The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-01-16
How the Duel Began, and How
IL Ended.
From the Russian Of Pou,chki..l ]

Our regiment was qusrlered IN a small
and miserably retired place. There was
no society, no enjoyme 1t; no open house;
we we're left to our own resources; moth,
ing remsined bu, to collect together a,
each others lodgings. where, except our
uniforms, there was nothing 10 be seen.
There was only one person that joined
tis who did not belong to the army. He
was n man of about thirty five years. an
age which. we felt. fully justified us in
considering him an old man. His years
and experience induced us to look on him
with no little Difference; while his ordina-
~ moioseness, austere manner, and bitter
sarcasm. worked powerful influence on
our young minds. A certain mystery.
too, was mixed up with his fate ;Ae ap
psMed 10 be Russian, but had foreign
name. Atone time he had served in a
regiment Of hussars, but It was evident
that he did not regard his term Of service,
or some circumstance connected with it,
with any degree Of satisfaction. No one
knew the reason which had induced him
10 give up his commissions and settle in
suoh miserable place as this which he
had chosen. Here he lived, at the same
time, wretchedly and prodigaily; ne al
ways went Oh foot, clad in an old worn
ont overcost. ye, kepts an open table for
all the officers Of our regiment. 1t is true,
His dinners consisted only Of two or three
dishes cooked by an old discharged sol
dier; but champaign flowed like wa,cr.-
No one kn4w his circumstances. or the
source Of his income, nor did any of us
ever venture TO question him on the sub
jeot. His library consisted of number
of volumes, mostly on military subjects
and novels. He willingly lent them, and
never expressed any wish to have them
returned His chief amusement consisted
in exercising with pistols, and the walls
Of house bore sufficient evidence of his
partiality for this EXERCISE for they were
completely covered with the marks O.
bullets. The skill to which he had at
tained in this his favOrits occupation wal
incredible, and if he had offered 10 shoo
an apple from the cap Of any of US, mons
would have shrunk from exposing hi
head to his unerring aim.
Our conversation often fell on due elling
SilyiO (for that Was his nams) never join
ed with us on these occasions To tn
question, if ever 1t had fallen to his lot l.
be engaged in one, he would simply an
ever that it had; but with that he ended
BIZ. never entered into any details, and
was evident that the subject was Disagree
able 10 him. We supposed that ther
we're on his mind unpleasant recollection
Of some victim Of his deadly skill. Wit
regard to his courage, it never entered in
to our heads TO suspect him of anythip
approaching to Iimidity. There are som
people whose appearance alone forbids ou
entertaining such suspicious.
'eIT happened that ten Of our officers or
day dined with Silyio; we drank yer
deeply, as usual, and after dinner used a
our sndeavors to induce the host TO pla
game at bank. For long while he r.
fused, for he very seldom played; at leug'
he gave way to our entreaiies, and PR
ducsd the cards; he then strewed or Il
table City ducats, and sat down to thro,
We arranged ourselves around him, ar
play began. While playing. silvio a
ways preserved the most strict silence;
never engaged in any disputes or exp
lions. We knew his peculiaritios, az
therefore never disturbed him in any
his arrangements.
On this ocoasion, It happened tn
among our number was young ofRc
who hid lately joined the regiment :
While playing be had uuwittingly made
false calculation; Silvio took the cha
and squared the account according 10 h
reckoning. The officer, thinking
had made mistake. endeavored to
plain II to him. Silvio disregarding b
interruption, continued to throw. 7
officer, losing his patience, took the ohal