The mountain Democrat., 1864-04-30
An Eagllshman's Revenge.


A late Partisan paper tells the story OF
. wealthy EDglishman, " ho may constant.
ly be seen at the Italian opera, and who
enjoys a great reputation, not only as be.
ing great cOnnOisssur of music, but fur
ther, as being great amateur of painting.
How the latter reputation was acquired
you viii presently see. He is one of
those BedOuin Englishmen, who live al
ternately in all the European capitals, ex-
cept when they are on an occasional jaunt
to Egypt, or to China, or to India, or to
the Holy Land. He never travelled alone,
his wife was with him, his bona fde wife,
for, notwithstanding his errant life ESQ
apt 70 weaken the morals), he had all the
English respect for the sex, and true
EngIishman's love for his wife. She was
beautiful woman, ono of those keep.
sake" beauties, that, once seen, make q
man dream forever. Her social success
was very great in oil the cities they visit
ed. In Rome after some years marriage,
they became acquainted with q German
artist Of . good deal of reputation, who,
to his art, joined the learning of Q Bene.
dictine, and knew the city Of Rome as
well as -Winkleman or Viscenti.- The
German volunteered 10 be their cicerone
in the Eternal City; they gladly accepted
his offer. Many we're the hours they
passed with him in the Museum, the Vat
ican, in St. Peters, and in the delightful
excursions they made in the environs of
Rome. The artist became in love with
the English lady; she reciprocated his
affection. The husband was long while
in seeing TIE stain upon bis honor seve-
raj months passed away before he per-
ceived 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 faithless
ness and such gross violation Of the laws
of hospitality and friendship, he said no.
thing; he disliked scenes he was, never.
theless, determined upon q complete re-
venge, and be appealed to cooler rehec.
tions to furnish forth suitable punish
ment. The passions are bad counselors
lie left Italy and retired with his wife to
Engiand, saying nothing but au revoir to
the artist When he reached England, he
told his wife Of the painful discovery he
had made, and he gave her back into her
fathers hands. He then returned to the
continent alone, and he visited Germany,
Russia and France, where he purchased
n great many paintings; he then went to
Italy, meanwhile continuing to purchase
paintings, and at laSt-two years bad now
passed away since their last meeting-he
called on the German painter, who still
lived in Rome, and demanded satisfaction
from him. His challenge was accepted,
and the Englishman, according to the Eu-
ropean custem-being the offended party
selected the weapons. He chose pis.
tolls. During the past two years he had
practicSd daily for several hours, and had
become an uncrring shot. He sent the
shot wherever he wished it to go. The
parties went on to the ground-they were
placed ct thirty PAGES apart, with the priv
ilege of advancing ten PAGES before firing
The signal was then given. One, two,
three--fire! The word fire was scarcely
out Of the seconds mouth when the En-
glishman 6red without moving; his an
tagonist's pistol fell from his hand, and
was discharged by the fall, the ball bury
ing itself 10 the ground. The English
mans ball had ebattered the artists arm,
and amputation was necessary his ca
rcer as an artist was ended-aud 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" If you think my
vengeance is satisfied with your shattered
hand, and the wreck of your artists CO.
reOV, you strangely underrate the agony
of deceived, diShonOred husband. Tho
l have condemned you to life Of vain re-
grets, to never ending series Of impotent
sighR to total oblivion dAong all anna
teurs and historians of the art" ''Oh,
no, SIT" interrupted the artist, his face
beaming with q ray of hope, "the last
you cannot do. My Madonna, at st. Pc
fersburg; my Luther. at Berlin; my
Flight into Egypt, at Paris; my" The
interrupted him in turn -
Spare me, said her the names of your
works, but look over this catalogue and
see if have not the exact list Of them
all" "Yes, they are all there-even the
paintings finished the day before the
dueL" $50 / was persuaded. All the
paintings on this catalogue are my prop
erty--I do with them what I please; I
please to burn them, aye, to burn every
one Of them that your name shall be ef-.
faced nom the glorious RON Of artists. In
two hours from this time, your toll. your
conceptions, your skill, viii be as com.
pletely e6aced from the world as the lines
which the uschin traces 10 the sand are |
eaaced BY. the rising tide; Ere is as de.
structlvS as water" In vain the poor ar.
tist 6egGsa 1oE mercy ); the wr0pgsd hus.
band vas jnsensibIe TO his suppIlcations, /
and in ntWSskSuTs the servant brought TO
the astgt,s .Ess@asaasgO VArthen vessel,
COMMONLY used to contain oil, filled with
asheAzAll e.. GsaaIas6R fhispaintiuss.d