The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-09

.vrE,s OF 'sTss BRlng CT az xyEyIsG," "rHE DESERT
~Is,." ETC., ETC, krc.
CHAPTER Tins NocrnsSal yrs1r.
Whence Is tdst kaockins
hesr knocking
In the south entry Hark more knockinz!
SHAEsPkARE.
Hurricane HALLS large old family mansion, built
Of dark red sandstoi 9, Ia oGe oi the loneliest
and widest of the noun ttiu regions OF Virginia
The estate is surrounded on three sides by
range Of steep, gray rocks, spiked with clumps of
dark eyerRreens, aud called, from its berse shoe
form, the Devils Hoof
On the fourth eide the ground gradually de-
soeu6s IN broken rock and barren .oIi to the edge
Of the wild mountain stream, known as the De-
vile Run.
When storms and foods were hiSh, the loud
roaring Of the wind through the wild mountain
gorges, snd the terrific raging O: the torrent over
lite rocky course, gave to this savage locality i;s
ilioIeoed na'nes OF Devils lIooi, Devils Run and
Hurricane Hail.
Major Ira warfsId. the lonely proprietor of the
Hall, ~as veteran Cfiicer who in disgust of what
he surp. sed TO be ili>requitted services, had re-
tired iIom public life to spend the evening ( his
vigorous age on this his patrimonisI estate. Here
he lived in seclusion, with his old fashioned
bousekeeper, Mrs. Condiment and hi, old famil,
servants aud his fAyoIiie dogs aud horses Here
hsmornings ~ers usually spent in the chase: in
which he exceied, and ms afternoons aud even.
ings were occupied in small conviyiai suppers
among his lew chosen companions OF the chase or
the bottle.
10 person Mrj,r Wsrfeld was tall and strongly
built, reminding Of some old iron .Iinbed
Douglas of the olden time. His features were
large and hArsb his Ct plexion datk red. as that
OF one bronzed by long exposure aud flushed with
strong drink. Ills fierce, dark gray eyes were
surmounted by thick, heavy black brows, that
~hsn gathered into frown, reminded one Of
thspder cioxd, as the flashing orbs beneath than
did Of lightning. His hard, harsh face was sur
rounded by athick growth of iron gray hair and
beard that net beneath his chin. His usual habit
s.sa black cloth coat, crimson vest, black leather
brseches long, black yarn stockings, fastened at
thcknses, and morocco slippers with silver butx
tous.
Ia character Msj ,r warfeld was arrogant, dorni.
neetiug and violeut-equally loved and feared by
his f4ihfGi old family servants at home-dislike ed
sbd dreaded by his peighbors and acquaiutauces
sbIoAl, who, partly from his house aud partly
from his character liked upon him the approprial
nickname OF OLD HURRICANE
There was, however, other ground of dislike
besides that of his arrogant niud, violent tetnper
aud domineeriag habits. Old Hurricane was said
10 be an old bachelor, yet rumor whispeI ed that
thsre was in some obscure part Of the world hid.
deu away from human sight, deserted wife and
child, poor, furiorn and heartbroken. 1t was (ur
thsr whispered that the elder brother of Ira War
held had mysteriously disappeared, and no. with.
out some suspicion Of foul play on the part of the
oBly person 10 the world vho ha strong iut ter.
il his taking Of" However these things
might be, it WAS known for y certainty that Old
Hurricane had only sister, widowed, sick and
poor, who with her son dragged on a wretched lifs
Of llrt9nited toll severe prvatiou and painful
iparmity, in distant city, unaided, uueought ana
ubcared for by her cruel brother.
It vas the night ot the last day of October
ls55. The evening had closed in very dark and
gloomy. About dusk :hs wind arose in the north
west, driving up masses of leaden hucd clouds and
in few minutes the ground was covered deeu
with snow, aud the air was filled with driving
sIeet.
As this All Hallow Eve, the dreadful inclem
ency OF the weather did not prevent the negroes
Of Hurricane Hall from avaing themselves of
their csprici0us old masters permission and
going eff in body to a bapjo breakdown held in
the negro quarters ot their next neighbor.
Upon this evepiDg, then, there was left AT
Hurricane Hall only siajor WarieId, Mrs. Condi.
nsut, his little old housekeeper, aud Wool, his
body servant.
Early in The evening the old ball was shut mn
closely, to keep cut as much possible the sound
Of the storm that roared through the mountain
ehasuis and cannonaded the walls of the hons, a,
If determined TO force an entrance. As Soon 90
she had that all safe, Mrs Condineut
went to bed aud went to sleep
IL Was about tea o'ciock that hit that Old
Hurricane, well wrapped upin his qnilted naunel
dressing gown, sat in his well padded easy chair
before warm and bright fire, taking his comfor,
in his own most comfortable bedroom. This was
the hour Of the coZiest enjoyment to the sell in,
dulsent old Syt arits who dearly love his own ease
Vsry comfortable wss O'd Hurricane; and as he
toasted his feet aud slipped his puuch while his
black servant, Wool, applied the warming pan to
his cozy couch he fairly hugged himself for en-.
joyment aud declared that nothing under heaven
would or could tempt him TO leave that room and
that house and go out into that storm on tha.
night. Just az he had come to this emphatic dee
termination he was startled by violent ringing
OF the door bell. Ordering Wool to go and SEE
what vas the matter, he hastily array ed himsslf
Ia his sleeping habiuients and jumped into bed
determined not TO be intruded upon, or to be
called out Of his room on any account whatever.
At this moment Wool resppeared.
shut she door, you william! Do you intend to
stand there Gliding it open oD me all night, vo>
cifersted the o d man.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals, and
hurried to his masters side.
"Well, sir, who was it ruug the bell:"
"Ssr, de Reverend Mr.. Parsou Goodwin and he
soy bow he must see you yourself personally,
aIone!'
"see ue, you william! Didn'ty you tell him that
"Yes. Marse, tell him how you were gone to
bed aud asleep mornen an hour ago, aud he or.
dered me to come awake you up, and say how 1t
were a matter of life and dea.hi0
"Isife and death! What have 10 do with life
aud death won't stir If the psrson wants 10
see mo he will have to come up here and sec me
10 bed"
Mus fetch him reverence up sar!v
''Yss, wouldn't get up aud 10 down to see-
Washing'on-shut the door, you rascal! or IN
fhrow the boo.iack at your wooden bsadl"
Wool obeyed with alacrity and ip time to esca ne
the threatened missiis.
A fter an absence OF y few minutes he was heard
returning attending upon the footsteps of another
Aed the next minute be entered, ushering in the
hem. St Mary's
GLOW d. you DO: How do you do Glad to
see y"n, sir glad TO see you, though obliged to
receive yeu in bed! Facts ia, 1 caught a cold
with this severe change OF weather, and took
warm Degus and went to bed to sweat it off!-
fon'ii excuse nae Wool, draw that asy chair
up to my bedside for worthy Mr.. Goodwin and
bring him glass Of warm nesus 1, will do him
good after his cold ride"
IL thauk you, Mejor Warfeid | will take th.
seat bat not the n+gus, it you please, to night"
Not tho negus! o5 come now, you are jokingi
Why 1t will Keep you froiu catching cold, and b.
arost comfortable night cap, disposing You q
sleep nisweas like BABY o. course you spend
the pisht with US
Il thank you, no I must take the road again
In q few minutes"
.:faAs the road again, to night Why man alive.
n midnight, and the snow driving like all Lap.
Sir, am sorrry to refuse your nrofssrea hos,
pitsity and leave your comfortable roof to nght,
ssc sorfier still to hare to take you With me said
the pastor. grnyeiy."
Take NE With you No, no, nv good air M |
no that 10 too good ioks--ha, has
sir fear that you will iud ii very rious ONE
ienr servant told you that my errand was one OF |
tpnitnent HrgeBcyf"
Yea some thing like Jifs and deatt
4, LxActly-.down ia the esbip, near Punch Bowl.
ths.s issn old woman dyipg-.n
,ta,p' ! Kew II. was just saying there
what's that to me- What eau 1 do -
aumani'y, sir:soEd prompt you.n
.a, na,, my dear sir, how cas- Ihsip herr an
no. phytieiau TO prescribe
.shs.is lar past y ply ysiciau's hslp.a
nor sa, 2risst to hear hsf coafes,iou,p
..,Da, iss confession God has already received
wiiio W ass" ap sW
~. 10, ~; oui you are recently appointed one o,
'"s Justices Of The Peace for Alisgbsuys
well, what u that. That does not com |
k.s s ,ss dn'y u ny getting W ont of my warn
Sshaia 'xpiss."