Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-10


x Whence is that knocking
How ist with me when every sound appals me 2
hear knocking
In the south entry iark more knocking
- SHAKESPEARE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family
mansion, built of dark, red sandstone. ii
one of the loneliest aud swil3est of the
mountain regions of virginia.
The estate is surrounded on three sides
by a range Of steep, gray rocks, spiked
with clumps of dark evergreens, and call.
ed. from its horseshoe form, the Devils
Hoof.
On the fourth side the ground gradu
ally descends 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 its rocky
course, gave to this savage locality its
ill-omened names of Devil Hoof, Devils
Run and Hurricane Hall. a..,rTr
Major Ira Warfeld, the lonely propri.
etor of the Hall, was a veteran officer
who, in disgust at what he supposed to be
i'll requitted services, had retired from
public life to spend the evening of his
vigorous age on this his patrimonial es-
tate. Here he lived in seclusion, with
his old fashioned housekeeper, Mrs. Con.
diment, and his old family servants and
his favorite dogs and horses. Here his
mornings were usually spentin the chase,
in which he excelled, and his afternoons
and evenings were occupied in small con
yivial suppers among his few chosen com.
panions of the chase or the bottle.
In person Major Warfeld 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 a
frown, reminded one of thunder cloud,
as the flashing orbs beneath them did of
| lightning. His hard, harsh face was sur.
rounded by thick growth of iron gray
hair and beardthat met beneath his chin
His usual habit was black cloth coat
crimson vest, black leather breeches
long, black yarn stockings, fastened al
the knees, and morocco slippers with sill
yer buttons.
In character Major War6eld was AFRO
giant, domineering and violent equally
loved and feared by his faithful old fam
| lily servants at home-disliked and dread
ed by his neighbors and acquaintance
abroad, who, partly from his house and
partly from his character, fixed upon hin
the appropriate nickname Of Obj HURRI
CANE. Is
There was, however, other ground O
dislike besides that of his arrogant mind
violent temper 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, desert
ed wife and child, poor, forlorn anc
heartbroken. 1t was further whispered
that the elder brother Of Ira Warfelc
he'd mysteriously disappeared, and no
| without some suspicion of foul play OF
the part of the only person in the world
who had strong interest in his taking
on" However these things might be, i
was known. for acertainty that Old Hur
Iricane had anannly sister, widowed. sick
\ and poor, who with her son dragged on
a wretched life of llrequited toll, sever,
privation and painful in6rmity, 10 dis
tant city, unaided, unsought and uncarec
] for by her cruel brother.
i 1t was the night of the last day of DC
tober, 1915. The evening had closed 10
very Clark and sloemy. Ahoqs dpsk thl