The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-02-16
CHAPTER 1.-THE NOCTURNAL VISIT.

Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me when every sound appals me?
= hear knocking
In the south entry Hank : more knocking
SHAKESPEARE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family
mansion. built Of dark, red sandstone, il
one Of the loneiest and widest Of the
mountain regions of Virginia.
The estate is surrounded on three side
by range of steep, gray rocks, spiked
with clumps Of dark cvergreens, and calico
from IFS horseshoe form, the Devils Hooc
On the fourth side tho ground gradual
ly descends in broken rock and barTer
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 vile
mountains gorges, and the terrific raging
OF the torrent over its rocky course, gave
to this savage locality its il-omened names
of Devils Hoof, Devils Run and Hurri-
cane Hall.
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely propre-
tor 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 evening Of his vigorous
age on this his patrimonial estate.
Here he lived in seclusion, with his old.
fashioned housekeeper, Ms. Condiment
and his old family servants and his favor
lite dogs and horses. Here his mornings
were usually spent in the chase, in which
he excelled, and his afternoons and eve.
nings were occupied ia small convivia
suppers among his few chosen companions
OF the chase and the bottle.
In person Major Warfeld was tall
and strongly built, reminding one of some
old iron-limbed Douglas Of the olden time.
His features were large and harsh; his
complexion dark r,d, as that of one
bronzed by long exposure and flushed with
strong drink, His fierce dark gray eyes
were surmounted by thick, heavy bacl,
brows that, when gathered into a frown.
reminded one Of thunder cloud ms the
flashing orbs beneath them did Of light
ming. His hard, harsh face was surround
ed by thick growth of iron.gray hair
and beard that met beneath his chin. His
usual habit was q black cloth coat, Grim.
son vest, black leather breaches, long.
black yarn stockings fastened at the knees,
aud morocco slippers with silver buttons.
In character Major Warfeld was AFRO.
giant, domineerng and enthusiastically
loved and feared by his faithful old 'falni-
ly servants at home-disliked and dreaded
by his neighbors and acqqaintances abroad
who partly from his house and partly from
his character fixed upon him the appro.
pirate nickname Of OLD HURRICANE.
There was, however other ground of
dislike besides that of his arrogant mind.
violent temper and domineering habits.
Old Hurricane was said to be an old bach.
elor. yet rumor whispered that there was
in some obscure part OF the world, hidden
away from human sight, deserted wife
and child, poor, forlorn and heart-broken.
1t was further whispered that the elder
brother of Ira Warfeld had myateriously
disappeared, and not without some sus.
piclon Of foul play on the part of the only
person in the world who had strong in.
terest in his stalking off, However these
things might be, it was known for GER
tainty that Old Hurricane had an only
sister, widowed. sick and poor, who with
her son dragged on a wretched life of ill.,.
requited toll, severe privation and painful
inhrmity, in distant city, unaided, I'M
sought and uncarcd for by her cruel
brother.
1t was the night of the last day of DC
tober, 1915. The evening had closed in
very dark and gloomy. About dusk the
wind arose in the north west, driving up
masses Of leaden hued clouds, and in a
few minutes the ground was covered deem
with snow, and the air was filled with
driving sleet.
As this was All Hallow Eve, the dread.
full inclemency of the weather did not pre-.
vent the negroes Of Hurricane Hall from
availing themselves of their capricious old
masters permission, and going off in q
body to banjo breakdown held in the
negro quarters OF their nsxt neighbor.
Upon this evening, then. there wac left
at Hurricane Hall only Major Warfeld
Mrs. Condiment, his little old housekeepel
and Wool, his body servant.
Early in the evening the old hall was
shut up closely, to keep out as much a.
possible the sound of the storm that roar.
ed through the mountain chasms and can,
nonaded the walls Of the house as if de.
termined to force an entrance. As soor
as she had seen that all was safe, Mrs
Condiment went to bed and vent to sleep
1t was about ten o'clock that night that
Old Hurricane, well wrapped up in his
quilted flannel dressing gown, sat in his
well padded easy chair before q warm and
bright hire, taking his comfort in his own
most comfortable bedroom. This was the
hour of the contest enjoyment TO the self
indulgent old Sybarite, who dearly loved
his own ease. Very comfortable was OId
Hurricane and as he toasted his feet and
slipped bis punch, while his black sorvon mt
Wool, applied the warlning.pan 10 hi" HI.
coy couch, he fairly Rugged himself Snr r
enjoyment, and declared that nothing nm.
der heaven would or could tempt him t.
leave that room and that house and gr
out into that storm on that night. Just
as he had come to this emphatic determi.
nation he was startled by violent ring.
ing Of the door-bell. Ordering Wool n
N and see what was the mattar ha b.: