The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-11-28
The Effects Of a Curse.

: affair occurred near the place of our natiy
0 ty, and partly during our boyhood, aud v
. do not remember ever seeing it recorded
print. We will give it therefore in Il
shape that it is impressed on our memory
. A young man named Comyn had fl
some time paid attention to girl who VIZ
the belle of the village, and they were 9
length formally engaged. Elizabeth wa
! ofan ardent temperament, loving COMFY
] with her whole heart, and sensitive to- h
slightest appearance ofcoldness or neglec
q A lovers quarrel" sprang up for Sigh
cause. There was GOODNESS for day Q
two, and on Sunday afternoon Comyn Q.
corted another young woman to churcl
Elizabeth saw them pass her window. an
the GOODNESS Of despair chilled through hel
Recovering from the shock, she took dow
her prayef-book, and, turning down Leaf
sent it to Comyn's house, That done, sh
went to neighboring wood and hung hel
self
/, On returning from church her lover ha.
Ia presentiment of evil and went to he
home. She had not been seen for two o
three hours. A terrible conviction fashe,
to his mind, and he exclaimed, "Goo.
Heavens !she has DESTROYED herself" Fl,
was told that book had been sent to hi
house, and on running thither he found tn.
prayer book, with the leaf turned down t.
the l09th Psalm, and the following pas
sage marked
Let his days be few, and another take his
office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife
awidow.
Let his children be vagabonds, and beg
their bread let them seek it also in
desolate places.
Let the extortioner consume all he hath
and let the stranger spoil his labor.
Let there be no man to pity him, nor to
have compassion on his fatherless
children.
Let his posterity be destroyed, aud in the
next generation let his name be clean
put out"
While reading this terrible malediction,
word was brought of the discovery of Eliz-
abeth's body, and of the manner of her
death. Comyn rushed from the house, saw
ing he was ruined forever and ever, and for
days and nights he wandered about the
neighborhood, half crazed with remorse and
fear. .. q - - !
Years passed away, but brought no ALE
walton to his mental torture. He was
afraid to enter church lest he should hear
the dreadful words read. The sight of q
bible or prayer book would drive him from
the house. Disasters and misfortunes Of
various kinds befel him, all owing, he claim
ed, to the curse which hung over him.
Ills nights were disturbed by frightfal
dreams The dead girl appeared to him in
his sleep with her features distorted nv
strangulation, and her finger pointing to q
prayer book open at the terrible curse. Al
such time he frequently shrieked in agony.
~ Betsey' my dear Betsey, shut the book
shut the book"
His friends persuaded him to marry
hoping thus to break the spell chat weighed |
him down. At length he assented and |
offered his hand to a young pirl She
turned from him with horror, asking if he |
wished to bring down the curses Of the |
lead glri on her head. Two other offers
we're refused in the same manner. but at |
ength the chance Of a good settlement ont
Weighed superstitious fears, and a woman
vas found to. accept his offer.
Inc wedding was described TO us by an
'ye witness. They were married in the
'hurch and the way to it lay across al, omen
rack. When about midway, q sudden and
,lolent storm sprang up. Crashing thnn.
'ers, lncessant flashes Of sheeted lightning.
nd howllng winds daunted even the least
!, apersn1ious with their ill omens. Comyn
brew himself to the ground on his faca
nd grovelled in convulsive agony, shrek.
ng to be protected from the dead GIRL, who,
e said, had come with thunder and light.
ing to destroy him. He was led helnIess
the church, and passed through the mar
lage ceremony in . stunned and bewilder-
d manner.
For two years after the marriage, Comyu
ragged out miserable existence, bodyf
no mind wearing rapidly away together.
ie became the father oftwo children. both
whom died shortly afterbirth. At length
9 died, his end being embittered by teri. ,
le VISIONS, the horror Of which threw him q
ITO violent commissions. To the last, the
lsion OF the prayer book. open at the lO9th !
sam, seemed to scar his eyeballs, and he d
led shricking to his attendants 20 q make {
er shut that book r
The singular coincidence that had terri. 3
ed him during life did not cease al his +
cath. He was buried on Sunday after. =
Don, and according to the custom Of that y
elghborhood, the coffin was placed in the .
sic during the reading Of the regular Sun. : !,
y afternoon service 1t was the 22d day
the month, and the lO9th psalm, formed
le OF the psalms regularly appointed for
at afternoon. Az the villagers looked at r
ch other in establishment at this coinci. s.
nee, the church clock struck four-.the 9
~. hour at which Elizabeth Lamnen had j,
me out to destroy herself.
Singular as the above story is. we can
'uch for its entire truth, and there ara lii
yeral othere now living who can confirm K
in every word. It is but another nroof 8,
at truth is stranger than iiction.a y
IN. 0. Commercial. 81
'>-S-~.-~~-sS>->o>> H.
he Insanity Of the Empress Oarlot- d
ta-Particulars Of the Disorder, Fl
'aris October 26l Correspondent London .,
Times. :,
A letter in the Nouvelle presse Libre i
yes what It states to be authentic bar. d
ulars Of the malady which has come 81 81
on the young and ill-fated Empress Of .. :,
' \ i appears that it was at Bautzen, -
her way to Miramar, that she first had 81
9 idea, which has since become a fxeJ &C
in her mind, that her attendants were
q conspiracy to poison her. At Bautzen
refused to partake Of any cooked food
q would only eat, fruit which she had co
thered with her own hands and drink fo
for chn hnI h o.