The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-04-02
A FRONTIER STORY.

SeaTcy county, Ark, dWellS q man named
Mason. He is over eighty years old, and his
tall figure, white hair and patriarchal air
give him an indescTibable appearance. His
house is a rough but comfortable log cabin.
and the few acres around it afford ample sub
sistence. An excellent marksman, he has
never abandoned the use of his trusty rife,
while the numerous deer and bear skins
within and without the cabin bear ample
testimony of skill and success.
With the exception of his wife he lives en-
tirely alone. But his life has not always been
thus desolate. Many years ago three chill
dren frightened his humble home, two BOYS
John and David, and one daughter, Lizzie
who was the pride of the old mans heart and
the light of his rude cabin. The sons were
light-hearted boys, given to drink somewhat,
but liked by everybody, while Lizzie was a
rare, wildwood blossom. Her soft blue ewes
and fiaxen hair played sad havoc with the
hearts Of the younger portion of the opposite
sex in all that section, and many sought her
hand in marriage, the fortunate suitor being
a young man named Charles Mckinley,
rather dissipated, not worth dollar yet
handsome, very forest Appollo-in short,
just the kind OF a man to win young girls
heart.
The Mason family were anything but
pleased with her choice, and spared no effort
to break off the attachment the lovers had
for each other. Lizzie, however, could not
be moved. Entreaties and threats were alike
unavailing. The former gave her courage to
plead for Charlie; the latter made her cling
the closer to him. Finding all other efforts
useless, the MasOnS re5orted to more violent
4 ley one day in the forest and desperate
/ fight ensued, in which both were badly cut
and bruised. but in which John was decided
+ ly worsted. This stirred up additional bit
/ terness and for a time threatened to draw
the majority of the surrounding families into
/ the quarrel and disturb the peace Of the
neighborhood. Lizzie sought to pour oil on
the troubled water, and her gentle words
melted the hardened natures that evil pas
siOns had filled with wrath. There was a
reconciliation between her lover and brother,
and there was general rejoicing III conse-
quence, when an event occurred which
changed amity into distrust and suspicion.
The event was no less than the sudden and
mysterious disappearance OF Charles Mckin-
lev. He was last seen alive alone in the
forest beyond the mountains, and was on the
trail of herd Of deer. The most rigid search
failed to discover him or any trace OF his
whereabouts. He had dropped out of sight
and life as if the earth had opened and swal-
loved him up. All sorts of stories were rife.
One said he was murdered another that he
had run away, still another that he was pur-
posely hiding himself and would suddenly
return. But as time went on and he
Of
that be had met with foul play gained ground
rapidly, growing into certainty in the minds
OF many persons.
OF course John Mason was accused Of the
murder, and though he strenuously denied
the charge, the evidence against him was
strong enough to warrant his arrest. Once
in the meshes of the law it seemed as if a
hundred circumstances came up, all crying
trumpet-tongueG, "Guilty !" Divers per
sons had heard him threaten to kill Charles
Mckinley that young man had himself said
that he did not consider his life safe as long
as John Mason remained in the country.
Even Johns father admitted reluctantly that
his son mad declared his intention of riddlinE
Charles Mckinley with buCkshOt, while
David corroborated his parents statement.
Thus the coils of circumstantial evidence
closed tighter and tighter about the young
man. and beyond his bare assertion there
was nothing to be said in refutatiOn.
The blow had fallen on the Young girl with
crushing effect The sudden disappearance
of her lover. the arrest OF her brother ON the
charge of numbering him, almost drove her
insane. She, however, shared the popular
opinion that young Mckinley had been muir
dered and that her brother was guilty of the
terrible crime. Urged for a reason for her
belief, she finally admitted that it rested on
the slender foundation of q dream. On the
night succeeding the day upon which Charles
Mckinley disappeared, in a dream She saw
her brother and him in a violent quarrel.
The men were in a dark ravine there was
a mountain to their right, and deep, dense
forest to their left She heard their words
she saw John strike Mckinley with his rifle,
and fell him to the earth. That blow was
fatal. The young man never spoke after
wards John hid the body in dark cave in
the mountains, and there it still remained
This dream made powerful impression on
the young girl, and though many were dis
posed to laugh at it, nothing could shake her
faith and confidence in its horrible reality.
From that time she was a changed woman.
Slowly she pined away. The color faded
from her cheeks, giving place to deathly
paIlor; her eyes lost their tender glance and
sparkled with an unearthly lustre she ut
tered no complaint Like the gentle girl
who loved the unfortunate Irish patriot,
Robert Emmett, she passed to her earthly
grave, forgiying all, beloved by every one,
I the victim of Y sad broken heart
/ John Mason broke Jail and fed to Texas,
his brother David going into exile with him
( This settled all doubts or questions as to his
guilt or innocence. Flight was accepted by
one and all as a confession OF guilt. Liberal
rewards were offered for the capture of the
brothers, David being considered an acces-
sorry to the crime, but neither was ever ap-
pretended From the Lone Star State they
went TO Louisiana, and in New Orleans fell
victims to that dread scourge, yellow fever.
Letters now in the fathers possession con-
tain the most fervent prOtestations Of their
/ innocence, and subsequent events clearly
/ exonerate them from completely in the taking
off Of young Mckinley. For years after,
when the main actors in This strange episode
slept in their graves miles apart when in
terest in the scenes we have just related had
almost died away, or was recalled with awe
at the hunters winter fireside, the mystery
surrounding the disappearance Of the young
man was brought to light.
a party Of hunters, while chasing q deel
in an adjacent county, found his remains il
a cave in which the animal they were pursu