The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-01-10
A FEARFUL TRAGEDY.
The Mexican Nun and the American
Officer.

On the evening OF May ~, two American
officers belonging to some volunteer corps, at
tended the cathedral, where certain services
were held appertaining to the nuns at the con-
vent OF San Francis, situated in the western
part Of the city. The cathedral was filled, as
usual, with large crowd of the faithful, and
at the conclusion of the ceremonies, when
they were dispensing, the two officers fingered
in the church, gazing at the expensive orna-
! ments. As they were also in the act of re-
firing, nun, who remained behind the rest of
the sisterhood, made sign to the officer, who
was slowly following his comrades, that she
desired to speak to him. Returning to the
nun, dialogue ensued, in substance as fol-
lows:-
"You are an American"
81 am, madam, and but recently from the
land of Yankees"
II presume, sir, you are a man OF honor
and discretion :"
"Those qualities, added to courage, make
up the composition OF an American soldier.
. "Are you willing to render me an important
service
"You have but to command me-"
81 will not conceal from you that the SER
vice ask at your hands requires not only
discretion, but extraordinary intrepidity.-
knowing this, are you still willing to assist
---' "
me."
Eyes, am determined"
every we'll when you hear the convent
bell strike twelve tonight, be at the side gate.
1 shall be there to open it, and on your knock
ing three times, you shall learn what tits l
require of you. Will you be faithful to the
rendezvousP
81 shall be faithful if live"
"Well, l will depend upon you. Adieu. y
They parted, and the officer rejoining his
companion, as they pursued their way to the
American quarters, related to him all that had
transpired and asked him if he should fulfil
the appointment.
The other advised him to do so by all means,
and. for fear of accidents, offered to accompany
him to the gate at the appointed hour.
Surprising the affair was to end in one OF
those innocent adventures so common In
Mexico, and taking it for granted that the
lady had been suddenly struck with his per-
sonal appearance, the officer, with his COM
panion, repaired to the gate, according to
agreement, and upon giving the concerted
signal. the entrance was opened by the nun.
The chosen officer entered, without the least
apprehension of fear and was saluted by the
num-
"You are truly man of courage and honor,
and are entitled to my warmest gratitude"
After conducting him to her cell. where a
lamp was burning. she politely invited him to
sit down, and. producing two bottles, request
ed him to take glass of wine with her-a
request which man and soldier is not apt
to treat with indifference. Filling him glass
out of one bottle, she took a little herself out
of the other, and after he had finished his,
she told him to go to the opposite side OF the
bed from herself The officer, still innocent,
obeyed, when the nun addressed him -
"Well, we are all alone. Is my door bolt
ed. Look p
And at the same instant, to his utter horror
and amazement, she discovered to him the
dead body of monk, whose clothes were
stiff and matted with blood, while she con-
tinued-
"1he favor 1 require is that you take this
body on your shoulders, and convey it beyond
the gates of the convent. will light you to
the gate of the first court. Obey instantly
or your life shall be in peril-for if you at
tempt to escape, will shoot you through the
head"
"Suiting the action to the word, she drew