Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-19

was struck motionless, and my hair seemed to stand on
end. With an effort 1 exclaimed, 'Silviof 4 am Siiviol
he replied I am come to settle an account which has
long been stand ng between US. Are you ready p /
measured twelve PAGES. placed mycelf at that cor
ner, and begged him 10 fire quickly, before my
wife returned He fingered, and, after some hesi-
tation, asked me for a light, 1 procured him a
candle. and shut the door again, after ordering
that no one should disturb us. I once more begged him to
fire. He took ont his pistol and aimed it. 1 counted the
seconds thought OF hero, the terrible agony Of those
moments! S1viO dropped his hand. Il am sorry" he
said, that my pistol is not loaded with cherry stones;
you viii find this bullet very hard. But It appears TO me
that this is not q duel, buta mere assassination Where is
your pistOl2 l am not accustomed 70 fight an opponent
who Is uDarmed. Let Us begin from the beginning we
viii cast lots for the first shot Twas giddy with excite
ment, and at first refused but dreading to prolong the
narrowing scene, / at last loaded another pistol. tore off
two bits of paper, and threw them into his cap, which 1
remembered having shot through on a previous occasion.
On drawing l found that l had again the first number.
You are as lucky as ever, count, observed Silyio, with
a smile, which i never shall forget. NV excitement was
SO great that l know how l did t. but l fired and hit that
picture. The count pointed to the picture in question. his
face burning with the excitement caused by the recital of
this mOmentous circumstance. The countess was paler
thansthe white handkerchief which she was holding in
her hand, and l could not refrain from giving vent TO my
feelings Of establishment.
Il fred continued the count, and. thank God, I
missed. Silyio was taking his aim, when, on a sudden,
the door opened, my wife rushed in, and, with a Shrek,
fell on my neck; Wi h her presence all my former cour
age returned. MY dear, l said, do you not see we are
only TESTING Why are you 70 alarmed Go, drink a
title water; calm yourself and return, and then 1 will
introduce you to this gentleman, who is an old + lend and
companion of mine Ny wife scarcely credited all this
and turning to Silvio, whose stern and rigid countenanee
was not calculated to produce a very fayorab e impress
sion, she said: Tell me, is it really true that YOU are
only joking . He always jokes, countess, answered
Slyio. on one occasion, he gave me a blow on the
eheek-a joke in another joke he sent a bullet through
this cap which l wear and in a joke he hiss Just now
fired at me and missed now it il my turn to Joke With
this, he was about to take his aim, when my wife threw
herself at his feet Rise, Masha; disgraceful, disgrace
full | roare7, in the madness OF my rage And you
sir, cease your trifing with the feelings Of thi.
afflicted and terrified woman. VIII you fire or not Q
i will not answered SilviO. I am satisfied; for now
have seen your agitation, your dread of my presence, AMI
your lacS OF courage. This is enough With that he
turned and was going out; but stopping in the door
way, he cast his eye on the picture through which l had
shot, and almost without taking an aim, he put a bullet
through the same hole l had made just before. Heimmc
diately disappeared. My wife lay in a svoom the PEG
pie Of the house were filed with horror, and none dared
to interrupt his retreat He went out on the steps, called
for his driver and was on his Journey before ! had sue
eeeded in regaining my senses"
Thus l heard the end Of a story, the beginning OF which
had SO moved me on a form T occasion. With the her,
| never met afterwaTd; but / have heard that, during tn
rebellion of Alexander Ipsilanti, he re-entered the army
held the command Of a detachment and was killed in
battle near ScoOlani.