New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-24
Remarkable story.

"A french correspondent uraNtlHS III nus
STA sends to his Partisan ssaper the ensuing
story of a tragedy lately enacted in the
Cars district Of Plotsk. About thirty
wears ago an old and bitter teud between
two families of landed prOprietOrs in that
bleak district reached a tragic climax IN the
assassination of a prominent member OF one
household by his particular fOeInan in the
other. Swift remorse and. fear OF the ON
GERS of Justice drove the murderer to sui
eide on the very day of his victims burial,
and at first the horror of the whole affair
had tendency to end forever quarrel
which had produced such terrible results in
both families; but. after the first shock OF
their bereav ement, the kindred OF the slain
man made threats OF eXaeting more ade-
uuate revenge than.had been realized IN the
self destruction of his slayer. aud the au-
thorities were obliged to interfere for the
prevention Of further shedding Of blood.
Constrained, then. by the tardily aroused
law. the rival families at last concluded
treaty of peace, upon the payment of d GER
tain sum Of money by the murderer's rela-
tives. and the feud was declared at an end ::
vet the hereditary enemies on either side
preserved a stern demeanor toward each
other and the prophecy of mad village
priest that the assassination must yet be eX-
plated by another death did not favor an
early establishment of friendship. Upon
one man, however, of the assassin S family
the prophecy here mentioned produced an
effect tending to cultivate an appearance OF
amtv. at least. This person. an uncle OF
the late assassin, ard a rather nervous and
superstitiOus kind of character at that
time. because impressed with the idea that
his own infant son was the one destined
BY fate to suffer for the crime OF bis klns-
man. and in his paternal devotion, resolved
to avert the threatened curse by. dong all
that he could to heal the breach between
the families.
fear he insisted upon paying the whole sum
of money which had been demanded by the
relatives of the murdered man, although.
thereby impOverishing himself: and from
thencetorth spared 10 opportunity to con
ciliate those who might otherwise remain
the covert enemies OF himself and his son.
In turtherance Of the same object the boy,
as he grew to manhood was carefully kept
in ignorance Of the feud Of his ancestors,
and taught to treat the former enemies OF
his family as friends; but, despite all this,
the youth could never be brought to d
strong natural liking of the people for
whom his father protested the warmest
sentiments, and, CHANGING to learn by acct
dent, one day, why the paternal estate had
been improve. lShed, in ransom, as 1t were,
of his own life, shocked and alarmed his
sire by wishing himself old enough to re-
new the war with the fOeman OF his dead
cousin. With all his old tear revived by
this disposition in his son, the father was i'll
cited to fresh cOnciiatory overtures to the
family from whom he still dreaded a fulfill!
ment of the old prophecy of ,retribution,
and hesitated not at any sacrifice of pride
or property to secure their good feeling Tor
himself and his generation.
Several wears rolled on without particular
incident in the matter, until late III Decem-
Der last, when. being informed that the
head of the formerly hostile honsewas in
straits for the sum OF 5000 roubles to pay a
pressing debt. the eyer-vigilant paternal
watcher wrote at once to the embarrassed
debtor, offering to- loan him the needed
amount. 1t would take near y all that he
had left in the world to accomplish this
| romantic act of accommodation, and his son
! protested vehemently against the sacrifice;
but here, thought the old man, was Il su
preme opportunity to bind the borrower
and his kindred to him and his house fol
! lite, and when the former gratefully con
| senteu to come after the loan on the even
me OF the following day, his delight was as
great as though the projected beneiac ton
were to be bestowed upon himself. The
home of the father and son being situated
at some distance from that of its Old enc
| mes, the borrower came thither on horse
back. at the appointed hour and WAS cor.
| daily received by the older man.
The younger, still bitterly hostile to the
proposed transaction. refused to be present
at the interview, and left the house: hui
the meeting of the elders was not the ks.
| friendly on this account, and in the conycr
! sation preceding the tender and acceptance
| of the money there was renewal Of the fra
| tarnal pact in which one OF them believed
that the old prophecy was rendered harm
| less for another generation. over glass
| of wine the new creditor responded to tht
| hearty thanks Of his debtor by frankly CON
! liding to him his lifelong recollection, sell
| apDlicatipn and terror O. that prophec y
and. WITH many protestations OF mutna
esteem for the present and future, boti
| pledged themselves to prevent any revlva
of family feelings which should, by either
thought or act, recall the tragic past Will
his roubles in a canvas bag the borrower a
| last reinounted his horse and started fol-
| home.
| On his way, and short distance rom the
| house he had Just left, was a Piece OF. wood,
under the interlaced leatless branches OF
which he had just entered, when a masked
man. springing from behind tree, caught
his horse by the head, and, with pistol
presented, demanded immediate and Silent
surrender of the money carried BY the rider.
Unarmed as the latter was he had no choice
but to hand his treasure to the highwayman
and behold that mysterious personage's dis
appearance with it among the licse-standing