The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10

CHAPTER Tins Noc,uRNAL Vim
- Whence is that knocking?
How ist with me when ev'fy SOUND appals me!
In The south entry! Hark more knocking.
Shakspeare
Hurricane Hall is large old family man
sion, built of dark red sandstone, in one of the
loneliest and widest of the mountain regions
of Virginia.
The estate is surrounded on three sides by :;
range OF steep, gray rocks, spiked with clumps
OF dark evergreens, and called, from its horse.
shoe form, the Devils Hoof.
On the fourth side the ground gradually de-
scendS in broken rock and barren soil to the
edge of the wild mountain stream known as 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 It's rocky course, gave to this savage To-
casty its ill-omened names of Devils Hoof,
Devils Run, and Hurricane Hail.
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely proprietor of
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 patrimonal
estate. Here he lived in seclusion, with his old
fashioned housekeeper, Mrs. Condiment, and
his old family servants and his favorite dogs
and horses. Here his mornings were usually
spent In the chase, in which he excelled, and
his afternoons and evenings were occupied in
small cornwall suppers among his few chosen
companions of the chase or the bottle.
In person, Major War6eld was tall. and
strongly built, reminding one 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
flushed with strong drink. His fierce dark gray
eyes were surmounted by thick, heavy, black
brows, that, when gathered into frown, re-
minded one of a 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 a black cloth
c5at, crimson vest, black leather breeches, long
black yarn stockings, fastened at the knees,
and morocco slippers with silver buttons.
In character Major Warfeld was arrogant,
domineering, and violent-equally loved and
feared by his faithful old family servants at
home-disliked and dreaded by his neighbors
and acquaintance abroad, who, partly from his
house and partly from his character, fixed upon
him the appropriate nickname Of OLD HpRRI-
CANE,
There was, however, other ground of dislike,
besides that of his arrogant mind violent TEN
per, and domineering habits. Old Hurricane
was said to be an old bachelor; yet rumor
whispered that there was, in some obscure part
of the world, hidden away from human sight, a
deserted wife and child, poor, fororn. and
heart broken. 1t was further whispered, that
the elder brother of Ira WarGsld had m vsterii
ously disappeared and not without some sus
picion of foul play on the part of the only per-
SON in the world who had strong interest in
his taking off" However these filings might
be, it was known for a certainty that Old Hur-
ricane had al only sister, widowed, sick, and
poor who, with her son, dragged on wretched
life of ill-requited toll, severe privation, and
painful infrmity in a distant city, unaided, I'M
sought, and uncared for by her cruel brother
1t was the night of the last day of October,
l845. The evening had closed in very dark
and gloomy. About dusk the wind arose in the
northwest, driving up mcssa9 # ieapen hued
clouds, and III a few minutes the ground was
covered deep with snow, and the air was filled
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 availing them
selves of their capricious Ga Hlaste,,s perlnis
Siqn, and going eff in body to q banjo break
d9wn, held in the negro quarters Of their next
neighbor.
Upon this evening then, there was left at
Hurricane Hall only Major Warfeld, Mrs.
Condiment, his little old housekeeper, and Wool
his body servant. - "
Eagy N The eyenlng the old hall was shut up
closely; to Keep out as much as possible the
SOUND Of the storm fiat reared Fh,oGgh the
mountain ehashns nnd 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 bis well padded easy
chair, before a warm and bright fire, taking his
comfort in his own most comfortable bed room.
This was the hour of the contest enjoyment to
the selfindulgent old Sybarite, who dearly loved
his own ease. Very comfortable was Old Hur.
ricame; and, as he toasted his feet and slipped
his punch, while his black servant; Wool APP
piled the warming pan 10 his coy couch, lie
,a,rly pugged tin1geff for enjoyment, and de-
clared that nothing under heaven would or
could 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 determine
ton, he was startled by violent rine;nc &c tie
door-bell. Ordering WGai 10 IA and see What
was tue laattes, ne hastily arrayed himself in
his sleeping habliments and jumped into bed,
determined not to be intruded upon, or to be
called out of his room on any account what
ever. # .t ~
At this moment Wool reappeared.
Shat the door, you villain DO you intend
to stand there holding it open ON me all night
vociferated the old man.
Wool hastily c,Gaed me offending portals, and
hurried to his masters side.
well, sir, who was it rung the bel?'
Sar, de Reverend Mr. Parson Goodwin, and
he say how he must see you yourself, person
ally, alone!"
aSee me, you villain Didn't YOU tell him
that had retired 2"
Yes, Marse, / tell him how YOU were gone
TO bed and asleep morne'n an hour ago, and he
ordered me to come wake YOU up, and say how
it were matter O life and deathi"
Life and death? What have 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"
Mus fetch him reverence up, sar?"
"Yes, wouldn't get up and godown to see
Washington-shut the door, you raseall or
I'll throw the bootjack at your wooden head y
Wool oheyed with alacrity, and in time to es-
cape the threatened missile.
After an absence of few minutes, he was
heard returning, attending upon the footsteps
of another. And the next minute he entered,
ushering in the Rev. Mr.. Goodwin, the parish
minister of Bethlehem, st. Marys.
How do you do? How do you do? Glad
to see you, sir glad to see you, though obliged
to receive you in bed Fact is, | caught cold
with this severe change of weather, and took a
warm negus and went to bed to sweat it off.
You'll excuse me Wool, draw that easy chair
up to my bedside for worthy Mr.. Goodwin, and
bring him a glass of warm negus. 1t will do
him good after his cold ride