The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-09-03
From "A T The Year KouDG."
1 STORY OF pRESE

| "AbOut four years ago party OF travel
lcrs arrived at a certain convent in Jerusn-
| lem, at which YOU can be put up for the
night an | entertained very much as Euro
pCan travellers who are crossing the Alps
are received at the Great Saint Bernard.
Amongst the party who had newly arrived
was one who-as had been the case with
myself-hud got the lock of his pistol so
derangcd that it was impossible to str it,
and as he, like myself, and most other last
. eru travellers, very much d!sliked the idea
of proceeding on his journey unarmed, he
was anxious to have the defec. in his wea-
pom attended TO at once. 1t was easter to
| feel this want than to get it supplied, there
b-;nr 10 one at that time in Jerusalem who
would be likely to understand the pistol in
question, wk!ch was a revolver, and fur
nishcd with all the latest improvements. At
length, however, after much consideration
and casting about as to what was to be
done, one of the lay brothers of the convent
suggested a way out Of the difficulty which
seemed promising enough. There were, he
said. couple of German travellers sleeping
that night in the convent who were lock
smiths by trade, and who had little doubt
that one uf them would be able to do what
was necessary to the pistol, if anybody
could. The weapon was handed over to the
lay brother, who at once took 1t TO the room
which the two Germans occupied, and, eX-
planning to them what was amlss, asked II
they, would undertake to set it right. The
traveller, lie added, would pay them l!ber-
ely for their Il oublc.
''The tWo Germans were sitting at supper
when the !av brother came in with the pistol!
in his hand. The elder of them, whose
name was Max, getting up from the table,
took the weapon from the monk, and car
ried it to the window, Gas the light was
fndng) that he might examine it more com
pletelv. His friend remained at the table,
sitting with his back towards Max, finishing
his supper .m philosophical manner enough.
The German who was examining the pistol,
had been 50 occupied for couple OF min
utes, when it went OF with a loud noise.
At that moment the poor fellow who was
sitting ei..ag his supper at the table tell
forW2rl without uttcrlng sound. 1he
charLo bad entered his back.
die ryN upon rs face on the ground,
and when my friend, who told me the story
and wi.o as surgeon to the embassy was
sent for at once-when he arrived, it seemed
to him at first as if two men had been killed
instead of one, for both the Germans were
stretched upon the floor, and he who was to
be the survivor, holding the other locked in
his arms, wore upon his ghastly countenance
look of the two. 1t was quite difficult
thing to separate them. The wounded man
had got the others hand in his, as if by
that to e-assUre him, and to show him that
be loved him all the same.
Ss'rba su-rany nousp5 ha yroupIal an
it was but too evident that he had not long
to live-to be removed to the irirmary and
laid upon bed to die. 1t was q bed thn.
stood beneath window, and across which,
when the sun was setting, the shade of a
cypress fell. 4 very brief examination
showed that any attempt to relieve the dying
man would be useless, and they could only
staunch the blood that flowed from his
wound and watch him with that breathless
eagerness-t there is none like it--With which
men watch their brother, when each short
breath, drawn less and less often, seems as
though it were the last. As for the other
German, he was sunk in a heap upon the
ground beside the bed, in speeehless stupe-
faction. One Of his hands was on the couch,
and the expiring effort of the dying man
was to take this passive hand in his. Those
who were around him, seeing then n change
upon his face, leant hastily over him, for
they heard him whisper family. "a. .....
"'Poor M.z,' he said-spoor Max The
las. act Of the man who died was to pity
the man who lived. sse
Sand well he might. ra -.s.-..s r .-
''For some time it was very uncertain
whether the man who had thus slain his best
and dearest friend would not speedily fol-
low him into another world-so fearfully
was he affected. For a still longer period
it was doubtful in the last degree whether
he would retain his reason. And. indeed,
at the time when the story was told me he
could hardly be said to be altogether Of
sound mind. At that very time the man
was haunted by a fixed presentiment that he
should die one day as his friend had died.
No reasoning with him had the least effect
the presentment had taken a hold on his
mind which nothing could shake. Those
who wished him wcli-and there were many
had often tried to lead him to happier
! frame Of mind, and to make him take m
/ interest in his own future. They lad urged
! him, since he had taken up his abode in
Jerusalem, to settle there more comfortably,
to get into better and moro convenien,
workshop, and, since his skill as q workman
!. always ensured him the means of living, te
marry; for they knew that the fresh Interests
Of a nature which would follow would b,
Of the greatest possible service to him.
s''The day will come was his invariabl,
answer, to all such advice-s the day vii