The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-18


years afterward. As for myself, canddy avow
that the announcement of the coming of "a young
and handsome lady neighbor threw me into con-
siderable agitation. | was impatient to her.
and the first SUNDAY after their arrival ! set out
after dinner, for her chateau, to present my
homage to Madame la COmtesse, in the character
of her nearest neighbOr and very humble servant.
lackey ushered me into the Counts study and
went To acquaint his master with my visit This
study was spacious and furnished in a very rich
style Along the walls ranged massive
presses full of books, and the top of each bust
in bronze. Over the marble chimney-piece there
was an immense mirror. The fiOOrwas hidden by
a green cloth, on which were spread Persian car
pets | had been divorced from comfort 80 long in
my den that was overcome at the spectacle of all
this SumptUOusness-wa positively seized with
timidity, and waited for the Count very much in
the frame Of being of a petitioner from the prov
ince~ who has obtained audience of some powerful
Minister, and sits i'm an ante-chamber. The door
opened, and gave admission TO young man about
thirty, of a charming cOuntenance. He received
me i'm the frankest and most amiable manner l
made an effort TO recover my calmness, and was
commencing my compliments a. a neighbOr,
when he anticipated me by gracefully telling me
that should he always welcome To his house
while he was there We seated ourselves. The
conversation, full of natuTaluess and affability,
soon soothed my savage timidty, and began TO
feel myself i'm my ordinary groove, when suddenly
the Countess appeared, and threw me into an en-
barraS>ment greater than before. She truly "A
beauty The Count presented me. | endeavOred
10 assume a Tree ana easy manner but the more
tried the more awkward ! became. Nv hosts in
order TO give me an opportunity to collect myself
and get accustomed to my acquaintance, be-
gan chatting to one another, if TO show me they
treated me without ceremony, as an estimable
neighbOr. Meanwhile, ! walked about the study
looking al the books and pictures. | am not much
OF connOsSeur, a aras pictures 90 but there was
one which riVeted my attention. Ii was a sketch
of a valley in Switzerland; but il was not the
merit Of the landscape which struck me most. l
remarked that the canvas was pierced by two bull
lets, one evidently aimed at the other.
"ila that was something like a shot, I cried,
turning toward the Count.
Yes ne said; rather singular shot. Are
You a good hand at the pistol - he continued
"WeiI, yes-So-so," / answered delighted al the
chance Of speaking a subject ] was not totally
ignorant of. AT thirty PAGES / warrant myself
never 10 miss card, always provided / know the
pistols"
REALLY - said the Countess. with an air of pro
found interest Then, addressing her husband
she added ''And you, dearest, do you think YOU
could hit card at thirty PAGES ~
we shall see" replied the Count. ''I used not
10 be "a bad shot i'm my day; but il Is quite four
years since had pistol i'm my hand"
"In that ease, Count, don't mind betting that,
even az twenty PAGES, you're not able TO hit the
spot. The pistol insists on constant practice I
know IL by experience. In my regiment / passed
for one of the best marksmen. Ii happened once
that was month without taking up pistol.
Mine were at the armorer's. We went out for
target practice. Nhatd do YOU think came to pass,
Count? | missed a bottle at fve-and-twentv
PAGES four consecutive times. We had squadron
leader In Ours-a jolly fellow, but terrible Joker
'Phew! comrade,' ne said you're altogether too
sober You have too much respect for the bottles
Believe me- Count, if you don't practice YOU must
rust The best shot | ever met kept his hand in
by firing his pistol every day, if it was only three
shots before dinner He would a. soon fail to
have his three shot' a to take his nip of brandy
before soup
The Count and Countess seemed to take DIeas-
Ure in hearing me rattle on thus.
And what sort of shots used he to make >" de
manded the Count
"What sort? Wait till you hear. Suppose he
saw fly creeping along the wall. You laugh,
Countess? ! swear TO you its true. 'Eh, Kouza
pistol kouza brought him a loaded pistol
Ping! There was the fly tlattened upon the waII'T
''What skilIw exclaimed the Count springinc
to his feet. ''You knew Slvio?"
"Did know him? We were the best of friends
lie used to mix with corps as if he were of
ourselves. But it is good five years since l
heard any tidings of him. SO, as it appears he
had the honor to be known to you, Count"
Yes, knOwn-very well known
81 wonder did he ever tell YOU a curious story of
an adventure that occurred To him once? story
about box on the ear he got one evening from an
animal
''Dd he not tell you the name of the animal ~
NO, he never mentioned it. Pardon, Count,V
! cried suspecting the fact, II was not aware
Am right in thinking it was YOU ~
81 ann the person in question: answered the
Count, confused in his turn; 'and the hole in that
picture Is a souvenir of our last interview"
''For the love of God. dear don't speak of il -
cried the Countess; ''it makes me shudder.'
NO said the Count, Il must tell the story to
this gentleman. He knows had the misfortune
to offend his friend. 1t Is only right he should
know his friend avenged HIMSELF
The Count mOtioned me to an armchair and
listened with great interest to the following recital:
CHAPTER Iv.-rHE COUNTS STORY.
give years ago / got married. I spent the
honeymoon here i'm this chateau. To this old
building attached recolections of the happiest
hours of my life, and likewise of one of the most
fearful and affecting One evening we went out
riding. My wife's horse began to shy and rear;
she somewhat alarmed, and dismOunted ask
IN hT- fl. s1,.
rcgained the chateau on foot. At the gate found
post caleche. was informed there was a strange
gentleman in my study, who had refused to Give
his name, but said he wanted to see me on very
serious private business. l came into this veIv
room, and i'm the twilight | could distinguish n
man, dus-covered and with long beard, stand
in bpf ba ebi "a;