Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-12


hear knocking
In the south entry! lark!-more knocking!
sHAXEsPEARs.
Hurricane Hall is a large old family mansion
built of dark, red sandstone, in one of the lone
liest and widest of the mountain regions of
Virginia.
The estate is surrounded on three sides by
range of steep, gray rocks, spiked with clumps
of dark evergreens, and called, from its horse
shoe form, the Devils IIoof.
On the fourth side the ground gradually des-
cends in broken rock and barren soil to the
edge of the wild mountain stream known as
the Devils Run.
When storms and floods were high, the loud
roaring of the wind through the wild mountain
gorges, and the terrific raging of the torrent
over its rocky course, gave to this savage local
ity its ill-omcned names of Devils lIoof Dew
lis Run and Hurricane Hall.
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely proprietor Of
the Hall, was veteran officer, who, in disgust
at what he supposed to be ill-requited services,
had retired from public life to spend the even
ing of his vigorous age on this his patrimona
estate Here he lived in scclusion, with his old
fashioned housekeepcr, Mrs Condiment, and his
old family servants and his favorite dogs and
horses. Here his mornings We're usually spent
in the chase, in which he excelled, and his af-
ternoons and evenings were occupied in small
conviyial suppers among his few chosen COM
panions of the chase or the bottle.
In person Major Warfield was tall and strong
ly built, reminding one of some old iron climbed
Douglas of the olden time. His features were
large and harsh his complexion dark red, as
that of one bronzed by long exposure and flush
ed by strong drink. His fierce dark gray eyes
Sre that wRcm bbck RsaYy eak 9aGSs
Il. 81. uoub;r,, ,Ls
them did of lightning. His hard, harsh face
was surrounded by a thick growth of iron-gray
hair and beard that met beneath his chin. His
usual habit was black cloth coat, crimson vest,
black leather brecchcs. long, black yarn stock
ings, fastened at the knees, and morocco slip
pers with silver buttons.
In character Major Wariicld was arrogant,
domineering and violent-equally loved and
feared hv his faithful old family servants at
home-disliked and dreaded by his noighbors
and acquaintances abroad, who, partly from his
house and partly from his character, fixed upon
him the appropriate nickname Of OLD llURRI-
CANE.
There was however, other ground Of dislike
besides that of his arrogant mind, violent tenn
per and domineering habits. Old Hurricane
was said to be an old bachelor, yet rumor whis-
pered that there was in some obscure part OF
the world, hidden away from human sight, a
deserted wife and child, poor forlorn and heart
broken. 1t was further whispered that the ell
der brother of Ira Warfield had mysteriousy
disappeared, and not without some suspicion Of
foul play on the part of the only person in the
world who had strong interest in his "taking
off," However these things might be, it was
known for a certainty that Old hurricane had
an only sister, widowed, sick and poor, who witt
her son dragged ora wrctched life of ill-requit-
ed toll, severe priyation and painful iniirInity
in distant city, unaided, unsought and uncar'
ed for by her cruel brother.
1t was the night of the last day of October
1915. The evening had closed in very darl
and gloomy. About dusk the wind arose il
the northwest driving up masses of leoden
hued Clouds and in few minutes the grounc
was covered deep with snow, and the air wa
filled with driving sleet.
As this was All Hallow Eve, the dreadful in
clemency of the weather did not prevent thu
negroes of Hurricane Hall from availing them
selves Of their capricious old masser's pernis
sion, and going off in body to a banjo break
down held in the negro quarters of their mex
neighbor.
Upon this evening, then, there was left a
Hurricane Hall only Major Warfeld Mrs Con
diment, his little old housekeeper, and Wool hi
body servant
Early in the evening the old hall was shut u
closely, TO keep out as much as posslblet the soun
of the storm that roared through the mountai
chasms and cannonaded the walls of the hous
as if determined to force an entrance. As 500
as she had seen that all was safe, Mrs Condi
mcnt went to bed and went to sleep.
1t was about ten O'Clock that night that OIL
Hurricane, well wrapped up in his quilted flar
mel dressing gown, sat in his well padded cas-
chair before warm and bright fire, taking hi
comfort in his own most comfortable bedroom
This was the hour of the coziest enjoyment
the self-indulgent old Sybarite, who dearly loN
ed his own case. Very comfortable was Oh
Hurricane; and as he toasted his feet and spT
ed his punch, while his black servant, Woo
applied the warming-pan to his cozy couch, h
fairly Rugged himself for enjoyment, and dc
clared that nothing under heaven would or coul
tempt him to leave that room and that hous
and go out into that storm on that night. Ju'
as he had come to this emphatic determinGtio
he was startled by a violent ringing of the dool
bell. Ordering Wool to go and see what va
the matter, he hastily arrayed himself in h
sleeping habliments and jumped into bed, d,
termined not to be intruded upon, or to be cal
. ed out Of his room on any account whatever
At this moment Wool reappeared.
"Shut the door, you villain! DO you inten
to stand there holding it open on me all night
vociferated the old man.
y Wool hastily closed the offending portals, an
$ hurried to his masters side.
"Well, sir, who was it rung the bellP"
, "Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin, al
he say how he must sec you yourself, persona
ly, alone"
"See me, you villain! Didn't you tell hi
y that had retiredP"
! ayes, Marse, I tell him how you were goI