The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1859-02-18

heW l' WIN mo when every sound appah met
In 'ho south sniryi Hati,~@ofis' -iScf,'s tsuochinsl
staKHFEANE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family
mansion, built Of dark, red sandstone, in
one of the loneliest and widest of the
mountain regions Of Virginia.
The estate is surrounded on three sides
by range Of steep, gray rocks, spiked
with olumps Of dark overgreens, and call
cd, from its hors hOe form, the DEVILS
Hoof
On the fourth side the ground aradu
ally descends in broken rock and barren
soil to the edge Of the wild mountain
stream known as the DEVILS Bun.
When storms and floods were higb, 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 locality It's iil-omen-
ed names Of Devils Hoof, DEVILS Run
and Hurricane Hall.
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely proprie.
tor Of the Hall, was veteran officer, who,
in disgust at what he supposed to be III
Irequited services, had retired from pub
lie life to spend the evening Of his vigor-
GUS age on this his patrmonial estate
iasGiohed hodsekeeper, Mrs. COndimonti.
and his old family servants and his favor
ite dogs and horses. Here his mornings
were usually spent in the chase, in which
he excelled. and his afternoons and eve
nings we're occupied in small conviyial
suppers among his few chosen oompan-
ions Of the chase or the bottle.
In person Major War6eld was tall and
strongly built, reminding one Of some old
iron-lImbed Douglas Of the olden time
His featnres were large and harsh; his
complexion dark red, as that of one bron-
zod by long exposure and flushed with
strong drink His fierce, dark gray eyes
were surmounied by thick, heavy black
brows, that, when gathered into a frown,
reminded one ofa thuuder cloud. as the
flashing orbs beneath them did of light
ming. His hard, harsh face was surroun-
ded by thick growth of iron-gray hair
and beard that met beneath his chin
His usual habit was a black cloth coat
crimson vest, black leather breeches, long
black yarn stockings, fastened at the
knees, morocco slippers with silver but
tons.
In character Major Warfeld was AFRO
giant. domineering and violent-equally
loved and feared by his faithful old fami
y servants at home--disiked aud dread
ed by his neighbors aud acquaintance
abroad, who, partly from his house anC
partly from his character fixed upon him
, the appropriate nickname Of 0LD HURRr
CANE.
There was. however other ground O
dislike besides that Of his arrogant mind
violent temper and domineering habits.
Old Hurricane was said to be an OLE
bachelor, yet rumor whispered that ther,
= was in some obscure part Of the world
hidden away from human sight, deser
ted wife aud child, poor, forlorn and heart
broken. twas further whispered tina
the elder brother OF Ira War6elJ ha,
mysteriously disappeared, aud not with
out some suspicion Of foul play on th
part Of the only person in The world VIII,
had strong interest in his taking off.
However these things might be, il wa
known for a certainty that Old Hufrican
had an only sister, widowed, sick an,
poor, who with her son dragged on
Wretched life Of ill-rexqitIed toll, sever
privasion and painful infrmity, in dis
tant city, unaided, unsought and unear
: ed for by her cruel brother.
1t was the night Of the last day Of Oc
. tober, l845, The evening had closed i
dark aud glomy. About dusk the win,
arose in the north west driving up mass
es of leaden hued clouds, and ia a fe,
J minutes the ground was covered dee
: with snow, aud the air was filed wit
driving seet.
As this was All HalloH Eve, the dread
ful inclemency Of the weather did not pre-
= vent the negroes Of Hurricane Hall fro.
lavailing themselves Of their ospricious oil
masters permission, and going of in
body to a banjo breakdown held in III
negro quarters of their next neighbor.
Upon this evening, then, there was leI
at Hurricane Hall Cnly Major Warfisld
Mrs. COndimenl, his little old housekeep
! or, and Wool, his body servant
Early in the evening the old hall wa
shut up closely, to keep out as much a
( possible the sound Of the storm that roar
! cd through the mountain ohasms and Gao
lnOnaded the Walls Of the house as il de