Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-23

. That is extraordinary said the count.
And what was the name Of this prodigy" ="
'Silyio, your excellency.'
"Silyio! tbrieked the count, jumping
out of his seat. lis it possible that you
know Silyio?" rro. ~ .l
And how should not know him. your
excslleDcy? We we're all ON terms OF in
tiniacy with him; in our regiment, he was
Treated rs q brotlier-ofhcer, but for i've years
j have had 90 intelligence Of him. From
your manner suppose yourexcellency also
knows him 2 f1f lff rf ~
81 Know him very well. Did he never
mention nS,,a1sn to you anything Of very strange
'.Do yo,l refer to an insult he. received
from some hare-brained young oflicer?"
81 do. But did be mention to you the
name Of that hars-braIned individual 2"
He did not, your excellency. Oh" |
continued, as the truth began to dawn upon
me, pray excuse me- had not the
slightest idea Is it possible that you
are the person"
L am the very person." said the count,
with look of great embarrassment ''and
that picture, which has excited your curios-
ity, bears witness 10 our last meeting"
70 my dear, interrupted the countess,
do not on any account enter into any de-
tails of the affair 1t would be very dread
ful for me to be obliged to listen to the par
ticulars of that distressing event
ut cannot be helped, replied the count.
II shall relate the whole occurrence he
knows how l offended his friend now let
him know how he revcnged himself"
The count drew his chair towards me. and
with the most excited curiosity | heard the
following account:
About five years ago 1 married The
honeymoon spent here on this estate. In
this house l have passed some of the hap
piest moments Of my life but it has been
also the scene Of an event Of the most pain
full remembrance One evening, we went
for q ride on horseback the horse on which
my wife rode became restive, and she, being
alarmed, gave me the reins, and having dis
mounted, walked home alone. On reaching
the yard, | saw travelling telega. Ny SER
want informed me that there was a man in
my cabinet who wished to see me he, re-
fused to give his name, saying simply that
he had some business Of importar1ce TO
transact with me. l hastened to the room,
and saw in the gloomy light man covered
with dust, whose outward appearance gave
CNluCut tOhCL5 vi CdIClCbsDCoo ANU ncktctt-
He stood here. by the chimney piece.
went up TO him and endeavored to recognize
him. You do not know me, sountY said
he with a trembling voice. At the sound
Of his voice, which well remembered, i
was struck motionless, and my hair seemed
to stand on end. With an effort exclaim-
ed 'Silvio!'i 4 am Silvio, hesrepiied. 4
am come to settle apAocouat. .whieh has lens
h<., -. hak~ I.J'
/ measured twelve PAGES, placed myself at
before my wife returned. He fingered, and
after some hesitation, asked me for light
| procured him candle, and shut the doors
again. after ordering that no one should
disturb u.s. | once more begged him to fire.
He took out his pistol, and aimed it. |
counted the seconds-I thought of hero
the terrible agony. Of those moments J
Silvio dropped his hand. am sorry, be
said, that my pistol is not loaded With
cherry-stones; you will find this bullet very
hard. But it appears to me that this is not
duel, but mere assassination. Where is
your pistol? | am not accustomed to fight
with an opponent who is unarmed. Let us
begin from the beginning we will cast lots
for the first shot. l was 'giddy with excite
ment, and at first refused but dreading to
prolong the narrowing scene, at last load
ed another pistol, tore off two bits of pa
per, and threw them inIo his cap, which ]
remembered having shot through on pre-.
yious occasion. On drawing, found that
I had again the first number: You are still
as lucky as ever, count observed Silvio
with smile, which l shall never forget
My excitement was SO great, that j knew
not how l did it, but l fired, and hit that
picture. The count pointed to the picture
in question, his face burning with the excite
ment caused by the recital of this most
momentous circumstance. The countess
was paler than the white handkerchief which
she was holding in her hand, and | could
not refrain from giving vent to my feelings
of astonishment.
II fred continued the count, ''and,
thank God, missed. Silvio was taking his
aim, when, on sudden, the door opened,
and my wife rushed in, and with shrek
| fell ON my neck. With her presence, all my
former courage returned. My DEAR | said
| do you not see that we are only jesting. :
Why are you so alarmed? Go, drink {
little water; calm yourself, and return, anc
then I will introduce you to this gentleman
who lisa old friend and companion of mine.
NV wife scarcely credited all this, and turn
ed to Silyio, whose stern and rigid couate
! nance was not calculated to produce aver,
favorable impression she said Tell me, j
4 il really trueIthat you are only joking n HI
\ always Jokes, countess, answered Sllvio..-
/ sOn one occasion he gave me a blow on tn
i cheek-a Joke; in another joke he sent
bullet through this cap which wear; an
lin Joke he has just now fired at me an
imissed now it is my turn to joke. Wit
this he was about to take his aim, when m
wife threw herself at his feet. Rise
Masha disgracefui, disgraccfuln roared
in the madness of nv rare. And YOU, III
cease your triflinp with the feelings of thi
! afflicted and terrified woman. Will you tir
\ or not?' I will not, answered Silvio.
am satisfied; for now have seen yonlr ngl
ttation,p your dread Of my presence and YOU
lack of courage. This is enough. Wit
that he turned, and was going out; bu
stopping in the doorway, he cast his eye o
, the picture through which I had shot, an
almost without taking an aim, he put
bullet through the same hole had mad
, Just before. He Immediately disappeared
Ny wife lay in a swoon the people OF th
house were Allied with horror, and non
! dared to interrupt his retreat. He went ou
\ on the steps, called for his driver. and wa
, on his journey before had succeeded in rt
conSIlns w ny so's - - A.. L,