New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-16
CHAPTER I.
THE NOCTURNAL VISIT.

Howist with me when every sound nnds spga' moi
-SHAKRsPEARE.
Hurricane Hall is large old family mansion,
built Of dark red sandstone in one OF the lonees and
widest of the mountain regions OF Virginia
The estate surrounded three sides by range OF
steep, gray rocks spiked with clumps Of dark ever
green's and called, from its horseshoe FORM the Devils
Hoof
On the fourth side the ground gradually descends In
broken rock and barren soil ito the edge Of the wild
mountain stream known the Devils Run.
When storms and foods HIGH the loud roaring Of
the wind through the wild mountain gorges, and the
terrible raging of the torrent over rocky
to savage locality its homened names OF oeVis
Hoof DEVILS Run and Hurricane Hall.
Major Ira waraeld the lonely proprietor Of the Hall,
was veteran officer whom disgust at what ne supposed
tot requted services had retired from public lifeto
spend the evening of his vigorous age this his patr
monia estate Here he lived in seclusion with his old
fashioned nousekeeper Mrs Condiment, and his old
family servants and his favorite dogs and horses
In person Major warfeld tall and strongly built,
| like some ron-limbed Douglas OF the olden time.
In character Major warheld arrogant, domineer
Ing and violen equally loved and feared by his faith
full old family servants at home disiked and dreaded
by bis neghbors and acquaintance abroad who partly
from his house and partly from his character fixed upon
him the appropriate nickname Of Old Hurricane"
There was however, other ground OF aversion besides
that his arrogant MUD violent temper and domneer
ing habits Old Hurricane said to be old bache
or yet whispered that there was In some obscure
part of the world hidden away from human sight de-
serted wife and child poor, fororn and hesrtbroken
II was further whispered that the older brother OF
Ira warned had mysteriously disappeared, ana not
without some suspicion OF foul play on the part OF the
only person the world who had srong interest In his
"takng OF" However these things might be- IL wac
known for certainty that Old Hurricane had only
.4.lxa AVA uho Will her ann
dragged ON wretched life OF I'll requted toll severe
privaton and painful infrmty IN a distant city, I'M
aided unseught and uncared for by her cruel brother
II was the night OF the ast dag of October eighteen
hundred fortyfve The evening had closed In dark
and gloomy dusk the wiod arose in the north
west driving up Of leadenh clouds. and IN
few the ground covered deep with snow
and the air Oiled with driving sleet
Al this was All Haow Eve, the dreadful inclemency
of the weather did not prevent the negroes OF Hurri
cane Hall avaling themselves OF their capricious
old masters permission and going OF in body TO
banjo breakdown held in the quarters Of their next
Deighbor. A., ,,.,.
Major Warfeld Mrs Condiment his little old house
Keeper, and Wool, hts body servant.
closely to keep out as much as possible the
storm that roared through the mountain chasms ana
trance As soon as she had that all safe, MIRA
Condiment went to bed and tc sleep
n was about O'Clock that uight that Old Hurricane
wrapped up In his quilted flannel dressing gown, sat in
his padded armchair before warm and bright IRE
of the coseyest enjoyment TO the sendgent ~ bate
And. indeed every means and appliance o. bodily CON
heavy curtains the windows kept out every draught
of air and deadened the sound OF the wind that is
the stormy weather without In contrast to the bright
warmth within Old HnErSSne as SAID sat wen
his padded easy chair, with his head thrown back and
his feet upon the reirons, toasting lhis shins and
On his lett hand stood his cosey bedsesd with It's
warm crimson curtains fest0oned back, revealing the
luxurious swell of the full feather bed and pillows with
their sno wwhite linen, and lanbswOo blankets inviting
repose Between this bedstead and the corner OF tue
ire place stood Old Hurricanes anceDt body servant
Wool engaged IN warming crimsonlcoth nignt-cap
nupcp and smacked his lips take th. to be TIE very
auintessence OF human enjoyment-stting here In my
slipping my punch, listening on the one baud 70 the
storm without, and glancng on the other hand at my
wonder now IL there is anything the face or the
earth would tempt me 70 leave my cosey hresde
of pleasure or profit glory 1t would take nowi'
Much ebber Con ress itse'f could give 4 give
:" Yes, and more for wouldn't leave my home com
forts TO a not te 0 o as SSS
glass with steanng punch and drinking It OF leisurcly
Tine clock struck M s Tue eoS Ha saS ah ed Ills
You may NIL the warming-psn ana warm my bed,
Wool The fumes OF this fragrant punch begnniu
10 rise 70 my head and make me sleepy"
The servant filled the warrningpan win glowing en-
to heat the couch OF luxurious Old Hurricane The
od man continued to toast feet sip his punch and
snscn . ns tbe act Of drawing on bis wcolen
preparatory TO stepping into MS well warmed bed,
when he suddenly startled by loud ringing OF
SWhat the foul fend can that mean at this time OF
night spa inTn,ng sb.rpiy around toward Wool VINO,
wanningpan ia hand, stood staring with astolish-
ment .What does that mean, / ask your
"Deed dunno, ear less It's some benighted trabeer
| In search 0, shelter outn dc storm"
"Humphi aud In search OF supper, too, OF course,
am everybody gone away or gone to bed but you and
At this moment the ringing followed by loud
@Marse don't les you and me listen to it, and then
we an't 'bgcd TO 'sturb ourselves wild answering Of
what sfl do. you think that ! am going 70 turn Q
ter on such night this Go and answer the bell d.
reStly:" ..r.
"Isut stop-look here-nind am not TO be disturbed
II sk him In; set entertainments before
| him show him TO bed I'm not going TO leave my warm
room welcome anybody tonight please the Lord dc
-" Yes, sar" said the darky. retreating.
AZ Wool TOOK shaded taper aud 9pened thedoor lead,
bowling through the long passages ready to burst In
sSui the door You scouudrei" roared Old Hurr
cane folding skirt of his warm dressing across
| his knees, and lowering closer 10 the fire
| Wool quickly obeyed, and was heard retreatng down
@wSew. said the old man. spreading his hands oye
the blaze with a look OF comfortable appreciation
sWhat would induce me TO go abroad ON such nigh
wsstsnow falling fast from the heavens and rsng
fast before the wind from the ground !cod as La
apd dark "a Ercbus No telling the earth from the sky
| Whew and TO comfort the cold thought Old Hurrt
poured another glass OF smoking punch and De-
| 81 How thank the Lord that am not o doctor. II
doctor the sound OF that BEL &C tns hour
the night would brighten me- should think some OLE
had been taken with the pleurisy, and wanted m
get up aud 20 In the rtormto turn me out OF
warm bed to ride miles through the snow 70 pre-
scribe for her. doctor never can feel sure even In th
worst OF weather. OF good nights rest But, tha1l
Heaven, Am free from such annoyances, and II on
sure Of anything In this world IL Is Of my comfortable
| smacked his lips and toasted his feet.
| At this moment Wool reappeared.
| .6hut the door, you villain ! DO you intend to stan,
there holding 1t open all night Moderated
old man.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals, and hur