The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-28

50 'cNciSi years HHi tlapstU, ana my prlVlI
$ affairs necessitatcd my settling IN poverty
stricken little village in the district Of N
Il Though occupied with the duties oflandlorl
!. | could not help silently signing after my fol
=. mer rackety and reckless existence, toun
q 1t so difficult to get accustomed to spend tn
!. long, dismal spring and winter evenings il
such complete seclusion. BY chatting will
the Mayor, or going over new buildings il
e progress, managed somehowto drag through
the day, up to the dinner hour; but LITERAL,
knew not what to do with myself at dusk.
had read the limited number of books whicl
, had found on the bookshelveS and in the
lumbcrroom until knew them by heart
All the stories which the housekecper, Kiril
oVha knew had Bcch tod me over and ovcl
again. | grew weary of LISTENING to the peas
ant women's songs, and might have had re
course to sweet liquors, but that they made
my head ache and | confess that | feared
might become drunkard from "A feeling OF
wrctchcdness, that is to say, the most wretch
ed of drunkardS, of which saw number of
instances in our district
| had no near neighbors, If | except two
or three OF those wretched fellows. whose con.
versation consisted chiefly of hiccoughs and
signs. solitude was more endurabc At
last decided upon going to bed as early as
possible, and upon dining as late rs POSSIBLE ;
IN TINS way | contrlvcd to shorten the even
| ihgS ana add TO the length OF the days, which
spent in useful occupations.
| -Four versts from me Law a very valuable
estate, belonging t. the Countess il; it
was occupied by the agent only; the Coun.
tess had visited it but once, and that in the
nrst year OF her marriage when she had not
stayed over month During the second
IycaI OF my secluslOn, rumOrs were current
that the Countess and her husband were com
ing to spend the summer. They really did
arrive at about the beginning of The month of
June.
The appearance Of IA wel.to.do neighbor is
an important event TO rustics Landlords and
tenants speak of it for two months previously,
ana Tor three years subsequently. | confess
tliat, 50 lar as l was concerned, the presence
OF young ana beautiful neighbor seemed Il
matter Of considerable importance to me. |
burned with Impotence to see her, and ! be.
took myself therefore after dinner, the first
Sunday subsequently to their arrival to pay
my respects 10 their cXcelencies, as their
nearest neighbor and the most devoted of erv-
ants.
n iOoman showed me into the Counts IL
Drary and went To announce me The spa
clouS apartment was furnished with the very
greatest OF luxury; the walls were lined with
bookcases, each of which was surmounted bp
a bronze bust; over the marble chimney.
piece was placed a large mirror; the floor was
covered with green cloth and spread with car.
pets. Having lost all habits of luxury in my
poor retreat, and having ceased to be familiar
with the ELECTS produced by the riches of
others, became timid, and awaited the Count
with Il certain trepidation, like provincial
petitioner expecting the approach of a minis
ter. The doors opened, and handsome man
n ri rl,,
preached me with trankncss and friendliness
endeavored to muster courage and to ex.
plain the object OF my call; but he anticipat-
ed me. We sat down. His easy and agreeable |
conversation soon dispelled my awkward
shyness; l had already resumed my usual
manner, when suddenly the Countess entered, |
and my perturbation became greater than be.
fore She was beautiful indeed The Count
introduced me; | wished to seem to be at INV
ease, but the more | tried the more awkward |
did feel My new acquaintance, wishing
10 give me time to recover, and to teel myself
more at home, conyersed together, dispensing
with all etiquette, thus treating me like an |
Ola friend ned risen from nv seat in the
meanwhile, and was pacing the room inspect
ing the books and pictures | am no Judge
of paintings, but one there wa. which espec
tally attracted my attention. 1t represented /
a landscape in Switzerland; but was struck
not by the beauty of the artists touch, but
because it was perforated by two bullets, one
hole being just above the other
This is good shot, said |, turning to the
Count.
Yes" said he; "a very remarkable shot.
Do you shoot well ?" he went on
Pretty we'll" replied, overioyed that the
had turned upon subject of
Interest Il mean could not miss card at
thirty PAGES; OF course, when know the
pistols"
"lndced,,' said the Countess, with look of
great attention; and you, my dear, could
you hit card thirty paces?"
some day answered the Count, 1--WE shall
Try. was not very bad shot in my time
but II is now four years since | have held a
pistol"
"Oh,' remarked |, "ihat being the case, I
do not mind betting that your excclency viii
ut be able to hit card attwenty PAGES even
pistol shooting requires daily practice, | Il
know TINS by experience | used to be con-
siGered one of the best shots in oir regiment
1t so happened once that had not touched a
pistol in whole month; my own were I'm. /
icrgoing repair, and will your exccllency be.
lievc it, when ! took to shooting again. I h
missed a bottle at twenty PAGES? Our riding. il
master, sharp, amusing fellow, happening
lo Uc present. sullg OUT, L say, Olu BOY, thou Il
canst not lift thy hand against the bottle, ell y
No, your excellency, it is a practice that had
not ought to be neglected, if one does not
wish to become rusty at it. The best shot
ever happened to come across practiced every |
day, and would shoot at least three times be
fore dinner. This was rule with him, as
was his glass Of rodka."
The Count and Countess appeared pleased |
at my having become talkativc
AID what kind of shot was he 2" asked
he Count
"Of that sort, your excellency, that if he
happened to see fly on the wall-You are
smiling Countess. But it is true indeed
When he CHANGED to see a fly, he would call |
,ut, 'kooska, my pistoln Kooska brings
lim loaded pistol. Bang! and there is the
ly ifattcncd TO the wall"
That was wonderful" said the Count
What was his name;n
"Silvio, your eXcellcncy."
"SiIyio" exclaimed he, jumping up; ''you
knew Silvio?"
Knew him? OF course, your excellency.