New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-24
listened with the liveliest curiosity to the fol-
lowing recital.
THE COUNTS STORY.

Five years ago / got married. | spent the
honeymoon here, in this chateau. 10 this old
building are attached recolectioDs OF the hap
piest 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 was sOmew bat
alarmed and dismounted. asking me TO lead
him home by the bride, while she regalned the
chateau on foot. At the gate L found post
caleche. | was informed there was strange
gentleman in nv study, who had refused TO
give his name, bat said he wanted To see me on
very serious private business came INTO tnis
very room, and, in the twilight, cpuld distn-
cush a man, dust covered, and with long
beard standing before the chimney. | went
up to him, vainly jogging my memory as to
where had seen the face before.
You do not recognize me, Count y he said
in n tremulOus voice
'aSiIvior ~ | cried: and | confess | could
almost believe felt my hairs standing erect on
Ia Precisely he added, and it is my turn
to fire. l have. come to discharge my debt.
Are you readyT
Il could see a pistol peeping from his side
pocket. | stepped twelve PAGES, and l stood
there, in that corner, praying hun TO make
haste and fire before my wife came back. DE
was in DO hurry, he said and he asked for
lights They brought in some wax candles
| shut tine door, ordered the servants TO let
nobody enter, and again | called on him to fire.
He raised his pistol. and took aim at me.
| counted the seconds. :. | thought of her.
This lasted one awful minute. SllviO lowered
his weapon.
al am very much annoyed" he said, that
nv pistol is not charged with-cherTy- stones,
bullet is hard. But have another idea
This business is more like a murder than
duel. | am not accustomed to pull trigger on
an unarmed man. Let US begin It. all over
again, and draw lots for the first fire."
Ny head turned. At first, | imagine, re-
fused, but finally We loaded another pistol.
We rolled two scraps of paper, and ne put them
into the very cap he had worn wnen sent
bullet whizzing through it, | dipped into the
cap and drew the paper marked number one
- You have the devils luck, Count !" lie said
with grin l shall never forget
/ cannot understand what power took pos
session of me. or how he succeeded IN con
straining me but | did fire. and my bullet
lodged in that picture
The Count pointed with his finger to the
canvas traversed by the pistOl-shot. His face
was led as hot iron. The Countess was whittier
than her lace handkerchief. AS for ME, could
hardly suppress q cry. -
L had fired my shot, therefore, pursued the
Count, and, thanks be to God, had missed.
.. Then Silvo-how demoniac yisage. he
had at that moment deliberately adjusted his
weapon, and levelled the deadly barrel straight
between my eyes. Suddenly the door flew
open. Macha burst into the room and clasped
herself round my neck. Her presence restored
me to firnness.
MY uear, L sdlu, can you HOI ste
are jOking7 What tremOr you are in 60,
CO. drink a glass of wateI and leturD, and
will introduce you to an old friend and COM
rade.D
'Macha mlstrusted me.
"Tel me, is this that my husband says
true r. she mplored Of the terrible SllvIo. Is
it true that you are joking T.
." He is always joking, Countess" replied
Slvio. "Once, out of pure jest, he gave me
box on the ear out of pure jest he planted
bullet IN my cap; out of pure jest while ago
he missed me with his pistol. Now 1t Is my
turn to have my little laugh"
the eyes of my wife. Macha fell at his feet.
:" Rise, Macha Are you not ashamed OF your
self I" | shouted with rage. And you, sir, DO
you wish to drive an unfortunate woman de-
lirious7 VIII you fire Yes or nof'
- | do not care 70 now, thank you. | am sat
isfied. | have enjoyed your suffering and your
weakness. | have compelled you to fire upon
me- You will recollect me. leave You to your
conscience"
He made a step toward the door, and, hating
at the threshold, he threw q quick glance at the
ling to take aim, he fired, doubled my bullet,
and walked out. My wife swooned. My
domestcs did not dare to bar his passage, but
before him, appalled,. He reached
the entrance-steps called his p0stilliOn, and,
before | had time to recover my presence of
mind, he had disappeared
The Count had told his story.
Thus | learned the end of an episode, the
opening of which had puzzled me- l never saw
the hero of it again. They say that Sivio
Joined the instruction of Alexandra Ypsilanti,
and was slam at the head of a band of partl
sans at the disaster of SkOulan.-L Tnsleys
Magazine.