East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-01-24
AN ENaLIsHMAHs REVENGE

may couotuHiN bc cccil tt tuo RIdut
opera and the Italian opera, and who
enjoys great reputation, not only al
being a connoisseur of music, bu
rather, as being great amatuer o.
painting. How the latter reputation
was acquired you will presently see
He was, he is, one of those Bedouir
} English'nen, who live alternately il
all the European capitals, except wher
they are on an occasional jaunt t.
Egypt, or to china, or to India, or tc
the Holy Land. He never Travelled
alone; his wife was with him, his Jont
.fde wife, for notwithstanding his erran
life, $50 apt TO weaken ones morals
he had ali the English respect for the
sex, and true Englishman's love fol
his wife. She was beautiful woman
one Of those keepsake (" beauties
that, once seen, make a man dream
forever. Her social success was very
great in all the cities they visited.
In Rome, after some years marriage
they became acquainted with Ger.
man artist, Of good deal of reputa.
ton, who, to his art, Joined the learn
ing of Benedictine, and knew the
city of Rome as well as Winckleman
or Visconti. The German volunteered
to be their cicerone in the Eternal
City; they gladly accepted his Offer
Many were the hours they passed with
him in the museum OF the capital, in
the Vatican, 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 hus-
band was long while in seeing the
stain upon his honor; several years
had passed away before he perceived
il, 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 faith
lessness and such gross violation of
the laws of hospitality and friendship,
he said nothing; he disliked scenes: he
was, nevertheless, determined upon q
complete revenge, and he appealed to
cooler reflections to furnish forth a
suitable punishment.
The passions are bad counsellors. -
He left Italy and retired with his wife
to England, saying nothing but al.
reror to the artist When he reached
England, he told his wife of the pain
ful discovery he had made, and he
gave her back into her fathers hands.
He then returned to the continent
alone, and visited Russia, Germany
and France, where he purchased a
great many paintings; he then went
to Italy, meanwhile continuing to pur-
chase paintings, and at last---two years
had now passed away since their last
meeting-he called upon the German
painter, who still lived in Rome, and
demanded satisfaction from him. His
challenge was accepted, and the Eng
lishman, according TO the European
custom much better than ours--being
the offended party, selected the weap-
ons. He chose pistols. During the
past two years he had practiced daily
for several hours, and his known
address with the pistol had become an
unerring certainty of shot. He sent
the shot wherever he wished it to go.
The parties went on the ground : they
were placed at thirty PAGES apart, and
with the privilege of advancing ten
steps before firing. The signal was
then given. Onol Two! Three =
Ffret The word fire was scarcely cut
of the seconds mouth, when the Eng
lishman fred without moving; his
antagonists pistol fell from his hand,
and was discharged by the fall, the
bali burying itself in the ground
The Englishman's ball had shattered
the artists hand, and amputation 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:
"If you think my vengeance is sat-
isfied with your shattered hand and
the wreck of your artists career, you
strangely underrate tho agony of a
deceived, ,dishonored husband. Though
| condemned you to life of vain re-
grets, to never ending series of inn
potent sighs, to u total oblivion by all
amateurs and historians of art"
"Oh, no, SIR interrupted the artist,
his face beaming with ray of hope,
''the last you cannot do. My Madonna
Mt st. Petersburg; my Luther, at Ber-
lin, my Flight into Egypt, at Paris ;
my"
The Englishman interrupted him in
turn
"Spare me,' said he, I" the names
of your works, but look over this cat
alogue, and see if have the exact
list Of them all"
[" Yes, they are all there even the
painting l finished the day before the
duel
80 was persuaded. All the
paintings on this catalogue are my
property; being my property, l do
with them what / please; l please TO
burn them, aye, to burn every one of
them, that your name shall be eiiaced
from the glorious roll of artists.
In two hours from this time, yonr
tolls, your conceptions, your skill will
be completely etlaced from this world
as the line, which the urchin traces
up in the sand are efiaced Ivy the
rising tide; fire is us destructive as
water"
In vain tho poor artist begged for
mercy; the wronged husband was In
sensible 10 his supplications; end in
two hours the servant brought to the
artists room q large earthen vessel
commonly used to contain oil, filed
with ashes--it was all that renamed
of his paintings