The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-06-22
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TEE TWO FRIENDS;
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THE PR e S e NJ T 7 M e " r

II Ia N IA - - 4N u 4 AVA - AZ 4
Abou! four years ago, party OF travellers
arrived at a certain convent IN Jerusalem, at
which you can put up for the night, and be en-
tertained very much as European travellers
who are crossing the A lps are received at the
Great st. Bernard. Amongst the party who
had newly arrived was one who had got the
lock OF his pistol SO deranged that i! was impos-
siblc to STIR it, and as he, as most other eastern
travellers, very much disliked the idea OF pro-
ceeding on lis Journey unarmed, lac was anX-
ious 10 have the defect attended to at once. 1t
was easier TO feel this want than TO get il sup
pIied there being no one at that time in Jeru-
salem who would be likely to understand the
plslol IN question, which was revolver, and
furnished with all the latest Improvements. At
length, however, after much consideration
and casting about as to what was TO be done,
one OF tbe lay brothers oi the convent sugges-
ted way out Of the d,t6cuIly which seemed
promising enough. There were, he said,
couple OF German travellers sleeping that night
m the convent who were locksmlths by trade
and he had little doubt that one of them would
he able TO do what was necessary to the pistol.
f anybody could. The weapon was handed o.
the room which the two Germans occupied,
and explaining TO them what was amIss, asked
af }hev would undertake to sci it right. The
traveller, he added, would pay them llbe rally
dor their trouble.
Tho two Germans were sitting at their sup
ger, when the lay brother came 10 with the pls-
tol in has hand. The elder of them, whose
name was Max, got up from the table, took The
weapon from the monk, and carried II 10 the
window that be might examine IT more COM
Pletely. His friend renamed at the table sit
ting w4th his back towards Max, finishing his
spDpeC in philosophical manner enough. The
German who was examining the pistol bad not
been so occupied for more than couple OF min
utes, when it went off with a loud noise. At
that moment, the poor fellow who was sitting
At the table, fell forward without uttering 4
sound. The whole charge had entered his
back.
He fell upon his lace upon the ground, and
when my friend who told me the story-and
who was surgeon to the embassy was sent Tor
at once-whon he arrived, it seemed to him a.
first as if two men had been killed instead OF
one, for both the Germans We're stretched up
on the floor, and he who was TO be the survivor
holding the other locked in his arms, wore un-
on his ghastIy countenanCc the dcaGlior look al
tue two. 1t was quite difficult thing to acpa-
rate them. The wounded man had got the 9th
eI's hand IN his, as thy that TO Teassure him,
aud TO show him that he loved him all the
same.
The surgeon caused the wounded man-it
was but too evident that he had not long TO
liye-to be removed TO the InfrmarY and laid
upon a bed to die. 1t was bed that stood be-
meath window, and across which, when the
sun was setting, the shadow ofa cypress fell
A very briei examination showed that any at
tempt TO relieve the dying man wond be use
less, and they could only staunch the blood that
flowed from bis wound, and watch hlm with
bTeathless easerness-there is none like it
with which men watch their brother, when
each BREATH drawn less and less often, seems as
though 1t were The last. AS for the other Ger
nan, he was sunk in heap upon the ground
beside the bed, in speechess stupefcation. One
0f his hands was on the couch, and the expiring
effort OF the dying man was 10 take this passive
hand in his. Those who were around him, see
!ng thea changeupon his face, leaned hastily
over aim, for they had heard him whisper
family.
"Poor Max - he sald-''Poor Max ~ The
last act Of the man who died was 10 pity the
man who lived.
For some time it was very uncertain wheth-
er the man who had thus slam his best and
dearest friend would not speedily follow HIM
into another world-sO fearfuIy was he atfec-
ted. For still longer Leriod it was doubtful
IN the last degree, whether he would retain hIs
reason. AnG, 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 fixed PRESENT.
ment that he should die one day as his friend
had died. No reasoning with him had :he
least etfect-the presentiment had such hold
upon his mind which nothing could shake
Those who wished him well-and there were
many-hfd often tried to lead him to happi-
er frame OF mind, and to make hlm take an in
terfst IN his own future. They had urged him
since he had taken up his abode in Jerusalem
10 settle himself more comfortably, to get into a
better and more convenient workshop, and since
MS skull as workman always ensured him the
means OF living, to marry; for they knew thai
'he fresh Interests OF domestic nature which
would follow would be of The greatest service
10 him