The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-01-22
A MOUNTAIN MYSTERY.

GIimPses of Life in the ThinIy Settled Inte-
riOr Counties of Arkansas.
correspondence of the New York World.l
WITT SPRINGS, Searcy County, Ark,
December 2O.-At the foot of the Bos-
ton Mountains dwells man named Ma
son. He is over 80 years old, and his
tall figure, white hair and patriarchal
air give him an indescribable appear
ance. His house is a rough but com
Portable lOg-cabin, and the few acres
around it afford ample subsistence. An
excellent marksman, he has never aban-
doned the use of his trusty rifle, while
thenumerous deer and bear skins within
and without the cabin bear ample testi-
mony of his skill and success. With the
exception of his wife, he lives entirely
alone. But his life has not always been
thus desolate. Only few years ago
three children 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 every body, while Lizzie
was rare, wildwood blossom. Her
soft blue eyes and flaxen 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 young suitor
being a young man named Charles Me-
Kinley, rather dissipated, not worth a
dollar, yet handsome, very forest
Apollo-in short, Just the kind of n man
to win young girls heartl
The Mason family were any thing but
pleased with her choice, and spared no
effort to break off the attachment the
lovers had for each other. Lizzie, how
IL
and threats were alike unavailing. The
former gave her courage to plead for
Charley; the latter made her cling the
closer to him. The young man was also
firm. l will never give up Lizzie, he
said, with q big, round oath, when
questioned on that point. Finding all
other efforts useless the Masons resOrted
to more violent measures. John Mason
met Charles Mckinley one day in the
forest and a terrible fight ensued in
which both were badly cut and bruised,
but in which John was decidedly
worsted. This stirred up additional
bitterness and for n 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 hard
ened natures that evil passions had filled
with wrath. There was reconciliation
between her lover and brother, and
there was general rejoicing in conse-
queuce, when an event occurred which
changed amity into distrust and sus-
picion. The event was no less than the
sudden and mysterious disappearance
of Charles Mckinley. He was last seen
alive, alone in the forest beyond the
mountains, and was on the trail of 3
herd of deer. The most rigid search
failed TO discover him or any trace oi
his whereabouts. He had dropped out
of sight and life as if the earth had
opened and swallowed him up. An sorts
of stories were rife. One said he haC
been murdered, another that hC
had run away, still another thai
he was purposely hiding himself and
would suddenly return. But as time
went on and he neither came nor was
heard of the suspicion that he had me-
with foul play gained ground rapidly
growing into certainty in the minds o
very many persons. OF course JOIN
Mason was accused of the murder, anC
though he strenuously denied tn,
charge, the evidence against him wa
strong enough to warrant his apprehen
sion. Once in the meshes of the law
seemed as if hundred circumstance
came up all crying trumpet-tonged
- Guiltyin Divers persons had hear'
him threaten To kill Charles Mckinley
that young man had himself said tina
he did not consider his life safe SO loni
rs John Mason remained in the country
Even Johns father admitted reluctant
that'his son had declared his intentio
OF riddling Charles Mckinley with buck
shot, while David corroborated the pan
ent's statement. Thus the coils of eli
cum 'tantial evidence closed tighter an
tighter about the young man, and bC
yont his bare assertion there was notI
ln5 to be said in refutation. The bio