Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-05

| twilight saw man covered with dust
| and wearing a long beard. He was
standing by the fireplace. l approached
| him, trying to recall to mind his features
Thou dost not recognize me, Count
said he, with trembling voice. 'Silvio!
| exclaimed I and | confess | felt nv
| hair stand on endl Yes, it is l. he con.
| tinued; the shot remains with me; / have
come to discharge my pistol; art thou
| ready?' The pistol protruded out of his
side pocket. measured twelve PAGES and
stood there in that corner, begging him
to fire quickly, before my wife returned.
He hesitated-he asked for lights. Can.
dies were brought in. [ shut the door.
gave orders that no one should come in
and again begged him to fire. He took
out his pistol and proceeded to take aim.
IL was counting the seconds. 7
thought of her. One dreadful minute
passed. Silvio let his arm drop. Il re.
greet, said he, that my pistol is not
loaded with cherry stones. The bullet
is heavy. This appears to me not a duel
but murder; am not accustomed to aim
at an unarmed man; let US begin anew ::
let us draw lots who is to have the first
fire. My head swan. 1 suppose l was
not consentiRg. AT last another pistol
was loaded; two bits of paper were rolled
up; he placed them in tho cap had once
shot through; again drew the winning
number. Thou art devilish lucky,
Count said he, with an ironical smile /
can never forget. | do not understand
what possessed me and by what means he
forced me to it. but l fred-and hit
that picture there"
The Count pointed to the perforated
picture; his face was crimson; the Count
ese had become whittier than her handker-
chief; could not suppress an exclama-
ton.
81 fred" the Count went on, sand,
thank God, missed. Then Silvio Che
looked really dres dful at that moment)-
Silvio aimed at me. Suddenly the doors
opened, Masha rushed in, and with
scream threw herself on my neck. Her
presence restored to me all my courage.
Darling said l, don't you see that we
are joking? How frightened you are! Go
and take glass of water and come back to
me; | shall Introduce an old friend and COM
rade to you Masha still doubted. Tell
me, is what my husband says true?' said
she, turning to the somber Silyio; { is it
true that you are both in fun?' He is
always in fun, Countess, replied Silvio.
Once upon time he gave me box on
the ear, in fun; in fun, he shot through
this cap; in fun, he just now missed me;
now [ have fancy to be in fun ALSO
So saying, he was about to take
aim before her! Masha threw herself at
his feet. Get up, Masha, for shamep I
exclaimed, enraged; and you, sir, will
you cease jeering at poor woman? Are
you, or are you not, going to fire? L
am not going to- answered Silvio; L am
content. l have seen your hesitation,
your timidity. | made you fire at me. l
am satisfied. You will remember me.
[ leave you to your consciencep
Here he was about to take his departure,
but, stopping in the doorway, he
looked at the perforated picture, fired his
pistol at it, almost without aiming, and
disappeared. My wife had tainted;
the servants dared not stop him,
and looked at him with terror; he walked
out, called the G0nasbtcbik and drove off,
before had even time to recover my
SELF
The Count concluded. Thus did l
learn the ending of a story which had so
interested me at its commencement |
did not again NJ Get its hero. 1t was said
that at the time of the revolt under Alex
ander Ypsilanti, Silvio commanded a
detachment of the Hertare, and was
killed in the combat before Skulleni.-
Translated from the Russian for st. PGel's
Magazine.