Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-08

THE DESERTED WIFE" ETC, ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER I.-TuE Nocturnal VISIT.
! Whence is that knocking!
How ist with me when every sound appals me?
! | hear knocking
| In the south entry! Hark!-mOre knocking!
SHAKSPEARE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family man.
sion, 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
a range of steep, grey rocks, spiked with
clumps of dark eycrgreens, and called, from
its horseshoe form, the Devils Hoof.
! On the fourth side the ground gradually
descends 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 noun
tain gorges, and the terrific raging of the
torrent over it's rocky course, gave to this
savage locality its ill-omened names, of Dew
lis lIoof, Devils Run, and Hurricane Hall.
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely proprietor
of the Hall. was veteran officer, who, in dis
gust at what he supposed to be ill-requited
services, had retired from public life to spend
the evening of his vigorous age on this his
matrimonial estate. Here he lived in Sc
clusion, with his old-fashioned housekeeper,
Mrs. Condiment, and his old family servants
and his favorite dogs and horses. Here his
mornings were usually spent i'll the chase,
in which he excelled, and his afternoons and
evenings were occupied in small convvial
suppers among his few chosen companions
of the chase or the bottle.
In person Major Warfeld was tall and
strongly built, reminding one of some old
iron-limbed Douglass of the olden time. His
features were large and harsh; his complex
ion dark red, as that of one bronzed by long
! exposure and flushed with strong drink
His fierce, dark gray eyes were surmounted
by thick, heavy black brows, that when ga
thered into frown, reminded one of thun-
der-clo,,d, as the flashing orbs beneath them
did IF lightning: his hard, harsh face was
surrounded by thick growth of iron-gray
hair and beard that met beneath his chin
His usual habit was a black cloth coat, Grim
son vest, black leather breeches, long, black
warn stockings. fastened at the knees, and
morocco slippers with silver buttons.
In character Major Wartield was arrogant,
domineering and violent-equally loved and
feared bv his faithful old family servants ut
home-dislkcd and dreaded by his neigh
bors and acquaintance abroad. who. partly
from his house and partly from his charac-
ter, fixed upon him the appropriate nick
name Of OLD HURRICANE.
There was, how yer, other ground of dis
like beside that of his arrogant mind. violent
temper and domneering habits. Old Hur-
ricane was said to be an old bachelor, yet ru-
NOR whispered, TINT there was in some obscure
mart of the world. hidden away from human
sight. Il deserted wife and child, poor. for
lorn and heart-brokcn. 1t was further whls-
rcred that the elder brother of Ira Warfed
had mysteriously disappeared and not with
out some suspicion of foul play on the part
of the only person in the world who had Il
strong interest in his taking Of However
these things might be, it was known for a
certainty that Old Hurricane had an only
sister, widowed, sick and poor, who with
her son dragged on q wretched life of lire
Quilted toll, severe privatiOn and painful in
trinity, in distant city. unaided unsought,
and nncared for by her cruel brother
1t was the night of the last day of October,
1915. The evening had closed in very dark
and gloomy. About dusk the wind arose IN
the northwest. driving up masses OF leadcn
hucd clouds, and in few minutes the
ground was covered deep with snow, and
the mir was filed with driving sleet.
As this was All Ilallow Eve, the dreadful
inclemency Of the weather did not prevent
the negroes of Hurricane Hall from awaiting
themselves Of their capricions old masters
permission, and going of in body to ban.
10 breakdown held in the negro quarters OF
their next neighbor.
Upon this evening, then, there was left ut
Hurricane Hall only Major Warfcld, Mrs.
Condiment, his little old housekeeper, and
Wool, his body servant.
Early in the evening the old hail was shut
up closely. to keep ont ~ much IS possible
the sound of the storm that roared through
the mountain chasmS and canonnadcd the
walls of the house as if determined to force
mn entrance. As soon rs she had seen that
all WAS safe, Mrs. Condiment went to bed
and went to sleep.
It was about ten o'clock that night that
Old Hurricane, well wrapped up in his quii,
ted flannel dressing gown. sat in his well
padded easy chair before a warm and bright
fire. taking his comfort III his own most COM
Portable bedroom. This was the hour OF the
contest enjoyment to the self:indulgent old
Svbarite. who dearly loved his own ease
Very comfortable was Old Hurricane; and
| ms he toasted his feet and slipped his punch
while his black servant Wool. applied the
warming pan to his cozy conch, he fairly
Rugged himself for enjoyment, and declared
that nothing under heaven would or could
tempt him to leave that room and that house
and 90 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 be in
itruded upon, or to be called out Of his room
! on any account whatever.
At this moment Wool reappcarcd.
I Shut the door, you villain. Do you in
/ tend to stand there holding it open on me
all night" vociferated the old man.
! Wool hastily closed the offending portals,
and hurried to his masters side.
We'll, sir. who was it rang the bell:'
"Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin,
and he say how he must see you yourself,
personally. alone"
..See me, you villain! Didn't you tell him
! that had retired?"