Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-05

OF fire. had accidentally been dropped,
aid then followed mo TO the broad
s,one steps, and having secured tho
doors, he signifled that ho was at my
service. The direct way to my cafe,
which was On tho broad quay, lay
through the heart Of the city ;sbut
my companion Insisted upon takingI
a moro circuitois route, and as he
led the way, he took me through. tho
narrowest and darkest Streets and
passages he could find.
"Mr. c." said he, as wo were
emerging from one Of these dark pas
sagcs, "tlere was an American mer-
chantman arrived yesterday from
New York, and know not who
may have come in her. Ills for this
reason that I avoid tho public
| places" sos ~
In an instant the idea flashed upon
ME that my companion was convict,
or, at least, a criminal, who had been
guilty of some heinous crime in his
native country, and was subsequent
ly afraid of detection. The more l
thought Of it, the more became
convinced that such was the fact,
and l could now account for Ills
strange conduct in this fear, and in
the gnawings OF a guilt-burdened
conscience. Yet he was a welcome
companion for all that, and | felt
sure that repentance had been full
aud ample.
Il gazed furtiveIy about as we
entered the cafe, and, at his request,
ordered supper in private r com
He laughed and chatted freely, anu
the more saw him, the more l liked
him. After we had finished our meal.
we started on our proposed walk. II
was nearly II O'Clock when we
thought Of returning, and as we
were<passing the small church Of st.
Joseph, l noticed that the doors were
open, and in the centre of the church
was q sable bier, around which, was
burning number of wax tapers. l
proposed that we should enter and
look for moment at tho corpse.
H made no objections. In one of
the confessionals near the door sat all
old monk. and very naturally asked
of him who it was that rested upon
the bier. knowing that most Of the
interments from this church were in
behalf oe charity.
The monk informed ME that it was
the body of man who came on
shore from the American chip that
came in the day before. lie had been
sick and weak when he left the ship,
but he was determined to land, aud
no persuasion of the crew would
alter him in his determination. He
had reached the quay, but he lived
not to cross it. The kind monks of
st. Joseph had takea charge of the
body.
| We slowly, reverently approached
tho sombre scene. Upon the breast
of the deceased were the various ar
: ticles that had been found i'll his pos
session, consisting of all apparently
, we'll filed purse, pocket comb, q
watch, and heavy double-barrelcd
pistol, tile 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 it:
J sunkon, marble-llke rigidity, there
was a startling expression of intense
resolution, as though some fel! pur
: pose, which even death had not sub
c dued, still dwclt in the hushet
bosom. AS still gazed | heard :
quick stifled cry at my side, and OIL
t turning I was half frightened by tht
expression of my companions coun
:. tenance. His eycballs seemed start
l. ing from their sockets, his moutl
o was half open and fixed, his hands
J. which were extended toward th'
corpse. trembled like vibrating harp
strings, and his very hair seemed
: fretful. He moved nearer towart
:, the head of the deceased, looked an
other moment into that pallid face
aud sinking down upon his knees, h
II clasped his. hands and turning hi
face up toward heaven:
z "Great God, I thank thee!
e thank theel Thanksl thanks
IL thanksi" he calculated in franti
toncsy and then arose and locke.
= once more upon the corpse. Thel
his eyes wandered to the heav,
g pistol that lay upon the sable pail
and while a cold shudder passe'
e through his fraue lie took me by til
IS arm. st
'sComc, eone,". said lie, "com
1t with me to your cafe, and ! will tel
you strange story" n
Without needing the mute. aston
ishment Of the monk, 1 fellowe
Il from the church, and er
long we were seated upon o balloon
N that overlooked the beautiful Strait
le of Messina. My companion's nerve
had become somewhat composed AN
r could see that there was an intens
$; satisfaction depicted in every linca
ly ment of his oountenance.
n, s1Afr. c." he commenced:
ut can tell you my story in few word'
ne Nearly twenty years ago / fell inwh
m young girl in the city ofNew 1orl
D. On my.part the acquaintance soon r
II. pened into love of the wsrlnest All
ut most ardent kind-and twas rs pun
a. as it was ardent; and she prosesse
ne the same feeling toward me. ! We
In then well to do in the world, being
X clerk in heavy mercantile hous
g, and ere loug it was. arranged that |"
lie should be married. Abouta wee
-, previous to the time set for this Ger
ne nony,I I accidentally heard my af1
at ancsd bride use senae most obseel
as and profane language in compar
ne with one Of her female acquaintance