Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-28
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 1880
One day ten of our officers worO din

ing with Silvio. We drank as usual
that is to say enormously. After din
nor We asked the host to got up faro
bank. lie refused for u long timo, for
he had hardly over played. Bat at
last he sent for some cards, placed fifty
ducats before him on the table aud sat
down TO deal. We sat down around
him and the play began. When he
played Silvio was in the habit of main
tanning tho most complete silence; no
never allowed complaints or explana-
tions. 1fa player made a mistake he
paid him just what was due, or mark
cd to his own account what he had
gained. We knew that, and left him
to manage his bank as he pleased; but
there was among us an officer who had
recently joined the corps, and who
from distraction made a wrong view.
Si(vio took the chalk and made his
reckoning as usual. The officer, feel
ing SIRE that he had made q mistake
began to protest. Silvio, always is
lot continue to deal the cards. The
officer, losing patience, took tho brush
and wiped out what he thought to DO
wrong. SiIvio took the chalk and
marked it again. Whcrenpon, tho of,
iiccr, heated by wine, seized u brass
candlcstick and flung it at tho head of
Silvio, who, by rapid movement,
luckily avoided the blow. Great con
fusion followed. Silvlo arose, pale
with rage, and flashing eyes.
"My dear SIR no said, "bc good
enough to 20 away, and thank God
that this scene has taken place ia, my
house,
No one of us iolt any doubt as to the
issue Of the affair, and We already
looked upon our now comrado as
dead man. Tho officer went out say
ing that no was ready TO give satisfac-
ton whenever called upon. Tho faro
continued a few minutes longs. but
we saw that tho master Of tho house
was no longer in tho ganc and ono by
one we Withdrew and returned to our
quarters. q
The next day at tho riding school
we were just asking whether tho poor
lieutenant was alive or dead when we
saw him appear in person. We qucs-
toned him. He replied that no had
nonews of Si!vio. That surprised rs.
We went to SEQ Silvio and wo found
him in his court, sending bullet after
bullet into an ace Of hearts nailed up
against the door. He received us Just
as usual and said nothing about the
event of the previous evening. Three
days passed and the lioutonant was
still alive. We said in establishment:
will Silvio not GghtW
Silvio did not fight, but contented
limself with a very slight explanation
md the matter was at an end.
This fOrbcarance did him much
larm in tho eyes of us young mon.
Youth pardons least Of all the want of
'oldness; courage is tho first Of all
merits and the excuse of all defects.
Nevertheless, little by little tho whole
natter was forgotten and, Silvio ro-
covered his former influence among
IS.
alone could not reconcile myself to
lin. Thanks to my romantic imagi-
lation, | had attached myself more
han anybody else to this man, whose
ife was a riddle, and | had made him
he hero of u mysterious drama. IIe
owed me, at least with mo alone he
bandoned his cutting tone and caus-
'c language and talked of different ,
objects with freedom, and sometimes
With grace that was extraordinary.
nce that unhappy evening, tho
bought that his honor was soied, ,
nd that voluntarily he had not wiped ,
no stain, t0rmonted mo inccssantly, ,
nd prevented mo from being ut ease ,
nth him as of old.
Silyio had too much intelligence and c
enetratiOn not to SEQ and to guess
no cause of my conduct. lie seemed 9
aimed. Twice at least thought | 8
in him desire to have an
xplanation, but avoided it and Sill r
10 abandoned mo. Since then | pev- J
r saw him except with our comradc, c
nd our private conversations were re-
owed.
The happy inhabitants of tho capital e
by distractions, knew moth J
* of many Impressions familiar to tho
lhabitants of villages and small towns &
waiting for postday for instance. On
tuesdays and Fridays the bureau of our c