The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1859-02-18
No1o

his coat
IL does concern crime"
What crimo. for the love Of heayen9'
81 am not at liberty to tell you. sb,
"Wooi, 60 down and rouse up Jebu
and tell him to put parson Goodwin,
mule IN the stable for tho night. And
tell him to put the black draugh,. horse,
to the close carriage. aud light both the
front lanterns--for we shall have A dark
stormy road---Shut the door. YOU in.
ternall-l beg your pardon, parson, but
That villain always leaves the door ajar A.
Tor him"
The good parson bowed gravely: and
the major completed his toilet by tie time
Tho servant returned and reported the
carriage ready
ITO the Devils Punch Bowl"--was
Che order given by Old Hurricane as he
followed the minister into the carriage
AND now, sir" he continued. address.
ing his companion, 81 think you had bet.
ter repeat that part Of the church litany
that prays to bo delivered from battle.
murder and sudden DEATH; for il we
should be so ldeky as to escape Black
Donald and his gang, we shall have at
least an equal chance Of being upset in
Che darkness Of these dreadful noun
tains."
"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 a close
carriage than suffer cold upon a surefoot.
cd mules back,
After many delays and perilu, 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 agray-haired
and emaciated woman, evidently near un-
to death. On being informed chat mas
istrate had arrived, she insisted on ey-
erybody else leaving tho room, as she
would speak with him alone. Herrequest
having been complied with, Old Hurri-
cane drow from his POCKET Bible, Ad-
ministered the oath, and then said:
"Now then, my good soul begin the
truth, the whole truth, aud nothing but
the truth, you know. Blu. FIRST, your
namo2"
"Is i possible you don't know me,
mastor?"
"Nei I.viT~ej'Ji2,-,,,,, ..,,. .. ...v
and try to recolleot me, sirl Itis 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 sorutinizing look, exclaim
ing at intervals
Lord bless my soul 1t isl Il aintl II
mustl It can't bel Granny Grewell-thC
l-the--the-midwife that disappeared
from here some twelve or thirteen year
ago9"
ayes. mAstor, ! am Nancy Grewoll
/ the ladies nurse, who vanished from
sight so mysteriously some thirteen year,
agoI" replied the woman.
"Ileayen help our heartsl And for
what crime was II you ran away? Come
make a clean breast of IL womanl You
have nothing to fear in doing so, for you
arc past the arm Of earthly law nowl"
al know II, master"
"And the best way to prepare to meet
the Divine Judge is to make all the re-.
paration thh you can by full confess
ion"
II know it, sir--if / had committed a
crime; but have committed no crime,
neither did | run away"
"WhatP what? what?--What was il
then? Remember, witness, you are on
your oAthl"
IL know that, sir, and 1 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 rallled against the walls, shaki,g th'
witeh's hut, as if it would have shaken i
about their ears.
1t was proper overture to the tale
that was about to be told Conversation
was impossible until the storm raved pas
and was heard dying in deep reyerberSt
ing echoes from the depths Of the Devil
Punch Bowl.
1T is some thirteen years ago, " begaI
Granny Grewell, "upon just such a nigh
Of storm as this. that was mounted OF
my old mule Molly, with my saddle-bag
full Of dried YARDS. and stilled waters an,
sioh, as 1 alus carried when was on
lendin' on the sick. was on my wa.
a-going to SEQ a lady as l Was sent for t
tend"
"Well, master I'm not 'shamed 10 say. as
never was afraid Of man, beast, nor spirit ali
never stopped at going out all hours Of the nigh
through then loansomest roads, II so be wa
called upon so 10 do. Still i must say that jei
} rs me aud Molly my mule, got into the deeT
Il thick, lonesome woods as stands round the oil
Hidden House in the hollow, did feel queerisl
case IL was the dead hour Of night, and u wa
said how strange things were seen and hearI
] yes, and done too In that dark, deep, lonesom
place. / seen how even my mule Molly ie
queer too, by the way she stuck up her ears, sti
rs quilts. 30, partly 10 keep up my own spirit
and partly 70 courage her, SAYS /, Molly say
I, what are ye aieard on2 De man, Molly
But Molly stepped out cautions, and prieked u
her long ears al the same"
"Well, master, it was 90 dark / couldn't see
yard past Mollys ears, aud the path was 90 mai
row and the bushea so thick we could hardly 6
along; but just as We came 10 the little creek q
they calls the Spout, cause the water jumps an
Jets along till II empties into the Punch bow
and Just as Molly was cautiously putting her fol
foot into the water, ont starts two men IRON u
bushes and seizes poor Moily's bride" !"
GOOD heaven !" exclaimed Major Wafhold.
nWell mnstor before j could cry ont one