Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-29
A Thrilling Tragedy.

On q certain evening, two American officers,
belonging to some volunteer corps, attended
the cathedral in Mexico, where certain services
were held appertaining to the nuns at the west
ern part of San Francisco.
The cathedral was filed, 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 ornaments. AS they were
also in the act of retiring, nun, who remain
ed behind the rest of the sisterhoOd, made
sign to one of the officers, who was slowly
following his comrade, that she wished le
speak to him. RetuRing to the nun, a dialogue
ensued in substance az follows:
"You are an Americana"
81 am, madam, and but recently from the
land of Yankee"
Il presume, you are man of honor and
discretion.
"Those qualities, added to courage, make
up the composition of an American soldier"
"Will you render me an important ser
vice."
You have but to command me-"
Il will not conceal from you that the servi-
ces | ask at your hands requires not only dis
erection, but extraordinary intrepidity. Know
ing this, are you still willing to assist me2"
Eyes, am determined"
every well; when you hear the convent bell
strike twelve tonight, be at the side gate,
shall be there to open it, and on your knock.
ing three times, you shall learn what it is
require of you. VIII you be faithful to the
rendezvoa-2"
IL will.n
swell, will depend upon you. Adieu."
They parted, and the officer, rejoinIng his
companion, as they pursued their way to the
American quarter, related to him all that had
transpired, and asked him if he should ill the
appointment.
The other advised him TO do so, by all
means, and, for fear of accident, offered to
accompany him to the gate at the appointed
hour.
Surprising the affair to end in one of those
innocent adventures common in Mexico, and
taking it for granted that the lady had been
struck with his personal appearance, the Off
Ger, with his companion, repaired to the gate,
according TO agreement; and upon giving
concerted signal, the entrance was opened by
the nun.
"You are truly man of courage and honor,
and 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 requested
him to take glass Of wine-a request which
a man and a soldier is not apt to treat with in
difference Filling up glass out of one bottle,
she took little to herself out of the other, and
after he had finished bis, she told him to go to
the opposite side of the bed from herself The
officer still innocent, obeyed, when the nan
thus addressed him:
swell, we are quite alone. Is my door bolt
edo Look"
And at the same instant che discovered to
his utter amazement aud horror, the dead body
of O monk, whose clothes were stiff and matted
with blood, while she continued:
"The favor require, is that you take this
body on your shoulders, and convey it beyond
the gates of the convent. | will light you to
the gates of the first court. Obey instantly,
or your life will be in peril, for if you attempt
TO escape | will shoot you through The head"
And suting the action to the word, she drew
a pistol from her bosom, and presented it at
him. ~ know, she added, "that my own life
will be the forfeit, for after dispatching you,
| have a poinard for myself-the same with
which | stabbed this miserable monk"
Seeing no other means of escape. the officer
took up the body, and accompanied by the nun,
who carried a dark lantern, proceeded to the
gate by which he had entered: and, on issn~
ing from il, threw down his horrible burden
at the feet of his cOmrade who was waiting
to enjoy laugh at what they both imag.
iaed would terminate in pious love intrl
que.
After recountiug to bis friend the almost
Incredible adventure in which he had been
engaged, they resolved 10 communicate the
Circumstance TO General Worth in person; but
they had only preceded a short distance from
the convent when the officer who had brought
out the body began to complain OF the most
violent aud excruciating pains. lie soon fell
upon the pavement ard expired.