intimately in his confidence,
and usually employed on those delicats
matters which sometimes occur 10 an at.
loraey's business. and 10 which the bon-
esty Of MsuseIl might rather binder than
help. ]
Mason had q niece, who, he being q
bachelor, lived With himin the cspacity
Of housekeeper. She was lively, sen.
si.ive Ond clever eirl-very pretty. IL not
positively handsome. She had the
grace Of a sylph and the step Of q faWn.I
.ltwss natural that such m siden should
be an object Of interest totwo young
men living uUder The same roof. shd By
10 means matter Of astouishmeuE that
one or bolh of them should fall ia love
with her; aud both of them did. But
as the young lady bad but one.heart, she
could not retain the love Of each, In
making her selection, the choice fell up
on Edastd Manseli. greatly 10 the cha
grin OF his rival and to the annoyance
Of Mason. who would have been pleased
10 tind Vsn Buten the ta3orite sGitor.-
However Mansell was chosen lover, add
MSsou could not sitter The case By or.
eumenti nor was he disposed to send
aWsy his niece; who in.some measure was
essential to bis domestic comtCJt: and,
moreover, he loved her as much sS hc
loved anything.
Matters went on this way for. some
lime; great deal Of bitterness Snd ran4
cor beiu / displayed bS Mason and Van
Buten o0.the Que hand. while Kate and
Edward Msnsell found 10 The interviews
theyoceasionaIly eojoyed more than com
pensation for the annoyance 10 which
they we're thus necessarily exposed.
II happened, at the time when Ed
ward 8 engagement was within q month
ofexpiration, that Macon had reoeiSed
q. sum Of money as agent for snother par.
", amounting TO nearly three tho66and
dollars, ofwbich the greater portion was
solid coin. Astbs money could not be
conveniently disposed Of nntil The fol
lpWiug day, it was depositsdfn a tin box
10 The iron safe, the key Of which was
always iu tue custody Of MansoIl, Soon
afler he received tue charge, Van Bufen
quilted the Htiics for q short lime 6n6 10.
the interim 40 application from aclisnl
rendered It necssSsfy Tor Ma6sell 10 go
up to the courthouse. Having 7dsS-l
patched bis business at the hall be rsiilf
ned with alEe1R65Hiol, aud.ip, duo time
be took the key ofbs SGfs 0Rd depstiIed1
therein, % usual The valuable papers a.
the Office over uight-when to bic ineoaN.
csiVable horror, be discovered the irsas-
urO was gone, p5jis
He Ftshed down stairs, and meeting
Vac Buren. communicated the unfortun-
ate cutcumstance. He in turn express-
ed bic astonishmsnl in strong termS, aad
indeed exhibited something like sympa.
Thy 10 his brother clerks miSfo ttune. -
Every s6arGE Was made about the prem.
issS, and Information was given 10 the