Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-05-10

long before he saw q muffled traveller ap
proaching, toiling through the snow to
ward him.
"The idiot remained motionless anc
mute, and the stranger stared at the stat
ue.like form as he advanced, and announc
cd that he had lost his way.
"Guide me, if you can, man. In
wealthy, and will reward you amply
You seem to doubt; but the name of Ad
rian Loretti carries belief with it in hi
own country. Why do you stare so?--
Speak to me-"
A frantic shrek, and tiger like lear
upon the stranger, were the answer o
Andravi, who bore the straggler fercel y
TO the earth, while his cry was echoed
from every hill around.
But, if the Idiot was agile, the stran.
ger was no less SO; and though taken by
surprise, as he fell he drew pistol, and
instantly discharged it at the head oil
the Withholding assailant. The ball
whistled harmlessly by. and the suret
weapon of the Idiots grasp, were EN-.
ployed to as deadly purpose. The stran.
ger felt that he was being dragged to the
edge of the precipice
The desperation of intense fear lent him
strength to resist, but in vain, for his own
preservation. Slowly the struggling
twain neared the horrid brink, till they
stood upon its direct verge, when des-
pairing of future attempts to save him
self, Adrian Loretti fastened with vice
like grip, upon the belt Of his adversary,
whose last reckless effort precipitated both
into the dreaded gulftogether!
But they were not yet to die. A shelf
interviewed, at short distance, between
them and the uttermost chasm, and here,
bruised but not stunned, the struggle was
continued.
"Wbo are you? Ruffian !-robber-
you need not murder me. will give you
all | have. But release me here" was
the hoarse expostulation Of Loretti, as
soon as he could speak.
But the iron knee of the idiot was upon
his painting chest, and the fall on the oc-
casion had wrought magic change upon
his reason; if not in his purpose. That
reason had returned, as unclouded as everl
and now while returning the advantage
he had required, he looked into the face of
his PROSTATE foe, and spoke to him in
tones, fearful, but well remembered.
"Adrian Loretti, behold in me the
friend you sought to murder. This is /,
Alonzo Andravi Ay. shrink, murder
GUS traitor, for this is your death hour,
and the tomb is impatient to receive you.
What had | done, o talsest of friends,
that you should hurl me from the noun
tain-p pass even as now shall hurl you?-
w hat from me but too much kindness,
had you received, what but wealth and
fair equality Of companionship-exulting
you, as ! did, from poverty and friendli.
ness? o viper! how treated you, how
| trusted you, to find, on that last jour
ney you meant it indeed to be our last
What, what act was yours when, know
ing yourself to be my heir, no kindred
living to dispute my kindness, you hurled
me, as you thought, into the cold abyss
to death? Till now, it has seemed dream
both what you did, and what God has
done for me. A weight since then has
been upon my brain. A spell has bound
me to these regions. The memory of all
that went before was lost to me, and set
my reason free. Strive not, slave, trai-
tor, child! your efforts are in vain. Die!
Thus | fling you to the death you design
ed for mel"
Even as he spoke, and while the first
words of II half formed prayer were upon
the lips of the struggling Loretti, Andravi
loosened his victiiu's hold with giant
blow, and then cast him to the white eter-
nifty below!
The sharp scream of the falling man
assembled to the ears of his destroyer some
seconds before his body fell upon the icy
rocks a hundred iathoms down. The dull
sound reached Andravi's hearing and self
avenged, his reason restored, like one
awakened from long dream, he turned
away by winding path, and was soon at
his mountain home again.
Those who are familiar whith the phe-
nomena of insanity, in its innumerable
phases, pronounce that the causes and ca
res Of minds distraught are often wonder
Iul and unaccolntable; nor, to such
Judges, will this sudden imbeciity, and its
sudden disappearance, as narrated, seem
improbable in nature--conversant as they
are with far more remarkable cases, to be
found in the melancholy histories of the
insane. An avenging Providence might
have implanted mystic instinct in the
mind OF the Idiot, to bind him to those
,heerless regions till the hour Of retribu-
ion; or the simple gratitude of his reason
might have detained him among his pre-
servers, to become the restoration and re-
Venge.
Whatever the causes, Andravi soon
amazed his Alpine neighbors with his
true history; and their verdict upon the
Justice of his tragic deed was mingled
with but one regret-the regret Of part
ing with him.
The parting soon took place, though
not forever, for having regained posses
sion of the ample estates to which he made
the false friend his heir. Andravi often
visited the mountain scenes of his mad
ness, his exploits and his revenge, and he
did much for the lasting comforts of the
friends of that period OF his life. And to
this day are remembered, in admring
the brave deeds and benefac-
tions of tho Idiot of the Alps.
A CIncUMspEcT LAD on THE WITNESS
~ ~