Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-08-19
A CURSE CONFIRMED.
Original i

he prCposed should be his last trip as cuce across what is now the Sim plon pass of the Alps. That was more than three centuries ago. and guides duties were far different from what they are now. Instead of conducting tourists who travel for pleasure they showed the way to those who travelled or the purposes of barter Herman
 7as to .tlde Gabriel Arshag, a Creek lamond merchant who was taking q Faluable lot of gems to dispose of in Paris. Herman bade farewell to his petrothed. Agatha, a 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 a crack in the partition by EVard and his wife. who's" cupidity 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 Eyard stole into the room, inserted his hand deftly under the pillow and took out the bag Then he took several of the gems, entered flerman'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 OVerhanSing 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 coupl" went to him. and he accused the latter of stealing his jewels.
 "YOu accuse us of theftwe who have kept this inn ever since we were young people. we who have enter tained many strangers and have al- ways borne good claracters, Rather look to your guide to recover your loss It is not we who could know that you carried jewels but he"
 All three were searched, and the gems that had been placed n lIerman'S pocket were found there. ArSha@ was but half convinced that the guide was the thief, for it was not likely that h" | son. While they were WranglnG Il party of travellers and guides came down the mountain and stopped at the inn. ArShag consulted with them. and they advised him to go back, taking Herman with hint 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 we'll, 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 q confession that was not true
 There was a gorge to cross directly in front of the cabin The party crossed it. and when on q 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 il watching the travellers Then Herman raised his hand and in his loutlest voice. that he might be heard across the chasm, said:
 My Agatha has prayed to the Blessed Virgin for my protection l curse you and the holy mother will mako my curse effective"
 Hardly had the echoes of his voice died away when there was q sound the mutlled boom of q cannon-and in another moment the whole side of the mountain beyond and above the cabin began slowly to Llove. Snow ice, trees and rocks poured in one confused gigantic torrent down on the inn and its keepers. Above tie roar there came mingled human shriek. and tue spot where the cabin had stood was buried fifty feet beneath tho snow.
 In that superstiti s:; age only few scientists knew O. he delicate bal ances of nature and that human voice setting the air to vibrating could cause an avalanche The party regarded the destruction that hal come to the inn keepers direct co. 'mation by the Virgin of Hermans clrse All knelt reverently and with %ae made the sign of the cross.
 The diamond l..r" .A&At. convinced that the old co"ne hl stolen his dia- monds and tha; ll,. | '.ssure had been swept away h. .r avalanche, went back to Greece and Herman married Agatha. giving up the profession of guide. Several years after the death ,f {hn ha, ia; tp