The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-10-30
The STORY OF THE QUARTZ ROCK.
A Tale of the War.
True Picture of Yankee Character.
From the New York Herald.
CONTINUED.

reached the house at dark, almos
perished with cold, tor the weather wa
very severe, and l was still Wet from
having been thrown into the stream by
the breaking of the buggy. A blazing
fire, made of pine-knOts and logs on th'
broad hearth, cleaned through the opei
door amidst the darkness and silence
all round in the most cheering manner
Leaving tie boy with the horses ant
buggy at the gate, about fifty yards
from the house, approached the oper
door TO inquire If could be accommO
dated. | saw no one-no living thing
but two cats, that were basking and
purring before the bright hearth
knocked Mt the door; there was no an
swer. / put my head inside and looked
round, but could not find any one. FL.
nally / walked round the house and call.
ed ont, when my negro boy replied that
he saw some one moving at the stable OF
barn, hundred yards or so from the
gate, recommending me at the same time
to 60 and seat myself by the fire, while
he searched for some one and attended
to the horses.
entered the house and sat aown be,
fore the blazing and cracking pine wood
fire. As soon as hogan TO feel comfort
able | turned my head TO look ut this
strange place, the cats glancing at me in
quisitiyely at the same time They
seemed to be the only inhabitants,
though they were too comfortably Occu
pied to rise and welcome me. The room
had Il very quaint look Two or three
old-fashioned rush-bottom chairs, with
very short legs, a round three-legged
stool, and large fOur-legged one, a
rough pine table, and an ancient sort OF
bureau, that might have been brought
over by the first cOlOnists two or three
hundred years ago, comprised the fnrni,
ture. The walls were ornamented and
literally covered by the most gIaring
prints, pictures cut from books, head
iugs of newspapers political placards of
Jackson's time, and of earlier and later
periods; circus posters, which | suppose
bad been obtained formerly from Raj
eigh or some other town; bottles of ev-
cry description and size hung up by their
nccks Oh nails, and q variety of things
too numerous t. be named. Everything
that came to hand appeared to have been
picked up to give variety tp the tableau,
All the cross readings on walls devoted
10 advertising posters III the world could
not be compared to it
After studying this singular looking
place some time alone, and wondering
that no one came, door leading into an
other room, which appeared TO he the on
ly other one on the ground floor, and
which I supposed was the kitchen, was
opened very gently, and a figure IN the
shape of a woman entered. The bgure
was of slender form and rather small,
wearing Il loose dress, devoid of hoops,
and Il slouch cotton bonnet. | tried to
get glimpse of her countenance, but
could not She walked in So Stealthily,
with her face aVertcd, and sat down,
making so little noise, that had | not
been looking in that direction L might
not have known any one had entercd.-
A believer i'll ghosts might have been
startled at the mysterious movement of
this strange form but rs was skertical
about such things | ventured to address
her.
This is very disagreeable evening"
remarked, looking at her and expect
ing she would turn her face toward me.
"Ye-e-s," was the drawling response,
in voice so faint that ] could hardly
hear it She neither turned her head
nor uttered another word.
| waited few seconds, and then made
another effort, remarking, You do not
see many strangers travelling II this
part of the country, suppose"
"Ye-e-s," was the only reply, in the
same low voice, and with the same mo-
tionless attitude, except that | could see
her hand, which was raisedto her mouth,
slightly in motion, from which | under
stood she was "kipping," or, IN other
words, rubbing her gums with snuff; u
habit quite common among the women
of North Carolina.
II hope it will be convenient to give
me shelter here tonight" | confined in
spite of her reticence.
"Ye-e-s," she repeated, fainter still, II
possible, as if she were becoming ex-
hausted with the effort she was making.
y Seeing | could make 40 progress in my
eidcavoTs to open q conversation, 1
abAdoned the attempt and awaited in
silehFe the return Of my negro boy or
SoHIe Nne else.
Aitel the lapse of halt all hour or so
the boy Name to the house, in company
with wcNan and man. The woman
appeared tobe past the meridian of life,
but tall, giant and masculine looking;
she had, however, genial, frank express
sion of countenalce This was Widow
Wormly. | took little notice of the
man, seeing he did iot belong to the fam.
lily, and was a strolling pedler, who had
come there, as had, fox the night.
notwithstanding the rough, unfemin.
inc exterior of Widow WGmly. soon
perceived that there was ber@ath this q
kind heart. Though uneducsted, she
welcomed ME in as gentle ana polite
terms as the most refined lady would
showing that true politeness sprag:
from good heart After asking fes
questions, and expressing her desire t.
make me as comfortable as possible, sb
apologized for not coming sooner, re
marking that she had been feeding IL,
horses. and that she would then prOceet
to give me my supper.
] said regretted giving her so mucl
trouble. and that some man on the prem
Ises, or |, myself, should have atteude'
| to the horses.
She smiled, and replied, 20, sir,
have no man here / do everything my
self"
Have you no servant-no negroes
| No mon op tho nlanp ~ I asEpd xSif