The Osceola times., 1880-11-27

out the stain tormented me inccssantly
and prevented me from being at ease
with him a. OF old.
Silvio had too much intelligence and
penetration not TO zee and to guess the
cause of my conduit. lie seemed pain
ed. Twice at least thought remarked
in HIM q desire to have an explanation
with me, but ] avoided 1t and Silvio
abandoned me. Since then never saw
him except with our comrades, and our
private conversations were never re-
newed.
The happy inhabitants OF the capital,
surrounded by distractions, know moth
ing Of many impressions familiar to the
inhabitants of villages and small towns
waiting for post day, for instance. On
Tuesdays and Fridays the bureau of our
regiment was full of officers. One was
expecting money, another letters, anoth-
er journals. Generally we broke open
the packages on the spot; we told each
other the news, and the bureau present
ed the most animated appearance.
SilvIo's letters were addressed to our
regiment and he used to come with us
TO fitch them. One day he received a
letter which he tore open with precipi-
tation. AS he red it his eyes shone with
extraordinary brilliancy. Our officers,
busy with their letters. had noticed
nothing.
Gentlemen" said Silvio, "some busl-
ness obliges me TO leave Immediately. ]
shall start to night; | hope that you will
not refuse to dine with me for the last
time. ! count upon you, too" ne con-
tinued. turning towards me. II count
upon Won absolutely"
He then withdrew hurried'y, and after
having agreed to meet at his house. we
all went away to our several affairs. At
the appointed hour ! went to Sllvio's,
and found nearly all the regiment there.
Everything belonging to him had been
already packed up. There remained
nothing but bare walls, spotted with hui
| let holes. We sat down to table. Our
host was in good humor, and he soon
communicates it to all the company.
The corks few rapidly; the froth mount.
ed in The glasses that were filed and
empiied without interruptions; and we
iull of tenderness, wished our host a
pleasant journey, joy and prosperity.
When we were taking our caps, Silvlo
babe farewell to each one, but he took
me by the hanc and held me just as | was
about to go out.
81 want to talk little to you," he said
to me in a whisper
I remained.
The others left and we remained alone,
sitting face to face, smoking our pipes in
silence. Slvio seemed thoughtful, and
there remained on his face no trace of
his convulsive gayetv. His sinister pale
ness, his ardent eyes, the long puffs OF
smoke that issued from his mouth, gave
him the air of a demon. After few
minutes he broke the silence.
at may be-" he said, that we shall
never see each other again; before part.
ing wished to have remarked that
care little about the opinion Of the in.
different; but love you, ard | should
be panied to leave you with an unfavor-
able opinion Of me-"
lie Interrupted himself to shake the
ashes out OF his pipe. | remained silent
with my eyes cast down.
at may have appeared strange tJ
you," he continued, that did not de-
mand complete satisfaction from that
drunken mailman R. You will ad
mt that, having the choice of arms. l
had his lie in my hands and that had
90 great risks to run. l might ca my
moderation generosity, bur do not wish
to lie. II had been abe to administer
a correction to RI without risking NY
life, without risking it in any way he
would not have got off so easily.
looked at Silvio witt. sur rise. Such
an avowel troubled me to the last degree.
| He continued:
"Well, unfortunately, have not the
right to expose myself to death. Six
years ago received blow and my
enemy Is still living"
Ny curiosity was excited.
"You did not fight with himr" ! ask ed.
IS ,me special Circumstance prevented
you from catching hin!?"
81 fought with him." replied SllvIo,
land here is Il souvenir OF our meeting"
He rose and took out of a box red
co h cap, with gold band and tassel.
Tie placed it on his head. 1t was pierced
with n bullet hole an inch above the
forehead.
You knew" said Silvio, that /
served in the hussar regiment at -.
| You know my character. am in the
habit of dominating; but in INV youth 1t
was furious passion with me. In my
time the noisv men we're Ia mode.
was the first noisy man in the regiment.
Men used to boast of their drunken feats
l have diuI,k the famous B. under
the table. Every day there were duels
in our regiment. Every day play ed
the part of second or principal. Ny
comrades venerated me and our superior
officers, who were constantly being
changed, looked upon me as scourge OF
which they could not get rid. As for
| II (1ll , xtra,,
or rather tumultously, when rich young
man of distinguished family was sent to
our regiment. / will not mention his
name. Never was there a man gifted
with more insolent happiness. Imagine
to yourself youth, intelligence, a hand
some face. bravery. careless OF danger, a
fine name as much money as he wished
and which he could not lose; and now
imagine what an effect he must have
among us. NV domination was shaken
A. first, dazzled bv my reputation, he
sought my friendship. But | received
his advances coldly and he gave me up
without seeming in the least mortified
was exasperated. His success in the
regiment and with the ladies made Inc
dispair. | wanted to quarrel with hun.
TO my epigrams he replied by epigrams
which always appeared to me mole
piQuant and unexpected than mine, and
winch at any rate were much gaver
He made Jokes hated him. At last
one day, at ball at the house Of Polish
proprietor, seeing that he was the object
Of the attention of several ladies, and
particularly of the mistress of the house
with whom | was on very good terms,
whispered in his ear some insipid Nth
He fired up and struck me. We sprang