Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-17
FTOn All The Year ROuSd,
A Story Of PrPsentiment

arrived at certain convent in Jerusalem, at
which you can be put up for the night and
entertained very much, as European traveller
who are crossing the Alps are received at the
Great st. Bernard. Amongst the party who
had newly arrived was one whO-aS bad been
the case with mysclf-had got the lock of his
pistol so deraBged, like myself, and most other
Eastern travellers, very much disliked the idea
Of proceeding on his journey unarmed, he was
anxious to have the defect in bis weapon at
tended to at once. 1t was easier to feel this
want than to get it supplied, there being no
Une at that time in Jerusalem who would be
at all likely to understand the pistol in ques-
ton, which was revolver, and furnished with
all the latest improvements. Atlength, how
ever, after much consideration and casting
about as to what was to be done, one OF the
lay brothers of the convent suggested way
out Of the difficulty which seemed promising
enough. There were, he said, a couple OF
German travellers sleeping that night in the
convent who were lOcksmiths by trade, and
he had little doubt that one Of them would
be able to do what was necessary to the pis-
tol, if anybody could. The weapon was han.
ded over to the lay brother, who at once took
it to the room which the two Germans Occu-
pied, and, explaining to them what was amiss,
asked il they would undertake to set it right.
The traveller, he added, would pay them lib
orally for their tFeHble.
"The two Germans were sitting at supper
! when the lay 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 carried it to the
window (as the light was fading,) that he
might examine itmOre completely. His friend
remained at the table sitting with his back
towards Max, finishing his supper in philo-
Sophical manner enough. The German who
was examining the pistol had not been so oc-
cupied for couple Of minutes. when it went
off with loud noise. At that moment, the
poor fellow who was sitting eating his supper
at the table fell forward without uttering .
sound. The charge had entered his back.
''Ile fell upon his face to the ground, and
when my friend, who told me the story-and
who as surgeon To the embassy was sent for
at oncc-when he arrived, it seemed to him
at first as il two men had been killed instead
Of one, both Of the Germans were stretched
upon the foOr and he who was to be the sur
vivor, holding the other locked in his arms,
wore upon his ghaStly countenance the dead
! licr Look Of the two. 1t was quite difficult
thing to separate them. the wounded man
| u
to reaSSurc him, and to show him that he
loved him all the same.
1.-The surgeon caused the wounded man-it
was but too evident that he had not long to
livc-to be removed to the infirmEry and laid
upon bed to die. 1t was bed that stood
beneath window, and across which, when
the sun was setting, the shadow Of cypress
fell. 4 very brief examination showed that
any attempt to relieve the dying man would be
useless, and they could only stanch the blood
that flowed from his wound anc watch him
with that breathess eagerness-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 Q heap
upon the ground beside the bed in speechless
stupcfactiOn. 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 9
change upon his face, leant hastily over him,
for they heard him whisper family.
'PoOr Max he said-'poor Max The
last act Of the man who died was tO pity the
man who lived
"And we'll he might.
"FOr some time it was very uncertain
whether the man who had thus slain his best
and dearest friend would not speedily follow
him into another world-so fcarfnlly was he
affected. For n still longer period it was
doubtful in the last degree whether he would
retain his reason. And, indeed, ut the time
when the story was told me he could hardly
be said to be altogether OF sound mind. Al
that very time the man was haunted by q
fixed presentiment that he sh0uld die one day
as his iicnd had died. No reasoning with
him had the least effect, the pFcsentiment had
taken hold upon his mind which nothing
could shake. Those who wiahed him we'll
and there were many-had OlGeM tried to Iced
him tO happier frame Of mind, and % make
him take an interest IN his own future. They
had urged him, since he he'd taken up his Q.
bodc in Jerusalem, 70 settle there more com.
fortably, TO get into Q better, more convenient
workshop, and, since his skill aS q workman
always ensures him the means Of living, 70
marry. For they knew that the fresh inter.
est Of domestic nature which would follow
would be OC the greatest possible service "a
him.
1.-The day will come was his invariablc an.
swer to all such advice-'thc day will come
when some one will shoot ME with q pistol
through the back. just as shot my friend
That day will surely come; what have l ia
do, then, with wife or children-with wife
whom ] should leave widow. with children
whom should leave fatherlessG What have
| to do with settling-with comfort or home!
"I shall have home when the pistOl.bul-
let sends me to my grave beside my friend.
~ shall 60 home then, said the German
lockSmith.
my revolver was sent back to me repaired
and as was just about to start away on 9
short jOruncy into the environs, and was in
some haste, ! set off without trying It.
"In the course Of the day, however, partly
wishing to ascertain how far my pistol was
restored to condition Of usefulness, partly
from desire to bring down bird which
saw on the wing, apparently within pistol.
shot, lifted my revolver to let fly at him.
"The weapon missed FIRE.
"On examination, found that the defect
this time was precisely the reverse Of what II
had bOen before. The lock went 90 loosely
now, and had so little spring In It, that the
hammer dia'Hdt fall upon the cap with sufFi.
cicnt force to explode it tried the pistol
several times, and finding It useless, sent Il
again, on my return to Jerusalem, TO the Ger.
man lOcksmith, charging my servant to ex.
plain to him its new defect, and above eli
things to caution him as to its being loaded,
as had done myself on the former occasion.
"Mark how that pistol played with the
mans life! Mark how it returns to him again
and again Why not have done It's work ct
once?
"The revolver was brought back to me .(hs
next day in state, as ! was told, Of perfect
repair.