Connecticut western news., 1880-11-03

for mortal combat.
 "Day was breaking. I was at the trysting- ground with my three witnesses, waiting my adversary with mad impa- tience. The summers sun rose, and the heat already began to grill us. saw him in the distance. He was on foot, in his shirt sleeves, carrying his jacket over his sabre-hilt, and accompanied by 8 single second. We set out to meet them. As he came nearer to me, could perceive that in one hand he held his cap, which was full of cherries. Our seconds placed us at twelve paces apart. It was my privilege to fire first; but passion and hatred got 50 much the bet ter of me that was afraid should not be able to keep my wrist steady. In order to gain time to cool down I con- ceded the first fire to him. He refused it. We then determined to settle 1t by drawing lots. He won, this eternally spoiled child of fortune. He pulled trigger, and pierced my bonnet de po- lice. It was my turn now. At last had his life in my grasp. scrutinized him with fierce avidity, trying to catch, in the expression of his features, at the least shade of emotion. No! There he was, under cover of my pistol, and not twitch in brows or lips, not the symptom of change of color in his cheeks. He was quietly picking the ripest cherries out of his cap and blow ing the stones from his mouth, like 8 school-boy, until they almost fell at my feet. This cold-blooded composure made me feel like devil.
 "What is to be gained ? said I to myself, 'by taking this mans life, seeing that he sets such small store by it?'
 "An atrocious idea shot across my brain. let down the hammer of my ! pistol.
 "It seems,' said I, that you're hardly in @ mood to die at present You prefer to breakfast. Take it easy Ihave no wish to disturb you
 "'Don't mix yourself up in my con- cerns,' he answered, 'but take the trouble of firing, pray. For the matter of that, do as you please. You have always that pistol-shot to your credit i; and I shall be at your service whenever you wish to discharge it.
 1T left with my friends, to whom I said that I did not intend to effect the exchange of shots for the moment. And 1 &b,7o fha
 "I sent in my resignation, and with drew to this village. Not day has passed since then that I have not dreamt of revenge. Now the hour has come"
 Silvio drew from his pocket the letter he had received in the morning and gave 1t to me to read. Somebody-his lawyer presumably-wrote to him from Moscow that the person in question was on the eve of marrying young and beautiful lady.
 "You divine" said Silvio, 'who is the person in question. I am starting for Moscow. We'll see if he'll face death in the middle of wedding with
 the same composure that he did in front of pound of cherries p
 At these words he rose, threw his cap
 on the floor, and began striding to and
 fro like tiger in a cage. I had listened
 to him, outwardly passive, but racked by
 a thousand contending sentiments.
 A servant, entering, announced that
 the horses had arrived. Silvio shook me
 warmly by the hand, and we embraced
 He jumped into caleche, in which
 there were two boxes, the one containing
 his collection of pistols, the other hi
 luggage. We said adieu once more, ant
 the horses went off at canter. . Several years passed, when famil, affairs obliged me to exile myself in
 wretched petty hamlet of the volost of Podjaritzki.
 ' Four versts from my place was
 very fine domain, belonging to Coun } B., and upon invitation I paid hin l visit.
 A lacky ushered me into the Count } study and went to acquaint his maste 3 with my visit. This study was spacious t and furnished in 0 very rich style Along the walls were ranged massiv !; presses, full of books, and on the to I of each 8 bust in bronze. Over tn ]; marble chimneypiece there was an i'm y mense mirror. The floor was hidde @ by green cloth, upon which we1 | y divorced from comfort so long in m il den, that was overccm me at the spec g tacle of all this sumptuousness-ws d positively siezed with timidity, an ). waited for the Count very much in tt k frame of being of @ petitioner from tl E. provinces who has obtained audienc y of some powerful minister, and sits n the ante-chamber. Tho door opene ie and gave admission to @ young ma ,r about thirty, of charming countenanc g He received me in the frankest ar is most amiable manner. 1 made an effo D. to recover my calmness, and was con le mencing my compliments as a neighbo le when he anticipated me by graceful l telling me that I should be always we i'd cone to his house while he was ther D. We seated ourselves. The convers 1t tion, full of naturalness and affabilit al soon soothed my savage timidity, and le began to feel myself in my natur ts groove, when suddenly the Counte d appeared, and threw me into an emba 'l- rassment greater than before. She W at truly beauty. The Count present' 1d me. I endeavored to assume fir st and easy manner, but the more tri re the more awkward I became. N