The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-12-17
!: A CURSE CONFIRMED.

[Original.

[Originall
Herman Fielder was starting on what
he proposed should be his last trip as
a guide across what is now the Sim,
plen pass of the Alps. That was more
than three centuries ago. and a 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, Il Greek
diamond merchant, who was taking 8
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 a 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, whose 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
Evard 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 anG
put them in his pocket This done, the
couple took the bag containing the resi-
of the treasure, dug a hole in the snow
near the cabin and hid them under an
overhangin 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
pncl,et yuara found tbara ArShor y,s
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 go back, taking
Herman with him He doubtless knew
where the rest of the ewels We're 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 We're caught in a storm
might perish. SO Arshag started back
=
~. Yet he was much cast down. for
he knew that on the rack he would be
forced to make confession that was
not true
There was a gorge to cross directly
IN front of the cabin. The party
crossed it, and when on a crest on the
other side Herman stopped and turned,
fhn al, 4 ~.
was perfectly still There had been
an unusual snowfall and far and near
the peaks We're covered. The only sign
O. 2 human abode III all that vast
waste of snowy heaps was the inn on
the other side of the gorge. The inn
keeper and his wife We're 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. 1
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 muffled 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 in one confused
gigantic torrent down on the inn and
its keepers. Above the roar there came
mingled human shrek, and the spot
where the cabin had stood was buried
fifty feet beneath the snow.
In that superstitious 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
W. hu hn hn