Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-16

THE NOCTURNAL VISIT.
 +# Whence is that knocktng2
 How is't with me when every sound appalg me
 =-4 hear knocking
 In the eouth entry! Hark !-more knocking!
 SHAKESPEARE.
 Hurricane Hall is large old family man. sion, built of dark, red sandstone, in one of the loneliest and widest of the mountain re- gions of Virginia
 The estate is surrounded on both sides by B range of steep, gray rocks, spiked with clumps of dark evergreens, and called, from it's horseshoe form, the Devils Hoof.
 On the fourth side the ground gradually 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 it's rocky course, gave to this savage locality it's ill-omened names of Devils Hoof, Devils Run and Hurricane Hall.
 Major Ira Warield, inc lonely proprietor of the Hall, was a veteran officer, who, In disgust at what he supposed to be i'll requ1ted services, had retired from public life to spend the evening of his vigorous age on this his patrimonial estate. Here he lived in seclu- sion, with his old-fashioned housekeeper, Mrs Condiment, and his old family servants, and his favorite dogs and horses. In person Major Warfield was tall and strongly built, like some iron-limbed Doug las of the olden time.
 In character Major Warfeld was arrogant, domineering and violent; equally loved and feered by his faithful old family servants at home; 1sliked and dreaded by his neigh bors and acquaintances abroad, who, partly from his h0atse, and partly from his character fixed upon him the appropriate nickname o1 OLD HURRICANE.
 There was, however, other ground of aver. oio hari hot of hi md vio lent temper and domineering habits. Old Hurricane was said to be an old bachelor, yet rumor whispered that there was in some ob- scure part of the world, hidden away from human sight, deserted wife and child, DC or forlorn and heart broken. It was further whispered that the older brother of Ira War field had mysteriously disappeared, and moi without some suspicion of foul play on the part of the only person in the world who had a strong interest in his taking off," How ever these things might be, it was known fol a certainty that Old Hurricane had an only sister, widowed, sick and poor, who, with her son, dragged on a wretched life of illre quilted toil, severe privation, and painful in frmity, in 8 distant city, unaided, unsought | and uncared for by her cruel brother. It WAS the night. of the last day of Octo | Der, eighteen hundred and forty five. The ! evening had closed in dark and gloomy About dusk the wind arose in the northwest ! driving up masses of leaden hued clouds l and in 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 inclemency of the weather did not prevent the negroes of Hurricane Hall from availine themselves of their oapricious old masters permission, and going of in a body to ban. I jo breakdown held in the quarters of their next neighbor.
 IL IaRL aI I the hall only Major Warfeld, Mrs. Condi ! ment, his little old housekeeper, and Wool his body-servant.
 Early in the evening the old house was | shut up closely to keep out as much as pos sible the sound of the storm that roared ! through the mountain chasms, and cannona | ded the walls as if determined to force ar ! entrance. As soon as she had seen that al was safe, Mrs. Condiment went to bed an6 ! to sleep.
 | It was about ten o'clock that night tha \ Old Hurricane, wrapped up in his quilted \ flannel dressing-gown, sat in his padded arm | chair before 8 warm and bright fire, taking his ease in his own bedroom. This was thu ! hour of the cesiest enjoyment to the self. in I dulgent Sybarite And, indeed, every meani ! and appliance of bodily comfort was at hand | Strong oaken shutters, and thick, heavy cur l tains at the windows, kept out every draft o air, and so deadened the sound of the winc tnAE US SuDuueO mOanIuS WhS Just SuInclSn l to remind one of the stormy weather with ] out in contrast to the bright warmth within Old Hurricane, as I said, sat well wrapped up in his wadded dressing gown, reclining ir his padded easy-chair, with his head throwr ! back, and his feet upon the fire eirons, toast. ing his shins and slipping his punch. On his left hand stood his cosy bedstead with it's warm crimson curtains festooned back, revealing the luxurious swell of the full feather bed, and pillows with their snow white linen and lambswool blankets inviting repose. Between this bedstead and the COT. ner of the fireplace stood Old Hurricane's ancient body-servant, Wool, engaged ir warming 8 crimson cloth night-cap. 1T take this,'' said Old Hurricane, as ht slipped his punch and smacked his ips-'g take this to be the very quintessence of hu man epjoyment-sitting here in my soft warm chair before the fire, toasting my legs slipping my punch, listening on the one hand to the storm without. and glancing on the other hand at my comfortable bed waiting there to receive my sleepy head.
 q wonder now if there is anything on the face Of the earth that would tempt me to leave my cosy 1reside and go abroad to- night? I wonder how large promise o1 pleasure or profit or glory it would take now?"
 ''Much as ebber Congress itse'f could give if it give you penance for all your sarvins, suggested Wool.
 "Yes, and more for I wouldn't leave my home comforts tonight to insure not only the pension but the thanks of Congress, '' said the old man, replenishing his glass with steaming punch, and drinking it off leisurely.
 The clock struck eleven. The old man again filled his glass, and, while slipping it's contents, said
 ''You may fill the warming-pa and warm my bed, Wool. The fumes of this fragrant punch are beginning to rise to my head and make me sleepy"
 The servant filled the warming-pan with glowing embers, shut down the lid, and thrust it between the sheets to heat the couch of the luxurious Old Hurricane. The old man continued to toast his feet, sip his punch, and smack his lips. He finished his glass, set it down, and was just in the act of drawing on his woolen night-cap preparatory to stepping into his well-warmed bed, when he was suddenly startled by a loud ringing of the hall-door bell.
 ''What the foul fiend can that mean at this time of night p exclaimed Old Hurricane, dropping his night cap, and turning sharply around towards Wool, who, warming-pan in hand, stood staring with astonishnent. "What does that mean, I ask you ?~
 "Deed, I dunno, sar, less it's some be- nighted traveller in search O shelter out'n de storm.'
 ''Humph and in search of supper, too, of course, and every body gone away or gone to bed but you and me-"
 At this moment the ringing was followed by loud knocking.
 'Marse, den'tle's you and me listen to it, and then we aint 'bliged to sturb ourselves wid answering of it. D suggested Wool.
 ''What, sir ! do you think that am going to turn a deaf ear to stranger that comes to my house for shelter on such night as this2 Go and answer the bell directly"
 "Yes, sar."
 But stop-Iook here-mfnd I am not to be disturbed, If it is a traveller ask him in; set refreshments before him, show him to bed. I'm not going to leave my warm room to welcome anybody tonight please the Lerd. Do you hear 2''
 ''Yes, sar," said the darkey retreating.
 As Wool took shaded taper and opened the door leading from his masters chamber, the wind was heard bowling through the long passages ready to burst into the cozy bedroom.
 ''Shut the door, you scoundreli" roared Old Hurricane, folding the skirt of his warm dressing-goWn across his knees, and lowering closer to the fire.
 Wool quickly obeyed, and was heard re- treating down tn steps.
 ssWhew!' said the old man, spreading his hands over the blaze with 8 look of comfort able appreciation. "What would induce me