Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-02-22
q To receive her dying deposition. !"


I" To receive a dying deposition =
Good Heaven was she murdered. then q
exclaimed the old man, in alarm, as be
started out of bed aud began to draw or
! his neither garments.
g Be composed she was not murder.
ed" said the pastor.
Well, then, what is it Diving de.
position! Ii must concern crime" ex-
claimed the old man, hastily drawing on
his coat.
" 1t does concern crime"
What crime, for the love of heaven ?''
II am not at liberty TO tell you She
will do that"
Wool, go down and rouse up John,
and tell him 10 put Parson Goodwin s
mule IN the stable for the night. And
tell him to put the black draughl- -horse
TO the close carriage, and light both the
front ianterns-for we shall have dark
stormy road--Shult the door, you intern
all beg your pardon, parson, but that
villain always leaves the door aiar after
him"
The good parson bowed gravely; and
The major completed his toilet by the time
the servant returned and reported the
carriage ready.
+" To the Devils Punch Bowl was
the order given by Old Hurricane as he
loiloWeo the minister into the carriage
ANA now, Sir" he continued, address,
ing MS companion. think you had bet
Ter repeat that part of the church tiffany
that prays to be delivered from - battle,
murder and sudden death )" for if we
snouid be SO lucky as to escape Black
Donald and his gang, we shall have at
least an equal chance of being upset in
Inc darkness of these dreadful mountains" :"
8 A pair of saddle mules would have
been safer conveyance, certainly" said
the minister.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though
a great sensualist, he was a brave man,
and so he had rather risk his life In
close carriage than suffer cold on a sure
footed mules back.
After many delays and perils, the pas
tor and Old Hurricane arrived at their
destination, called The Witch's Hut or
Old Hats Cabin. In one corner of the
hut, on ragged couch, lay a gray-hair-
ed and emaclated woman, evidently near
unto death. On being informed that
magistrate had arrived, she insisted on
everybody else leaving the room, as she
would speak with him alone. Her. re-
quest having been complied with, Old
Hurricane drew from his pocket a Bible,
administered the oath, and then said
Nov then, my good soul begin the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, you know. But first, your
name g.
"Is it possible you don't know me,
master g.
=" Not |, faith =
81 For the love of heaven, look at me
and try TO recollect me, sir 1t is neces-
sary some one authority should be able
to know me-" said the woman, raising
her haggard eyes to the face of her visitor.
The old man adjusted his spectacles
and gave her scruuntzlng look ,exclaim-
ing at intervals
Lord bless my soul t is it aint it
must 1t can't be, Granny Grewel-
the-the-midwlfe that disappear
ed from here some twelve or thirteen
years ogo g
Yes, pasIer, | am Nancy Grewel,
the ladies' nurse, who vanished from
sigh; so mysteriously some thirteen years
ago" replied the woman.
Heaven help our hearts! And for
what crime was 1t you run away2 Come
-masle a clean breast of 1t woman You
have nothing TO fear in doing SO, for you
are past the arm Of earthly law now"
81 know il, MASTER
"And the best way to prepare to meet
the Divine Judge is to make all the re-
paraIion that you can by full confess
sion :"
Il know it, is-if | had committed
crime but | have committed no crime,
neither did | run away"
i" What whail what 2-What was it
then? Remember, witness, you are on
your oath -
81 know that, sir, and | will tell the
truth; but it must be in my own way"
AT this moment a violent blast of wind
and hail roared down the mountain side
and rattled against the walls, shaking the
witch's hut, as if il would have shaken it
about their ears.
1t was a proper overture to the tale
that was about 20 be told. Conversation
was impossible until the storm raved
past and was heard dying in deep rever-
beratIng echoes from The depths of the
Devils Punch Bowl.
sit Is some thirteen years ago." be-
gan Granny Grewell, "upon jus, such
night of storm as this, that / was noun
ted on my old mrle Molly. with my sad
die bags full of dried YARDS, and stilied
waters. and sich, as | allus carried when
was out ',endin' on the sick. l was on
nv wav a-ooin' 10 see a lady as / was
sent for 10 tend"
Well, master. I'm not 'shamed tc
say, as never was afraid of man, beast,
nor spirit. and never stopped at going
out all hours of the night, through the
most lonesomest roads, If so be [ was
called upon Sd to do. Sul l must say
that iust as me and Molly my mule. got
into the deep, thick, lonesome woods as
stands around the old Hidden House In
he hollow. | did feel queerlsh; case il