The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-02-26
From the Russian Of Alexander sergu eviteh
PoUshktn-l
The Pistol Shot.

D
the commandments quarters or in 1
Jewish eating.house, and cards anC
punch in the evening, constitute thu
days work. There was no society al
l., nor were there any marriage
: able girls ; we used to meet at eacl
! others rooms, where only men il
uniform were to be seen.
One civilian, however, was admit
ted within our circle. He might have
reached the age of offive-and-thirty, anC
we therefore looked upon him as be.
ing greatly our senior in years. His
large experience secured TO him a Ger.
tain amount of Difference, and his
usual mOroseness, his stern and sar-
tcastic disposition, exercised a power.
ful influence over our youthful imsgi.
nations. His past career seemed
shrouded in mystery. Though bear
ling foreign name, he was apparent
lly Russian. He had served at one
time in the Hussars, and had even
been fortunate in professional ac-
vancement; none of us knew the rea-
son why he had retired from the SER
vice and taken up his abode in this
wretched neighDorhood, where he
lived penuriously, and yet extrava-
gantly +; he invariably went out on
foot, and he was always seen in black
surtOut the worse for wear, but at the
same time ne kept open house for all
the officers Of our regiment. Truth
to tell, two or three dishes, cooked by
an old pensioner, constituted his din
ner, but, on the other hand, cham
tpagne flowed at his table. His cir.
cumstances and his income were un-
known, and none of us presumed to
ask any questions about either. His
only books were works connected with
the military service and some novels,
which he willingly lent, never asking
to have them returned, but neither
did he give back those which he had
borrowed. His chief pastime con-
sisted in pistol practice. The walls of
his apartment were well riddled and
perforated like a honey-comb. A
valuable collection of pistols formed
the only luxury of his humble habita-
ton. The degree of perfection he had
attained in this art was sinconceivable,
and had he been required 20 shoot at
apear on any ones head, not one of
our fellows would have hesitated to
offer himself. Our conversation often
touched on the subject of dueling.
Silvio las shall name him. never
Joined in it /; and when asked wheth-
er he had ever had occasion to fight,
would answer drily that he had but
he entered upon no details, and it was
evident that these and similar ques-
tions were distasteful to him. We
concluded that the recollection of
some unfortunate victim to this
dreadful accomplishment troubled his
conscience, the idea of cowardice
never even suggesting itself. There
are people whose exterior alone suffi-
ces to dls2fm such suspicious. An
unexpected occurrence disconnected
us all.
Some ten of us were one day dining
with Silvio. We drank as usual
that is, excessively-and after dinner
we endeavored to prevail upon our
host to be the banker in a game of
faro. For some time he persisted in
declining, for he seldom played, but
at length he ordered the cards to be
brought, threw fifty ducats on the
table, and commenced to deal. We
all took our places and the game be-
gan. Silvio was wont to keep the
strictest attention upon such occa-
sions, never discussing or explaining
anything. If the punter chanced to
make mistake, he either paid up the
balance Immediately or noted the
surplus. We were already aware of
this, and therefore never interfered.
But of our number there was young
officer who had lately joined. He
took part in the game, and in a fit of
absence bent down one corner too
many. Silvio took up the chalk and
rectified the score, as was his custom.
The officer, thiEking he was mistak-
Ell, began to explain matters. SilYio
continued dealing in silence. The Of
ficer, losing patience, rubbed out what
to him appeared unnecessary. Silvlo,
taking up the chalk, again marked
the score. The officer, excited with
wine, and by the game and the laugh
tel. .of his comrades, imagined himself
cruelty offended, and in bis passion he
lifted a metal candlestiek off the table,
ana threw it at Silvio, who had bare
ly time to evade the blow. We felt
confused. Silvio rose, AID with fire
In his eyes, said "Please to walk out,
sir, and thank your stars that this has
happened under my roof"
We did not doubt the consequences;
and we looked upon our new comrade
as q dead man. He walked out, de-
claring himself ready to answer for
the affront in such manner as the
banker might elect. The game was
continued for few moments longer,
but, feeling how little our hosts
thoughts were in it, we left, one by
one, and repaired to our quarters, dis
cussing the possibility of a speedy va
caney.
When we met in the riding school
on the following day, we Immediate
ly inquired of each other if our poor
Ensign was still alive. When he him
self appeared, we greeted him, putting
the same question. He replied that
he had heard nothing of Silvio as yet.
This surprised US. We went to Silvio,
and found him in the yard, sending
bullet after bullet into an ace of cards,
which he had fixed to the gate. He
received us as usual, and did not
allude to the event of the preceding
evening. Three days elapsed, and the
Ensign still lived. We asked in as
tonishment, "Can it be possible that
SIlvio will not fight?" SiIvio did not
fight. A very slight explanation sat-
isged him, and peace was restored.
Such conduct might have injured
him excessively in the estimation OF
youth. The want of pluck is what |
young men excuse least for they |
generally consider it the highest OF
human virtues-one that covers a |
multitude Of sins However, little |
by little, all was forgotten, and SiIvio |
rega;ned his former influence.
/ alone could not become reconciled |
to him. Being naturally of q romantic |
turn of mind, 1 had, more than any
body, attached myself to the man
whose very existence was an enigma, |
and who appeared to me to be the |
hero of some mysterious event. He |
liked meat least it was with me
alone that he laid aside his usual cut l
ting, ill-natured observations, and |
that he conversed upon various SUBJ |
jects with perfect good nature and rare |
pleasantness. But / could not, sub /
seQUently to that unfortunate even
tug, rid myself of the idea that his |
honor had been tarnished, and that it |
was his own doing that the stain had |
not been removed. This thought pre- |
vented my feeling toward him as / |
had hitherto done, and I felt ashamed |
to look upon him. SiIvio was far too /
clever and too shrewd not to notice |
this and not to divine the cause. He |
appeared hurt, and I fsncied that / |
had more than once detected q wish |
on his part to come to an understand J. |
ing with me but I avoided each op-
pOrtunity, and Silvio withdrew. |
Thereafter, only met him in the |
presence Of my comrades, and our for
mer intimacy came to an end.
The busy inhabitants Of q capital
can have no conception of the many
excitements so familiar to those who
live In small towns or in villages-fOr
example, the looking out for the peri
odical post-day; on Tuesdays and Fri
days our Regimental Office was
crowded with officers; some expecting
remittances, some letters, and some
newspaper. Letters and parcels were
opened on the spot, news communi-
Gated, and the Office presented the
most animated appearance. Silvio's
letters were addressed under cover to |
onr regiment, and he was therefore