Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-11-08
STAR.
TERRIBLE REVENGE.

A late Partisan newspaper tells the
following story of wealthy Englishman
who may constantly be seen at the Grand
Opera, and the Italian Opera, and who
enjoys q great reputation, not only as
being a connoisseur of music, but further
as being a great amateur of painting.
How the reputation was acquired, you
will presently see.
He was one of those Bedouin English.
men, who live alternately in the European
capitals, except when they are on an oc.
casional jaunt to Egypt, or to China, OF
to India, or the Holy Land. He neve,
travelled alone; his wife was with him
his bona .fde wife-for, Notwithstanding
his errant life, " so apt to weaken ones
morals" he had all the English respect
for the sex, and trueEnglishman's s love
| for his wife. She was beautiful woman,
one Of those keepsake" beauties, that
once seen, make q man dream forever.
Her social success was very great in all
the cities they visited.
In Rome, after being married some
years, they became acquainted with a
German artist, of a good reputation, who,
to bis art, Joined the learning of Bene-
dictine, and knew the civ Of Rome as
we'll as Winklemann or Visconti. The
German volunteered to be their cicerone
in the Eternal Ch they gladly accepted
the offer. Many were the hours they
passed in the museum of the capitol, in
the Vatican, in ST. Peter and in the de-
lightful excursions they made in the en-
virons of Rome.
The artist became in love with the
English lady; she reciprocated his affec-
ton. The husband was long time in
seeing the stain upon his honor. Several
months passed away before he perceived
it, for he was very much pleased with
the artist, and they had long been on the
most intimate footing. Although stung
to the quick by such base faithlessness
and gross violation of the laws of hospi-
tality and friendship, he said nothing he
disliked scenes. He was nevertheless de-
termined upon q complete revenge, and he
appealed to cooler reflection to furnish q
suitable punishment, as the passions are
bad counsellors.
He left Italy, and retired with his wife
to England, saving nothing but au revoir
to the artist. When he reached England,
he told his wife of the discovery he had
made, and gave her back to her fathers
hands.
He then returned to the continent
alone, and visited Germany, Russia, and
France, where he purchased q great
many paintings. He then went to Italy,
meanwhile continuing to purchase paint
ings, and at last-two years had now
passed away since their last meeting
he called on tho German painter, who
still lived in Rome, and demanded salts
faction from him.
His challenge was accepted, and the
Englishman, according to the European
custom, being the offended party, Sc
lected the weapons; he chose pistols.
During the past two years he practiced
daily for several hours, and his known
address with the pistol had become an
unerring certainty of shot. He sent the
shot to whatever point he wished it to
60.
The parties went to the ground they
were placed at thirty PAGES apart, with
the privilege of advancing ten PAGES be-
fore firing. The signal was given
Zone! two! fire."
The lost word was hardly out of the
seconds mouth, when the Englishman
fired without moving. His antagonists
pistol fell from his hand, and was dis
charged by the fall, the ball burying it.
self in the ground. The Englishman' s
ball had shattered the artists wrist an
amputatlon was necessary; his career of
artist was ended-and forever.
A few days after the amputation, the
Englishman called on him, and without
noticing the angry reception he met, said
to the suffering artist:
elf you think that my vengeance is
satisfied with your shattered hand, and |
the wreck of your artists career, you
strangely underrate the agony of de-
ceived, dishonored husband. l have con.
demned you to life of vain regrets, to a |
never.ending series of impotsnt sighs, to |
total oblivion by all amateurs and his
torians of art"
go no, sir" interrupted the artist, his |
face beaming with Q ray of hope "the
last you cannot do. My Madonna at St. |
Petersburg my Luther, at Berlin my
Flight into Egypt, at Paris NY"
The Englishman interrupted him in
turn:
"Spare me-" said he, "ths names of
your works but look over this cata-
logue, and see if 1 have not the exact list
of them all 2"
Yes, they are all here, even the paint
ing finished the day before the duel"
$50 was persuaded. All the paint
ings in this catalogue are my property.
Being my property, 1 do with them what
l please, and please to burn them-aye,
to burn every one of them, that your
name shall be efaced from the glorious
roll of artists. In two hours from this
time, your toll, your conceptions, your
skill, will be as completely cfaced from
this world as the lines which the urchin
traces in the sand are efaced by the
rising tide. Fire is as destructive as