Middletown transcript., 1870-07-23
grlett STORY.
THE ELMS.

Among the vcrdanL hills of Eastern
Pennsylvania, near where the noble, wind
| ing Susquehanna, coursing through the
State, divides the Blue Ridge mountains,
snugly nestles the little town, or rather
village, of Linton-for it scarcely merits
the appcllation of town-and which, if it
were not for the self asserting dazzle of
the gilt vane which surmouuts the spire
Of the little moss-covcred church in that
place, would be lost to view, even if its
existence was not forgotten by the great,
worrying, busy, outside world.
1t was a picturesque little place the
great high mountains, their tops almost
seeming to pierce the heavens, towering
at its rear, the shimmering waters of the
Susquchanna flowing at its feet, and the
numerous shady trees casting their cooling
umbrage over its dwellings and lawns, all
conspircd to make it one of the most de-
lightful spots one could imagine: and
one would scarcely believe it could be
made the scene of a tradgedy so heinous
as that which was perpetrated during the
later part of the summer of 1S5--, and
which, for the cold -bloodedness and ingc-
nuity ovinced in its consummation, has
scarcely parallel.
Mr.. Edison, the victim of the tragedy,
was retired merchant, who resided with
his family in an elegant villa situated on
the outskirts of the town, and which, from
the fact of its being surrounded by shady
grove of trees of that species, was known
in Linton by the name of "Thc Elms."
The family of the merchant consisted of
his wife and nephew, besides several do
mcstics. His wife, Estellc, was of South
ern origin, dark, imperious,. beautiful as
Venus, of very passionate disposition,
and, if necessary, would not soruple to go
to any length to satisfy her affections or
her hate.
Rumor had it that her marriage with
Mr.. Edison was not free from the charge
of mercenariness for in no other way
could the gossips account for the union of
two persons whose ages exhibited such
great disparity; for Estelle had only
passed her twenty-third year, while Ed
son was on the shady side of fifty when he
brought home his dark-eyed houri as the
mistress of The Elms," scarce one year
before. and his appearance exaggerated
his age. And it was no great wonder if
the more meddlesome threw out sundry
invidious insinuations as the propriety of
allowing two such fine and comely persons
as Randolp, Mr.. Edson's nephew, hand
some, ad-shou!dered fellow of twenty
five, and Estelle, the pleasure of each
others constant company, as must neces-
sarily be the case from their present rcla-
tons; and further, it was true that Ran
dolph was somewhat of wild fellow,
which facts The gossips urged in support
of their disinterested hints. The praters
kept talking, and the inmates of The
Elms" remained in ignorance Of their be-
ing the subjects of their idle comments,
until one morning in August, Linton
woke up, and learned the news of the
murder of Mr.. Edison, which aroused it
from its semi-apathetical state to renewed
action; and many were the speculations
that became rife in the village as to who
committed the bastard act Nor had they
long to wait for a subject on which to vent
their pent-up garulity; for suddenly an
other rumor was bruited abroad to the eff
feet that Joe Smith, rather hard charac-
ter, and confirmed haJituc of the village
tavern, was discovered to have mysterious
ly disappeared simultaneously with the
discovery of Mr.. Edson's assassination,
aud on him Immediately fell the over
whelming weight of suspicion. He was
not naturally viscious character, for his
vices were only inebrity and shiftlessness,
bpt he had hard name, and suspicion