Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1859-02-16

BY EMMA d. Z. n. SOUTHwORTH,
AUTHOR or "THE BRIDE or Az rvTsiSo." "TEE
pKsERrfp WIFE," Krc Erc., FRO.


pKsTRrrp WIFE" Krc Erc.. rro.
CHAPTER I-Tmr NOCTURNAL vIsIr
Whence Is that knockings
How isr with me when avery sound appeals me'
hear knocking
In the south entry Hark!-more knockingl
suaKrsrr.Rr.
Hurricane Hall is large old family man
sion. built Of dark. red sandstone. in one of the
lonelest aud widest Of the mopniain 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 Hoof
On the fourth side the ground gradually de-.
scends in broken rock and barren soil to the
edge of the Wild mountain stream known as
The Devils Run.
When storms and Goods 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 i'll omeued names Of Devils Hoof
Devils Run and Hurricane Hall.
the Hall, was a a veteran officer. who. in dis.
gust at what he supposed to be III requited
services, had retired from public life to spend
the evening OF his vigorous age this his pa
! uimonial estate. Here he lived in seclusion
with his old fash ionei horsekeeper, Mrs Con
diment. and his old family servants aud his
lavorie dogs aad horses. Here his mornings
were usually spent in the chase. in which he
excoled and his afternoons and evenings were
occupied in small convivial suppers among hi,
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 Douglas of the olden time. His fea
tui es were large and harsh; his con plexioi
dark r d. as that Of one bronzed by long expo
,ure aud flushed with strong drink His ferc'
dark gray eyes were surmounted by thick
heavy black brows. that. when gathered into
10 frown reminded one of a thunder cloud. a
= the hashiEg orbs beneath them did OF tighten
ing His hard, harsh face was surrounded b,
thick grow TIA Of iron gray hair aud bear,
that met beueath his chm. His usual habi
= va A black cloath coat. crimson vest, blacl
r leather braches long. black yarn stock ing
i, fA,len q st the knees, and morocco slipper
with SILVER buttons.
e la character Major warfeld was arrogant
u dominceflng and tiolent-equally loved au,
j. feared by his faithful old family servants a
hame, dlslsked aud dreaded 10y hi. neighbor
aud acquaintance abroad, who, partly ffou
a !, house aud partly ftom his character. fxe
"a upon him the appropriate nickname Of o..
hurricane.
There, was however, other ground ofdislik
'e besides that Of his arrogant mud, violent ten
: per and domiueeung habits. Old Hunican
L. was said TO be an old bachelor. yet runs
whispered that there was IN some ob,c0l
mart Of the world, hiden away from humA
el stght. deserted wife aud child, poor, forlor
II aud heartbrokcn II Was further whi>pere
that The elder brother Of Ira Narhe,d bad my
" teriousl, disappeared, and not without scu
~ susp,cion of foul play on the part of the onl
~ nerson IN the world who had strong iutere
- "a b,s taking oif." However those thtna
might be, IL was known Tor a certainty tn
or old uarr,eane had au ouly sister, viaowe
n - aud poor. ho with her ION dragged q
!. w,.tehed life Of llrqulted toll. severe pI
30. aud pslufll inhrsnity. in distan- CIT
.! ,4..,,leA. uosOught aud uncared for by her 81
ee n'o -. = night Of the last day Of Oetob,
,s.s "a. evening" had closed IN vely ia
- ..i,.,.x. About dusk The wind arose
ia a.. ,'a,,l,~.st. diving w masses OF lead
by ho,a clouds and in 4 Tea minute. TIE greai
was covef.d deep With sneN' sna the ar
,st filled with driving sisst a.. -,
Asthis VA All Hallo~ I've the dfeadl
ter ;,elsos,ev II N. weather did not prevent {
I'VE negroes of Hasricane Hall from Assiling The
ate selves of their capr,cio1s old masters peru
:. sion. and gong of In body 10 oanlo orea
down, held n The pssro quarters OF ine'f NJ
'"s neighbof.
ial Upon thi. evening. then, there vas LEI,
n, Hurricane Hall ouly Major wsheid. Mrs g
dimebt. his litile old housekeepef, aud w
his body servant.
has Early Ia the evening the old hall was Il
up closely. 10 keep out a. much as posssi
the seuld q the storm that foared through
mountain ehasms aud eannonaded the VI
TO Of the house a. II determined 10 force an
leo. t,anee A. soon AZ she had seen that all
..,. ssfe. Nn cyndimsnt veut % bed and ven
siesp.
~" nusA about tea oelerk that night that
'st' Huuiesne. well wrapped ep 10 his Gull
a. aauutl dressing gown at IA hls padded =
,,,. ehsls befogs q warm a@d bright Err, TAD
ais ecmfort an hts own most eomiortabls
footn Thss vas the hour OF the eosisst
'ail lioyment 10 the self.indulgent old ~ hai
. IL who dearly loved hi own ease. Very e
:. Portable "a. Old hanseans; aod a. he soA'
''s' his feet add slipped Ms puneh. shlle his el
servant Wool, applied the warning PAT
his cory couch. he fairly hugeed himself
,,... eniovmsrf snd declared that nothing us
heaven would or could temp, him 10 leave
''s' room aud that house and 80 ost Into that 81
on that night. Just as he had come to
emphatic dsseFniaaiion be vas startled !
mep vrclent ringing Of the door bell. Orde
Wool to 80 and s~e What vas the matter