The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-12-24

sRhe gambling c0n6fnueu 1OF y tcW tuuAAs.<@S |
more bust "a W. saw that the master OF
the house pa 10 further interest to the
play, we left one by one, and as we stroll
ed back to our quarters NE chatted on the
vacancy we were about to haYe in the rcgi-
ment.
The following day, in the riding-scho |
we were asking if the poor lieutenant were
dead or merIy wounded, when who should
walk In but himself. We piled him with
questions. He simply answered that ne
had not heard from Silvio. We were as
| tonished. We went to visit Silvio we
came upon him in his courtyard, sending
bullet after bullet into an ace OF heart"
nailed to door. He received US In his
usual way, and never said a word about
the transaction OF the night before. Three
days passed aud the lieutenant still lived.
No message had come. We began to ask
one another in amazeinent lis it possible
that Silvio won't fight e,'7 Silvis did not
! fight. He was satisfied with very lame
explanation, and al, was over.
This magnauimity did him lot of harm
amongst US young fellows. Want of
hartlihood is the fault that youth partlons
the least. Courage is the greatest of all
merits, the excuse for every blemish.
Nevertheless, by little and little ail was
forgotten, and Silyio reassumed his former
influence in our circle.
alone found it hard to reconcile myself
to him. Thanks to a romantic imagina-
tion. l had grown more attached than
: any of my friends to this man. whose life
: was such an enigma. had made of him
the hero of a mysterious drama. He had
t preference for meat least was the
! only one with whom he abandoned his
{; harshness Of tone and cynici-ln of lanxIsge.
+ and eonversetl on different subjects with
e ease. and sometimes with a very happy
# grace Since that unfortunate evening the
y thought that his honor WAS soilei-
} that there was blot on his escutcheon-
e ard that, of his own free will. he had lie
cined to wipe it OUT. tormented the with
u out ceasiug, and drove away my seif-pOs<
u ession when was in his society. 1 was
Is no longer on the same terms with him.
'r made it matter of conscience to iHatci
le his every movement. Silvio had TOO an,iel
y penetration not to perceive what wa
e doing. and to guess the motive OF my con
y duet. He appeared more hurt than vSxet
y at it. Twice thought that couid de
er tect Il desire on his part to come TO an ex
a PLANTATION with me; but | avoided him
c. and Siivio did not press the matter. From
As that tim l only saw hia IN company will
: my comrasIes. Our :. <y intimate s-I.at
ii We're dropped.
va The lucky dws.'ltr< ia tile ctpirai. loss
10 ed about by disIraeting plea urrs. ar
ignorant Of many SENSATIONS familiar 4
those who live in remote villages or sultl
= towns for example. the waiting tor til
va mali day. On Thursdays and Fridays Tb
postoffice of our regiment VAS iIli 4
J" officers. One expected mOiey. aiotlie
" letters, a third newspapers. Ordinarily
D. the packets were uIIseal.d upau rhc spot
"a news was passed from mo,,th to mouth
and the scene in the Office Was of tlt mos
animated description. Silvio's letters wer
addressed to him at our quarters. aud h
came to look for them with the rest of III
- One day that he WAS handed letter b
~ broke the seal with great eagerness. A
y he ran over its contents l,is eyes positivel
ih burned with strange fire. Our officer
Ne occupied over their own correspondence
took ue notice of him.
OF ''Gentlemen, - exclaimed Silvio, ''urgeI
'e affairs compel me to leave iinmediateI.
p- AS shall be on the road tonight hnT
vi you won't refuse to dine with me for Il
en- last time. count upon you," he adhe'
m turning to me, ''I wish you particularly
come.'s
aC Thereupon he retired hastily. and att
ni' we had all agreed to make rendezvous
as his place. we separated each liis own wa
"a / got to SiIVIo's at the appointed hour. al
'1i found every officer of duty there. H
luggage was already packed mp. Nothi'
gu was to be seen on the naked walls but q
III network Of bullet-hoies. We sat dow
''o Our host was In best of hnmors. aud !
'S- high spirits soon spread TO the co,npan
an Corks popped brisk as skir,nishiEg fir
po- the beady froth mounted in the glass'
i's' which were filed and enlptied without
c' ierruption. We grew tenderllearted
,"u maudlin. il you like-and wished G
speed, safe journey. joy, aud all kinds
VIC prosperity to our departing host
1t was late when we quilted the festi
''at board When we were looking for G
~ caps, SIlvio hade zach OF US adieu: but
caught me by tile hand and held me a
=. ."u was on the point of going out.
-" "' Stay" he said in ala uEdertome.
want to have few woods with you"
- / stopped behind.
bed II
rk. sILyIo's EXPLANATIONS.
the Tie others lad departed. and we W.
ted left alone. seated face to face. smoki
r of our pipes ia silence. Silvio had a ca
md .rr.-.. L. gnsf,..... .,nk H., nIi.l,t