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

the commandments quarters or In aJewish
eating house, and cards and punch in the
evening, constitute the days work. There
was no society at --, nor were there
any marriageable girls; we used to meet
at each others rooms, where only men in
uniform were to be seen.
One civilian, however, was admitted
within our circle. He might have reached
the age of five-and-thirty, and we there
fore looked upon him as greatly our senior
in years His large experience secured to
him a certain amount of Difference, and
his usual moroseness, his stern and sar-
castle disposition, exercised a powerful
influence over our youthful imagInatiCns,
His past career seemed shrouded in mys-
terry Though bearing foreign name he
was apparently Russian. He had served
at one time in the Hussars, and had even
been fortunate in professional advance
ment None of US knew the reason why
he had retired from the service and taken
up his abode in this wretched neighbOr-
hood, where he lived penuriously and yet
extravagantly. He invariably went out
on foot, and he was always seen IN black
surtout the worse for wear, but at the
same time he kept open house for all the
officers of our regiment. Truth to tell,
two or three dishes, cooked by an old
pensioner, constituted MS dinner, but on
the other hand champagne flowed at his
table.
His chief pastime consisted in pistol
practice. The walls Of his apartment
were riddled and perforated like honey
comb A valuable collection of pistols
formed the only luxury of his humble
habitation. The degree of perfection he
had attained in this art was inconceiva-
BILE, and had he required to 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 himl never joined in it, and when
asked whether he had ever had occasion
to fight, would answer dryly that he had ;
but he entered upon no details, and it was
evident that these and similar questions
were distasteful to him. We concluded
that the recollection of some unfortunate
victim to this dreadful accomplishment
troubled his conscience, the idea of cow
ardice never even suggesting itself. There
are people whose exterior alone suffices to
disarm 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-aRd after dinner we en-
deavOred to prevail upon our host to be
the banker in game of faro. For some
time he persisted in declining, for he sell
dom 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 began.
Silvio was wont to keep the strictest 81
lence upon such occasions, never
discussing or explaining anything. If
the punter CHANGED to make a mistake, he
either paid up the balance Immediately
or noted the surplus. We were already
aware of this, and therefore never inter
fered. But of our number there was a
young officer who had lately joined. He
took part in the game, and in a fit of alb
sence bent down one corner too many.
Silvio took up the chalk and rcctifed the
score, as was his custom. The officer,
thinking he was mistaken, began to ex-
plain matters. Silvio continued dealing
in silence The officer, losing ,atience,
rubbed out what to him appeared Imnec-
essary. Silvio, taking up the chalk,
again marked the score. The officer, ex-
cited with wine, and by the game and the
laughter of his comrades, imagined him
self cruelty offended, and in his passion
he lifted metal candlestick off the table
and threw it at Silvio, who had barely
time to evade the blow. We felt confused
Silvio rose, and 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, declaring
himself ready to answer for the affront in
such manner as the banker might elect
The game was continued for a few mo-
ments longer, but, feeling how little our
hosts thoughts were in it, we left, one by
one, and repaired to our quarters, discuss
ing the possibility of a speedy vacancy.
When we met in the riding-school on
the following day we Immediately in
quired of each other if our poor ensign
was still alive. When he himself APP
peared, we greeted him, putting the same
question! He replied that he had heard
nothing of Silvio as yet. This surprised
us. We went to Silyio, 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, not allud-
ing to the event of the preceding evening
Three days elapsed, and the ensign still
lived. We asked in establishment: "Can
it be possible that Silvio will not fight?"
Silvio did not fight a very slight ex-
PLANTATION satisfied 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 consider it the high
est of human virtues-one that covers
multitude of sins! However, little by
little, all was forgotten, and Silvio re
gained his former influence.
| alone could not become reconciled to
him. Being naturally of a romantic turn
of mind, / had, more than ANYBODY, at
tached myself to the man whose very ex-
istence was an enigma, and who appeared
to me to be the hero of some mysterious
event. He liked me, at least it was with me
alone that he laid aside his usual cutting,
ill-natured observations, and that he
conversed upon various subjects with
perfect good nature and rare pleas
antness. But / could not, subse-
ouent to that unfortunate evening,
rid myself of the idea that his honor had
been furnished, and that it was his own
doing that the stain had not been re-
moved. This thought prevented my feel
ING toward him as | had hitherto done,
and / felt ashamed to look upon him.
Silyio was far too clever and too shrewd
not to notice this and not to divine the
cause. He appeared hurt, and l fancied
that had more than once detected a
wish on his part to come 10 an unoer-
standing with me: but | avoided each op-
portunIty, and Silvio withdrew. There.
after | only met him in the presence OF
my comrades, and our former intimacy