Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-12
tn = H1DI'D3.EN HAND

:, III f H1Dl:pEN HAND
.55I BY EMMA d. q, N. sourHWoRrH. :;
AUTHOR OF TIE" Balpr o, Az Evsazo,r "1H. D.iiar,'
sab s,sj % .wU.,''zrc, src., Etc.. t.ITtaD =
7 t.,r. CHAPTER L-THs Noo1usnAL yIslr. ; q
5lusns, ..,.,.* .waence Is that knocking o.. =
How ist with me when every sound appals met
- hear . knocking i'3tt!ot: q
fi0 In the south entry Hsrk LrHcrs knsekinsiG
traastet- 2i4t -, sHAKsPEARs.
Hurricane Hall is a large; old family, man
sion, built of dark, red sandstone, in one o.
the loneliest and widest of the mountain re-
gions of Virginia. q. na5d .,'T +
The estate is surrounded on three sides by
range Of steep, gray rocks, spiked with
clumps of dark evergreens, and called, from
its horseshoe form, the Devils Hoof - 1,
On the fourth side the ground gradually de.
sends in broken rock and barren soil to the
edge of the wild mountain stream known as
the Devils Run. ...., a.-- -, ..lig h.. I
: }. When storms and floods were high, the loud
roaring of the wind through the wild noun.
tain gorges, and the terrific raging of the tor.
rent over its rocky course, gave to this savage
locality its ill-omened names of Devils Hoof
Devils Run and Hurricane Hail.. .1l, .-7
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely proprietor o.
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 eve.
ming of his vigorous age on this his patrimo
NAL estate. Here he lived in seclusion, with
his old fashioned housekeeper, Mrs. Condi.
ment, and his old family servants and his "a
vorite dogs and horses. Here his mornings
were usually spent in the chase, in which he
excelled, and his afternoons and evenings were
occupied in small convivial suppers among
his few chosen companions of the chase OF
the bottle. - ....r ..
In person Major Warfeld was tall and
strongly built, reminding one of some old iron
imbed Douglas of the oiden time. His fea.
lures were large and harsh his complexion
dark red, as that of one bronzed by long ex.
posure and flushed with strong drink. His
fierce, dark grey eyes were surmounted by
thick, heavy black brows, that, when gather.
ed into frown, reminded one of thunder
cloud, as the flashing orbs beneath them did
of lightning. His hard, harsh face was sur
rounded by thick growth of iron-grey hail
and beard that met beneath his chin. His
usual habit was a black cloth coat, crimson
vest, black leather breaches, long, black yarr
stockings, fastened at the knees, and morocco
slippers with silver buttons. ~ 100
In character Major Warfield was arrogant
domineering and violent-equally loved anG
feared by bis faithful old family servants al
and dreaded by his neighbors
and acquaintance abroad, who, partly from
his house and partly from his character, fixed
upon him the appropriate nickname of OIL
HURRICANE.
There was, however, other grounds of dis
like besides that of his arrogant mind, violent
temper and domineering habits. Old Hurri
cane was said to be an old BACHELOR, vet ru
NOR whispered that there was in some Obscur,
part of the world, hidden away from human
sight, deserted wife and child, poor, forlorr
and heart broken. 1t was further whispered
that the elder brother of Ira Warfield had
mysteriously disappeared, and not withou,
some suspicion of foul play on the part of the
only person in the world who had strong in
terest in his taking off," However these
things might be, an only sister, widowed, sicE
and poor, who with her son dragged on q
wretched life Of ill-requited toll, severe priva
ton and painful infirmity, in a distant city
unaided, unsought and uncared for by hel
cruel brother. 49, e.. sf -.H ,.I
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 ir
the northwest, driving up masses of leaden
hued clouds, and in few minutes the grounG
filled with driving sleet.
AS this was All Hallow Eve, the dreadful
inclemency of the weather did not proven
the negroes of Hurricane Hall from availin,
themselves of their capricious old master
permission, and going off in body to banj'
breakdown held in the negro quarters of thei
next neighbor. -D
Upon this evening, then, there was left a
Hurricane Hall only Major Warfeld, Mrs
Condiment, his little old housekeeper, ant
Wool, his body servant.
Early in the evening the old hall was shu
up closely, to keep out as much as possible
the sound of the storm that reared through
the mountain chasms and canonaded the walls
of the house as if determined to force an en-
trance. AS soon as she had seen that all was
safe, Mrs. Condiment went to bed and went
to sleep. ...-#.
1t was about ten o'clock that night thai
Old Hurricane, well wrapped up in his quilt
ed flannel dressing gown, sat in his well pad
ded easy chair before warm and bright fire
taking his comfort in his own most comforta
BILE bedroom. This was the hour of the coz
est enjoyment to the self-indulgent old Syb
arite, who dearly loved his own ease. Very
comfortable was Old Hurricane; and as he
toasted his feet and slipped his punch, while
his black servant, Wool, applied the warming
pan to his cozy couch, he fairly Rugged him.
col for hat
under heaven would or could tempt him to
leave that room and that house and 60 out
into that storm on that night. Just as he had
come to this emphatic determination he was
startled by violent ringing of the door-bell.
Ordering Wool to go and see what was the
matter, he hastily arrayed himself in his
sleeping habiliments and jumped into bed,
determined not to intruded upon, or to be
called out of his room on any account what.
ever. ill., ..s.
At this moment Wool reappeared.
"Shut the door, you villain Do you in.
tend to stand there holding it open on me all
night" vociferated the old pan. .-a.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals,
and hurried to his masters side.
"Well sir, who was it rung the bell ~
"Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin
and he say how he must see you yourself
personally, alone p .... ....'.
See me, you villain Didn't you tell him
that had retired l''
Eyes, Marse, I tell him how you were
gone to bed and asleep morne'n an hour ago
and he ordered me to come wake you up, and
say how it were matter O life and death!'
Life and death? What have to do with
life and death? Iwon't stir If the parsor
wants to see me he will have to come uI
here and see me in bed"
Mos l fetch him reverence up
sar ~
Eyes, wouldn't get up and 60 down t.
neutrality-suspicious. the door, you ras
cal or I'll throw the booGack at your wood
en- head p ..~
Wool obeyed with alacrity and in time t.
escaped the threatened missile.
After an absence of few minutes he was
:, l.. r,