Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-12

| ing upset m the darkness OF these dreadful
mountains a... .-
| "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 brave man, and
so he would rather risk his life in a close
carriage than suffer cold upon a sure footed
mules back.
After many delays and perils, the pastor
and Old Hurricane arrived at their destina-
ton, called the Witch's Hut or Old Hats
Cabin In one corner Of the hut, on rag
ged couch, lay a gray haired and emaciated
woman, evidently near unto death. On be-
ing informed that magistrate had arrived,
| she insisted on everybody else leaving the
room, as she would speak with him alone
Her request having been complied with,
Old Hurricane drew from his pocket a BIZ
BILE, administered the oath, and then said !:
CHOW then, my good soul begin-'the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth you know But first, your name y
lis it possible you don't know me, mas
ter ?"
''Not I, in faith"
''For the love of heaven, look at me and
try to recollect me, sir It is necessary some
one Of 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 a scrutlnizing look, exclaiming at
intervals 4 c9
Lord bless my soul! it is it amt it
must be Granny Grewell- -the-the
midwife that disappeared from here some
twelve or thirteen years ago?"
Eyes, master, am Nancy Grewell, the
ladies nurse who vanished from sight SO
mysteriously some thirteen years ago!'' re-
piled the woman.
Heaven help our hearts And for what
crime was it you ran away? Come-make a
clean breast of it, woman! You have moth
ing to fear in doing so, for you are past the
arm of earthly law now p
| II know it, master"
''And the best way to prepare to meet
the Divine Judge is to make all the repara-
ton that you can by full confession
Il know it, sir--if had committed a
cid [ run away"
"What? what? what ?-What was it
then Remember, witness, you are on your
oath p
II know that, sir, and will tell the truth
but it must be in my own way"
At this moment violent blast Of wind
and hail roared down the mountain side and
la H.. obo1r: IL l y
hut, as if it would have shaken it about
their ears.
It was proper overture to the tale that
was about to be told Conversation was
impossible until the storm raved past and
was heard dying in deep reverberating ech-
oes from the depths of the Devils Punch
Bowl
1T is some thirteen years ago. began
Granny Grewell, "upon just such night as
this that was mounted on my old mule
Molly, with my saddle-bags full of dried
YARDS, and stilled waters and SIGH, as I ailus
carried when was out 'tendin' on the sick.
was on my way a-going to see a lady as
was sent for to tend"
"Well master! I'm not 'shamed to saw.
as never was afraid of man, beast, or spir-
it and never stepped at going out all hours
Of the night, through the most loansomest
roads, if SO be was called upon SO to do
Still must say that jest as me and Molly,
my mule, got into the deep, thick, lone
some woods as stands ronnd the old Hidden
House in the hollow, did feel queerish ;
case it was the dead hour Of night, and it
was said how strange things were seen and
hearn, yes, and done too, in that dark,
deep, lonesome place. Il seen how even my
mule Molly felt queer too, by the way she
stuck up her ears stiff as quilts So, part
ly to keep up my own spirits, and partly to
courage her, says I, Molly says /, what
are ye afeard on Be man, Molyv But
Molly stepped out cautious, and pricked up
her long ears all the same.
swell master, it was so dark I couldn't
see yard past Molly's ears, and the path
was so narrow and the bushes so thick we
could hardly get along; but just as we came
to the little creek as they calls the Spout,
cause the water jumps and jets along till it
empties into toe Punch Bowl, and just as
Molly was cautiously putting her fore foot
into the water, out starts two men from the
bushes an seizes poor Molly's bride y
GOOD heanen p exclaimed Major War
field.
"Well, master, before [ could cry out,
one of them williams seized me blythe scruff
Of my neck, and with the other hand on nv
mouth be says:
''Be silent, you old fool, or I'll blow your
brains out p
"And then master. [ saw for the first
time that their faces were covered with
black Grape I couldn't a-screamed if they'd
let me for my breath was gone and my SEN
ses were going along with it from the fear
that was on me.
''Don't struggle, come along quietly and
you shall not be hurt says the man as had
spoke before.
'Struggle I couldn't a-struggled to a.
saved my soul [ couldn't speak Icouldnt
breathe I liked to have a-dropped right
often Molly's back. One on 'cm says, says
he:
'tGive her some brandy" And t'other
tades out flask and puts it to my lips and
says, says he:
.Here, drink this
''Well, master, as he had me still by the
scruff O. the neck couldn't do no other
ways but open my mouth and drink it.
And as soon as 7 took q swallow NV brooth