The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-08-17
A CURSE CONFIRMED.
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plon pass OF the Alps That was more
than three centuries ago, and a guides
duties were far different from what
they are now. Instead OF conducting
tourists who travel for pleasure they
showed the way 70 those who Travelled
for tho purposes OF barter. Herman
was 10 guide Gabriel Arshag, a Greek
diamond merchant, who was taking a
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 cupidlty was excited
by the sight of the sparkling gems.
They saw him put thtm 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 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. II 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 1t was not likely that he
would keep stolen property on his per-
son. While they were wrangling |
party of travellers and guides came
down the mountain and stopped Mt 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
wei. but was diSsuaded since travellers
e1zinted 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 Harty. Herman going willing.
". 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 O. 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
IN unusual snowfall, and far and near
The peaks were covered. The only sign
sf 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 it 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.
.urse you, and the holy mother will
make my curse effective"
Hardly had the echoes of his voice
died away when there was a sound
HE mufiied boom Of a cannon-and in
mother moment the whole side of the
mountain beyond and above the cabin
began slowly to move. Snow, Ice,
rees and rocks poured In one confused
ylgantic torrent down on the inn and
It's keepers. Above the roar there came
mingled human shrek, and the spot i
where the cabin had stood was buried
fifty feet beneath the snow. 4
In that superstltious age only ew Z
,cientists knew OF the delicate BAL !
lnces OF nature and that human voice /
setting the air to vibrating could cause !
In avalanche. The party regarded the /
destruction that had come to the inn i
keepers a direct confirmation by the c
Virgin of Herman's curse All knelt I
reverently and with awe made the sign
Of the cross. t
The diamond merchant convinced {
that the old couple had stolen his dia- i
monds and that the treasure had been s
Iwept away by the avalanche, went a
back to Greece, and Herman married
Agatha, giving up the profession Of c
guide. Several years after the death $
of the innkeepers, having failed to earn /
i living. he returned to his former call il
ng. On his first trip, when he reached t
he place where the inn had stood, be g
found it bare of snow. He sat down d
o rest unoat an overhanging rock and, t
seeing some rotted cloth tucked away +
n crevice. pulled 1t out. scattering
OF of jewels at the same time. They
we're the stolen treasure.
Herman returned from his trip
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