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Hirl, the Hunchback.
25-
and a trap-door had fallen downward into a
eellar beneath the cabin. He was heavy, and
a sudden descent of three feet gave him a ter-
vifie shook, confused his faculties, and drew
the eord chokingly tight. He quivered an in-
stant, clutched at the rope, and tried to gather
his limbs up to obtain a footing upon the
floor; but, as often as he touched it, Captain
Deb pushed him back with her staff. He
lifted his body with his hands, and begged
piteously for relief.
“O Lord, missus! O Lord! -I's only fun-
nin’! Le’ me down—le’ me down, an’ I'll
o right away, an’ neber, neber come back!
ood Cap’n Deb! O good Cap’n Deb!”
answer to this appeal, Mrs. Hadley be-
stowed such hearty thwacks upon his fingers
that they relaxed their hold, and his arms fell
eenvulsed at his side.
“?Ponnin’, was ye? you black Satan! Well,
I’m funnin’ now. How do ye like it, eh?
Hangin’ is fine sport, isn’t it?”
Jaffer roared, begged, and struggled. His
antie frame writhed and quivered fright-
Jodith and Meg beheld the shocking spec-
tacle with awe and astonishment. When, in
the egony of suffocation, he made attempts
to grasp the rope, the remorseless staff of Deb
Hadley beat down his arms. -
Judith could scarcely command her emo-
tions, and turned from the sight dizzy and
faint. The ing respiration of the black
finally ceased: Ris breast no longer heaved;
his limbs subsided into quietness, and he hung,
- Without motion, a dark and revolting object.
CHAPTER XXI.
IN WHICH A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS PERFORMED.
“ The race is not to the swift nor the battle
t the strong,” moralized Deborah Hadley, as
she surveyed the gigantic form of Jaffer.
“The brute had strength, but not the eunnin’
to match a woman. He was an idle, vicious,
prowtia’ eur, as likely to shed royal as rebel
lood. Well, I've saved the hangman trouble
and done the country asarvice. Heart alive!
how I tremble! I haven't been so nigh my
eend ina long time. But I didn't give her
sR; no, I kept her for my son Christian.
was white natur ag'in black natur, and the
white has carried the day, Well,” she con-
tinued, looking at the remains of Jaffer, “ the
ereetur "pears to be quite done for. The fool!
to try his wit ag’in Deb Hadley.”
The clatter of iron-shod feet was heard.
“It’s my son Christian!” said the old wo-
man. ‘If he has ridden far, he has ridden
fast. This won't be a pooty sight for him on
his weddin’-night, so I'll put it out o’ the way.”
She eut the rope with a knife, and the body
of Jaffer fell heavily into the cellar. Shedrew
up the door and fastened it. Why the trap
was constructed in that peculiar manner, with
a stout hook over it, can only be gucesed at.
If some of the dark secrets of that period
could be told, conjecture would doubtless yield
to certainty, and the uses of that contrivance
would cease to be a mystery.
By the time Mrs. Iladiey bad concealed all
evidence of her work, her son entered the
cabin, followed by a man dressed in a suit of
* shabby black, which appeared much too small
to fit his person, which was rather tall and
athletic. His bat was in keeping with the
rest of his extervals. showing signs of recent
brushing and smocthing. The frayed edyes
of the brim seemed to have been polished
with blacking, to keep up its sombre respect-
ability. His neck-cloth was of white cotton,
and of remarkable width. His hair was long,
straight, nearly of flax color, and suberly put
away behind his ears. His whiskers, which
were rather sparse, were of the same hue, and
were noticeable because not generally worn
by clergymen at that time. His face was pale
and lugubriously solemn. Clearly, the man
thought the universal world was going to
wreck and ruin as fast as was conveniently
possible. _
He carried a prayer-book in his hand, and
appeared ready for any emergency in the
legitimate way of his profession. Iis gaze
wandered somewhat hurriedly around the
room, as goon as he found himself within it,
finally reating, with mild dignity, on Deborah
adjey.
“Well, mother ?” said Christian.
“ All safe an’ snug, my eoger-boy.”
“ Nothing has happened ?” queried the eap-
Ain, with hesitation.
“Muob has happened, but the gal is there.
I'm sorry you haven’t set your mind on 4
willin’ bride; but what is, must needs be, and
what has happened, we must abide by,” quoth
Mra. Hadley.
“ Verily, I am glad, sister Hadley, that thy
mind is so seasoned with grace,” said the par-
eon, “for resignation is one of the principal
virtues of a Christian. Sure-ly it is refresh-
ing to meet with one, in these degenerate
times, in whom the word is not the savior of
death unto death, but of life unto life. I trust,
Mrs. Hadley—”
“My name is Deb Hadley, often an’ 'toth-
erwise called Cap’n Deb; and wry faces, and
highfalutin isn’t the kind o’ comfort that I
need.”
“Still, madam, I may entertain a hope that
the seed, in your case, has fallen on good
soil, and brought forth the peaceable fruits of
righteousness,” he continued, in an edifying
tone.
“As for fruit,” ssid Deborah Hadley,
“there’s but little on’t that’s worth eatin’ in
the cowntry. I did raise a few crab-apples
one year, but they wa'n’t of no ’count. I’m
6 plain, matter-of-fact body, and flambergast-
ed speeches don’t greatly affeet me. What's
your name, you solemn creetur ?”
“There’s but little in a name, as the poet
says; and ‘arose by any other name would
smell as sweet’ ; but if ’twill be for your spirit-
ual delectation, I will inform you that m
earthly and temporal appellation ia Elija
Timothy Holdfest, by the grace of God and
my terrestrial primogenitors.”
“Tcan’t speak none o’ the Ingin languages,
but I pooty giner'ly know what I want, and
what my son Christian wants ; which, at pres-
ent, is no more nor lees nor # harmless chit of
a gal to be his wife, to cook hia victuals, and
look arter his rigimentals. Dear goodness!
how your eyes wander about. You ha'n’t got
no buddily ailmenta, have ye?”
“Woman,” answered Elijah T. Holdfast,
“T am as one ealled at the eleventh hour to
labor in the vineyard, and if I get my penny
I shall be content.”
“Hard money is dyin’ scurce in the colonies
jist now, and if you git paid off in it, you'll
do better nor the Continentalers, a esky
sight ; although a penny for more nor half @
day's work is, to my mind, ruther slim wages.
Howsomever, your trade don’t make no great
wear an’ tear on coats and breeches; yet I've
noticed more nor once that preachin’ an’ pray-
in’ gives an excellent appetite.”
“I'm aware,” replied Elijah, “that there
are those in orders among us who love the
flesh-pots of Egypt, and think more of crea-
ture comforts than of the building up of
Zion.”
“ Away with your flummery! I'll hear no
more ont!” eried Christian. Then to the
woman: “How is it, mother? IZave you
brought ker round any? Is she more recon-
eiled?”
“T’ve held no discourse with her since you
went away, son Christian, havin’ had other
matter to take up mytime. That runaway
beast, Jaffer has been here, full of revenge
and mischief, wantin’ the gal.”
“ Did you kt her go?” demanded Christian,
fiercely. .
“Marry come up! Do you think I'm a
ebild, to be scared by thic lips and a flat
nose? No,no! I'd give the child to a wolf
sooner, or a black bear. I withstood him
face to face, and he threatened me with death,
We had a terrible time, he and I.”
“Where is he? I see no blood—ao sign
of a struggle,” answered Christian.
The woman took the candle from a table,
epreng the trap-door, and getting upon her
knecs, held the light so its rays streamed in-
to the ecllar. .
“ Look!” said Deb Hadley, grimly.
Christian and the parson gazed into the dim
abyss, and saw the body of Jaffer lying in a
heap, as it had fallen. “Both shivered.
“Mother! you are a lioness!” said Christi-
an, in a subdned voice.
“For my son Christian, yes, You told me
to keep her, and Ikepther. The brute thought
to hang me; but I put my wit agin his
strength, and,” she ad:led, significantly point-
ing downward with the lorg forefinger of her
right band, “there he is!”
“ A mere saynge,” said Christian, “though
sometimes useful. I’m glad the scoundrel
has got his descrts. It was an oversight not
leavin’ a guard.” —
“The wretch!” muttered Holdfast, with an
expression of disgust.
“ What are those eteps outside ?” inquired
Deb.
‘Some of my dragoons that I ordered to
follow and keep watch at the door. 1 don't
care to be surprised by prowlin’ parties of
whigs. Come! let's hurry up what's to be
done.” ‘
“Now has the trying moment arrived!” |°
sighed Judith, who had been a trembling au- |
ditor to this conversation. i
“Come out,” said Mother Hadley, opening |
the door, ‘‘and don’t be an obstinate little
fool. Here’s my son Christian, with his com-
mission in his pocket, and his sword and a
parson by his side, ready to make you his
wife—an honor that many a gal would jump
at this night.”
“Spare me—spare me to-night! I have
seen 80 much that is dreadful that I am well
nigh mad! Go, fearful woman, and go you,
Christian Hadley!’ cried poor Judith, great-
ly excite
“ Perverse-— perverse as ever!” said the
captain, impatiently. é
“Poor dear!” said Meg, supporting and
embracing her mistress. “If they don’t let
her alone, she’s done killed. Inever seed sieh
works as dis yer. Why, she’s twitchin’ all
over. Spasms, this is—cl'ar spasms l’”
“Truly, the maiden is sorely distressed,”
observed the Rev. Mr. Holdfast, advancing to
Judith with some show of sympathy. “She
needs a few words of combrt and counsel,
which it is my duty to give.”
“ Leave me!—leave me!” said Judith, faint
Tu Young woman,” replied the parson, grave-
ly, “I came not for thy bodily or spiritual
harm, but to unite thee to one who will soon
be great in the land, as he is already mighty
} ”»
in war.
Judith sobbed hysterically, and clung te
eg.
Don't let them hurt me, Meg! Keep them
back !—keep them back!”
“Meg’ll stan’ by ye to the last! They
can't git her ’way from ye, ‘less they cut off
her arms. She’ll hol’ ye tight, and she'll
die with ye, bress de Lor'l- Go "long, you]
miserble creturs! Don't ye see dis yer ‘il
kill her?” cried the muletto girl, who was
disposed to adhere faithfully to her mistrees,
* Retire a little, good friends, while I soothe
and prepare her mind for what is to follow.
Obviously, she is blinded by Satan so that
she cannot clearly discern the signs of the _
times, nor appreciate the honor of this alli-
ance, We read in Scripture of seven devils
that possessed one woman; let us hope that
in this case the number is less by at least a
” :
“ That will be three and a half—which, in
my ‘pinion, is enough,” cbserved Mother Had-
ley, dryly.
“That number I can exorcise and speedily
put down, according to the grace that is with-
in me.”
*« Use any exorcism you like, eo it be short,”
replied Christian, falling back. ‘I muat re-
turn to my command in an hour; and there
is, at least, a good thirty-minutes’ gallop be- -
tween me and the bivouac. Fall back, mo-
ther, fall back, and let the solemn owl patter
his nonsense in her ears.”
“T have little love for his cloth,” quoth
Mrs. Hadley, “and care not to trust much te
them who prate ao loudly of their own piety.
Where did. you pick up this black-coated
parrot?”
“ Hush! not so loud,” cautioned Christisn.
“We need him, and therefore mast not give
him ill words—leastwise till the work is done.”
“You have sharp eyes,” resumed the wo-
man, dropping her voice, “and a quiok wit;
but I still say, that [like notthe man. There's
a heap of hypocrisy in him.”
“Hypocrisy is the universal coverin’ of hu-
man nature,” responded the captain.
Meanwhile the parson had taken Judith’s
hand; and, snbduing his voices to a more me-
lodious key, said:
“ Young woman, it grieves me to see thea
oppose thy will to the manifest designs of
Providence.”
“There, mother! did you hear that? It
was good. You have to talk to women-folka
about Providence to keep ’em within bounds,”
said Christian, aside.
“ Stuifl” said Mrs. Hadley. :
“The young ofticer,” resumed the pares.
N