Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-02-17
THE HIDDEN HAND.
BY EMMA d. E n. SOUTHWORTH,
AUTHOR OF "THE BRIDE or AN EVENING"" "THa DRsERTn
WIYB," sTC. BIC.
CHAPTER I.-THE NncrrRNIL v1s1,

| CHAPTER The NOCTURNAL VISIT.
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me when every sound appals met
hear a knocking
In the south entry! Hark more knocking!
SHAKESPEARE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family mansion,
built of dark, red sandstone, in one of the Iona
lest and widest of the mountain regions o
| Virginia.
| The estate is surrounded on three sides by {
range Of steep, gray rocks spiked with cumps
of dark evergresns, and called, from its horse
shoe form, the Devils Hoof
| On the fourth side OF the ground gradually
descends in broken rock and barren soil to the
edge Of the wild mountain stream known u:
the Devils Run.
When storms and floods were high, 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 local
Ity its ill-omened names of DEVILS Hoof Dew.
| lis Run and Hurricane Hall.
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 even
ing of his vigorous age on this his patrlmenial
estate. Here he lived in seclusion, with his
od-fashioned housekeepsr, Mrs Condiment
and his old family servants and his favorite
dogs and hcrsss. Here his mornings were usu-
ally spent in the chase, in which he excellsd,
and his afternoons and evenings were occupied
in small convivial suppers among his few chos.
en- companions of the chase or the bottle.
In person Major Warleld was tall and strong
ly built, reminding enc of some old iron-limbed
Douglas Of the olden time His features were
large and harsh his complexion dark red, as
that of one bronzed by long exposure and flush
ed with strong drink. His fierce, dark gray
eyes were surmsunted by thick, heavy black
brows, that, when gathered into frown, re-
minded one of thunder cloud, as the flashing
orbs beneath them did of 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 black cloth
coat, crimson vest, black leather breechss long,
black yarn stockings, fastened at the kuoes, and
morocco slippers with silver buttons.
In character Major Warfeld was arrogant,
dominoering and viOlent-equally loved and
feared by his faithful old family servants at
home disiked and dreaded by his ne;ghbors
dhu utIuLduCtS doIOAuy VIM, partly from Ills
house and partly from his character, fixed upon
him the appropriate nickname of OLD HUR-
RICANE.
There was, however, other ground of dislike
besides that of his arrogant mind violent tenn
per and domineering habits. Old Hurricane
was SAID to be an old bachelor, yet rumor whis-
peTed that there was in some obscure part of
the world, hidden away from human SIGHT, q
deserted wife and child, poor, forlorn and heart
broken 1t was further whispered that the
elder brother of Ira Warfield had mysteriously
disappeared, and not without some suspicion of
foul play on the part of the only person in the
world who had 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 a wretched life of i'll
requited toll, severe privation and painful in.
! trinity, in a distant city, unaided, unsought
and uncared for by her cruel brother.
1t was the night Of the last day of October,
lS45.. The evening had closed in very dark and
gloomy. About dusk the wind arose in the
northwest, driving up masses of leaden-hu
clouds, and IN few minutes the ground was
covered deep with snow, and the air was filed
with driving sleet.
AS this was All Hallow Eve, the dreadful in
clemency of the weather did not prevent the
negroes of Hurricane Hall from availinp them
selves of their capricious old masters permits
sion, and going off in body to a banjo break
down held IN the negro quarters of their next
neghbor.
Upon this evening then, there was left at
Hurricane Hall only Major Warfied, Mrs. Con-
diment, his little old housekeeper, and Wool.
his body servant.
! Early in the evening the old hall was shut
up closely, to keep out as much as possible the
sound of the storm that roared through the
mountain chasms and cannonaded the walls of
the house as if determined to force an entrance.
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 that Old
Hurricane, we'll wrapped up in his quilted fan
mel dressing gown, sat in his we'll padded easy
chair before warm and bright fire, taking his
comfort III his own most comfortable bedroom,
This was the hour of the cosiest enjoyment to
the self-indulgent old Sybarite, who dearly low
ed his own ease. Very comfortable was Old
Hurricane and as he toasted his feet and sip
ped his punch, while his black servant Wool.
applied the warming pan to his cosy couch, he
fairly Rugged himself for enjoyment, and decla-
red that nothing under Heaven, would or eould
tempt him to leave that room and that house
and go 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 out and see what
was the matter, he hastily arrayed himself in
his sleeping habiliments and Jumped into bed
determined not to be intruded upon or to he
called out of his room on any account what
ever
At this moment Wool rsappeared
Shut the door, you villain Do you intend
to stand there holding it open on me all night ~
veciterated the old man.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals, and
hurried to his masters side.
Well, sir, who was it rung the bell I"
Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin. and
he say how he must see you yourself, personal
Iy ,alone !"
I" See me, you villain Diden't you tell him
that had retired %
Yes. Marse tell him how you were gone
to bed and asleep more'n an hour ago, and he
ordered me to come wake you up, and say how
it were matter O. life and death 20
Life and death! What have l to do with
life and death won't stir If the parson
wants to see me he will have to come up here
and see me in bed y
Nose fetch him reverence up sab %
~ eS' woulden't get up and 90 down to see
IL" sshington--shut the door you rascal or III
throw the bootjack at your wooden head - :
Wool obeyed with alacrity and in tima n 40
cape the threateded missile.
After an absence of a few minimize h. ,,,
heard returning, attending upon the footstens O.