The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-15

the seat, but not tke sscas, Il you please to
night
Not the negusl Oh, come now. YOU ar,
joking Why, il win keep you from catching
cold, and Dc . most comfortable nightcap
and disPosing you to sleep and sweat hike 1
baby VI course you spend the night with
thank you, mol l must take the road
again in few minutes.'
Take the road again to night! Why, mar
alive i is midnight, and the snow driving
like ell Lapland.
o.r. am sorry to refuse your proferea
hospitality and leave your comfortable roo
tonight. and still to have to take you with
me, said the pastor gravely.'
Take BE with you No, no, my good sir
no, no, that is too good q joke---ha ha /
Fir, fear you will find it . very serious
one Your servant told you that my errand
was one of imminent urgency
Yes, something like life and death.
Exactly-down in the cabin. near the
Punch Bowl there 10 ON old woman dy-
ing
There, know it. was just saying there
might be an old woman dying But my
dear sir, what's that to me7 What car
idoY
Humanity. sir, would prompt you,
But my dear sir, how can | help her!
am notsa physician to prescribe-
She is far past physicians help
Nor am q priest to hear her confess
sion
Her confession God has already receiv.
ed
We'll, and I'm not lawyer to draw up
her will
No, sir; but you were recently appointed
one Of the Justices of the Peace for ALE.
Rhany.'
Yes; well, what Of that. That does not
comprise the duty of getting up out Of my
warm bed and going through snow storm
to see an old woman expire
Excuse me for insisting, sir; but this is
an official duty, said the parson, mildly but
firmly
'fll-1ll throw up my commission to :
morrow, growled the old man.
Tomorrow you may do that, but mean
while, tonight, being still in the commission
OF the peace. you are bound to get up and
90 with me to this woman's bedside.
Add what the demon is wanted Of me
there ?
10 receive her dying deposition
To receive her dying deposition Good
Heaven was she murdered, then exclaim.
the old man, in alarm, as he started out of
bed and began to draw on his neither gar
ments
BE composed-she was not murdered,
said the pastor.
We'll, then, what is it ? Dying deposition.
1t must concern crime, exclaimed the old
man, hastily drawing on his coat.
1t does concerns crime.
What crime, for the love of heavenY
am not ut liberty to tell you She will
do that
Wool, go down and rouse up Jehu, and
tell him to put Parson Goodwins mule in the
stable tor the night And tell him to put
the black draught horse to the close carriage,
and light both the front lanterns-eor we
shall have a dark, stormy road-Shut the
door, you infernaii--I beg your pardon, par
son, but that villain always leaves the door
ajar after him..
Tie good parson bowed grayelv and the
mayor completed his toilet by the time
that the servant returned and reported the
carriage ready
To the Devils Punch Bowl, was the
order given by Old Hurricane as he followed
the minister into the carriage And now.
sir he continued addressing his companion,
think you had better repeat that part of
the church litany that prays to be delivered
from battles, murder and sudden death;
for if We should be so lucky as to escape
Black Donald and his gang, we shall have at
least an equal chance OF being upset in the
darkness OF these dreadful mountains.
pair of saddle mules would have been
safer conveyance, certainly, said the min
lster
Old Hurricane knew that, but though q
great sensualist, he was a brave man. and he
would rather risk his life in a close carriage
than suffer cold upon sure-footed mule
back.
After many delays and perils, the pastor
and Old hurricane arrived at their desti-
nation, called the Witch's Hut or Old Hats
Cabin. In one corner Of the hut, on a ragged
couch, lay gray haired and emaeiated wo-
man, evidently near unto death On being
informed that "a magistrate had arrived. she
on everybody else leaving the room,
As she would speak with him alone. Her re-
quest having been complied with, Old Hur-
ricane drew from his pocket Bible, admin
Now then, my good soul begin the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
TRUTH you know. But first your name !?
Is it possible you don't know me, mas
terY
Not l, in faith'
For the love of heaven, look at me and try
10 recolect me, sir 1t is necessary some one
should be able to know me- said
he woman, raising her haggard eyes to the
ace of her visitor
The old man adjusted his spectacles and
ave her scrutinizing look, exelaiming at
Intervals
Lord bless my soul it is it aint it must
cant be Granny Grewell -the-the-t
midwife that disappeared from here some
we've or thirteen years agoY
Yes, master, | am Nancy GrewelI, the
aides nurse, who vanished from sight so
nysteriously some thirteen years ago T re-
'iied the woman.
Heaven help our hearts And for what
rhine was it you ran away ? Come--make
clean breast of it, womanl You have moth
ng to fear in doing SO, for you are past the
rm of earthly law now!'
know it, master
And the best way to prepare to meet the
i
,ivine Judge is to make all the reparation
hat you can by full confession I
know it,slr; If had committed crime,
ut J have committed no crime, neither did
Tin away
What what? what What was it then?
witness; that you are on your
ath T
know that, sir, and will tell the truth;
ut 1t must he IN my own way.
at this moment violent blast of wind and /
all roareddo the mountaia side ana rat |
ed against the walls shaking it about their
ars.
1t was proper overture to the tale that
as about To he told. Conversation was i'm t
hssib'e until the storm rayed past and was
card dying in deep reyerberatng echoes /
ON the depths of the Devils Punch Bowl. t
1t is some thirteen years ago, began
ranny Grewell, upon just such night Of /
orm as this, that | was mounted upon nv
d mule Molly, with my saddle bags full
dried YARDS, and stilled water and sch. as
aiius carried when WAS out tend;n on
'e sick was on my way a-going to see
dy as ! was sent for to tend
Well MASTER I'm not shamed to say, as