Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-01-17

surfing me that / was the only American
with whom he had held social converse
for one year. AS he was about to close
the vault for the night. proposed he
should accompany me to my cafe, take
supper with me, and then walk with me
about the city 1t was sometime before
he would consent to this arrangement
and while he was considering upon it
could sec there was an internal struggle
of no small moment He appeared to
me not unlike man who is debating
whether he shall attack den of rattle
snakes. After while, however, he
consented to go, though there was a
marked manner. He extinguished the
light in his reluctance in his lantern,
gazed up and down the long avenues to
see that no spark of fire had accdently
been dropped, and then he followed mo
to the stone steps. and having secured
the doors, he signifed that he was at
my service. The direct way to my cafe,
which was on the broad quay lay through
the heart of the city; but my companion
insisted upon taking more circuitous
route, and as he led the way, he took me
through the narrowest and darkest streets
and passages he could find.
81 Mr.. c." said he, as VIC were
emerging from one of these dark pas
sages There was an American mcr-
chairman arrived yesterday from New
York, and | know not who may have
come in her. 1t is for this reason that |
avoid the public places"
In an instant the idea flashed upon me
that my companion was convict, or at
least, criminal who had been guilty of
some heinous crime in his native coun-
try, and was consequently afraid of de-
lection Tho more I thought of it the
more became convinced that such was
the fact, and | could not account for his
strange conduct in this fear, and in the
gnawing of guilt burdcnod conscience
Yet he was welcome companion for all
that, and | felt sure that had been full
and ample.
H gazcd furtivcly about as VIC en-
tered the cafe and at his request, |
ordered supper in a private room. He
laughed and chattcd freely, and the more
| saw him the more | liked him. After
we had finished our meal, we started on
our proposed walk. 1t was nearly II
o'clock when we thought of returning,
and as we were passing the small church
Of st. Joseph, noticed that the doors
were open, and that in the centre of the
church there was sable bier. around
which was burning number of small
wax tapers. | proposed that we should
enter and look for moment at the corpse,
H made no objections In ono of the
confessionals near the door sat an old
monk, and very naturally | asked of him
who it was that rested upon the bier, not
knowing that most of the intcrmcnts
from this church were in behalf Of chart
ty.
The monk informed me that it was the
body ola man who came on shore from the
American ship that came in the day be-
fore. He had been very sick and weak
when he left the ship, but he was deter
mined to land and no persuasion Of the
crew could alter him in his determine
ton lie had reached the quay, but be
lived not to cross it. The kind monks
of st. Joseph had taken charge of the
body.
We slowly. rcvcrcntly approached the
sombre scene. Upon the breast OF the
deceased were the articles that had been
found in his possession, consisting of
an apparently wclI-illed purse, pocket
comb watch, and heavy double-bar-
relied pistol, the latter of which the
monk informed us had been loaded with
extraordinary charges of powder, balls,
and buckshot. | gazed upon the face of
the dead, and even in its sunken marble
like rigidity, there was startling ex-
preston of intense resolution, as though
some fell purpose, which death had not
suddued still dwclt in the hushed bosom
As ] still gazed ] heard stiAed cry at
my side, and on turning | was half fright
ened by the expression Of my compan-
ions countenance. His eye-balls seem
cd actually starting from their sockets,
his mouth was half open and fixed; his
hands, which were extended towards the
corpse, tremblcd like vibrating harp
strings, and his very hair seemed fretful
He moved nearer towards the head of the
deceased, looked another moment into
that pallid face, and sinking down upon
his knees, he claspcd his hands towards
heaven:
=" Great God, 1 thank thec I thank
thee thanks!" he calculated in frantic
tones, and then he arose and looked once
more upon the features of the corpse
Then his eyes wandered to the heavy
pistol that lay upon the sable pail, and
while cold shudder passed he took me
by the arm.
Come, come" said he. come with
me to your cafe, and will tell you a
strange story"
Without needing the mute astonish-
ment of the monk, i followed IL. My
companions nerves had become some
what composed, and could see there was
intense satisfaction depicted in every
lineament of his couutcnance.
Mr.. c." he commenced, 81 can
tell you my story in very few words
Nearly twenty years ago fell in love
with a young girl in the City of New
York. On my part the acquaintance
soon ripcned into a love Of the warmest
and most ardent kind-and it was as
pure as it was ardent, and she professed
the same feeling toward me. Twas then
well-to-do in the world, being a clerk in
, haavv n,eacantile house and ere lOnp