Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-09-30
A CURSE CONFIRMED.
Observation-Disclosures
tOriginal.l

| plon pass of the Alps. That was more
| than three centuries ago. and guides
duties We're far different from what
| they are now. Instead of conducting
| tourists who travel for pleasure they
showed the way to those who Travelled
| for the purposes Of barter. Herman
| was to guide Gabriel Arshag, a Greek
| diamond merchant, who was taking
valuable lot of gems to dispose of in
Paris. Herman babe farewell to his
| betrothed. Agatha, little peasant girl
telling her to keep her thoughts fixed
on the day Of his return. This she
| promised to do and to pray daily to the
| Virgin that she would bring him back
| safely to her
On the first night after beginning the
| ascent the two men stopped at little
inn midway between the low ground
and the summit kept by an old Swede,
| Johan Evard. and his wife for the en-
| tertainment of those making the pass.
Before getting into his cot Arshag must
| needs look over his jewels, making an
| excuse TO himself to see that they were
all there, but really because he loved
| to look at them. He was seen through
| crack in the partition by Evard and
| his wife, whose cupdity was excited
| by the sight Of the sparkling gems.
| They saw him put them under his pill
| low, and in the middle Of the night
| Evard stole into the room, inserted his
hand deity under the pillow and took
ho ha ~
the gems, entered Herman's room and
put them in his pocket. This done, the
couple took the bag containing the rest
Of the treasure, dug hole in the snow
| near the cabin and hid them under an
overhanging rock. afterward throwing
the snow back into the hole.
The next morning before daylight
Arshag was heard storming and la
menting Herman and the old couple
went to him, and he accused the latter
Of stealing his jewels.
you accuse us of theft-we who
have kept this inn ever since we were
young people, we who have enter
tanned many strangers and have al
ways borne good characters! Rather
look to your guide to recover your
loss. 1t Is not we who could know
that you carried jewels, but he"
All three were searched, and the
gems that had been placed in Herman's
pocket were found there Arshag was
but half convinced that the guide was
the thief, for it was not likely that he
would keep stolen property on his per-
son. While they were wrangling a
party Of travellers and guides came
down the mountain and stopped at the
inn. Arshag consulted with them. and
they advised him to 60 back, taking
Herman with him. He doubtless knew
where the rest of the ewels were and
under torture would confess ALL Ar
shag wished to take the old couple as
well, but was dissuaded since travellers
counted on being entertained at their
inn and would be disappointed. Per-
haps some who were caught in a storm
might perish. So Arshag started back
with the party, Herman going willing
ly. Yet he was much cast down, for
he knew that on the rack he would be
forced to make a confession that was
not true.
There was gorge to cross directly
In front Of the cabin. The party
crossed 1t, and when on crest on the
/ other side Herman stopped and turned,
the others doing the same. The air
was perfectly still. There had been
an unusual snowfall, and far and near
the peaks were covered. The only sign
OF human abode In all that vast
waste Of snowy heaps was the inn on
the other side of the gorge. The inn
keeper and his wife were standing in
front of 1t watching the travellers.
Then Herman raised his hand and In
his loudest voice, that he might be
heard across the chasm, said
my Agatha has prayed to the
Blessed Virgin for my protection.
curse you, and the holy mother will
make my curse effective
Hardly had the echoes of his voice
died away when there was a sound
the muffied boom Of a cannOn-and in
another moment the whole side of the
mountain beyond and above the cabin
began slowly to move. Snow, ice.
, trees and rocks poured i'm one confused
gigantic torrent down on the inn and
its keepers. Above the roar there came
a mingled human shrek, and the spot
! where the cabin had stood was buried
| nifty feet beneath the snow.
In that superstltious age only a few
scientists knew Of the delicate bal
/ ances of nature and that human voice
setting the air to vibrating could cause
an avalanche. The party regarded the
destruction that had come to the inn
keepers direct confirmation by the
| Virgin Of Herman's curse. All knelt
reverently and with awe made the sign
of the cross.
The diamond merchant, convinced
| that the old couple had stolen his dia-
monds and that the treasure had been
swept away by the avalanche, went
back to Greece, and Herman married
Agatha, giving up the profession Of
| guide. Several years after the death
Of the innkeepers, having failed to earn
a living, he returned to his former call
Ing. On his first trip, when he reached
tho plana Whara fha inn had otoo1 ha