Hawks of Hawk‐Hollow, The. A Tradition of Pennsylvania

Hawks of Hawk‐Hollow, The. A Tradition of Pennsylvania, romance by R.M. Bird, published in 1835, and anonymously dramatized in 1841.

At the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania, in 1780, there is a feud between the Gilbert and Falconer families. Years before, Colonel Richard Falconer seduced Jessie Gilbert, and her brothers, a wild group known as the Hawks, vowed revenge but fled during the Revolution. Herman Hunter, an artist, now comes to the valley, where he falls in love with Catherine Loring, daughter of the colonel's steward, after he rescues her from drowning, being in turn saved by a dark stranger. Herman's rival is Henry Falconer, the colonel's nephew. When Catherine prepares to marry Henry, the dark stranger, revealing himself to be Oran Gilbert, helps Herman to surprise the wedding party, killing Henry and kidnapping Catherine. Herman is captured and jailed, Oran fails to carry out his plan to seize the jail, and Elsie, an old crone, reveals to the colonel that Herman is actually Hyland, his son by Jessie Gilbert. The colonel has Hyland released, confesses that he had secretly married Jessie, and dies. Oran commits suicide, and Hyland and Catherine marry.