The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-14
The Fatal Encounter.

whose arrival the dillttanti in Paris always
witness with dismay, for then the first ar.
lists and cantratices of the metropolis leave
| to reap golden harvest III the provincial
| towns. The avenue leading to the theatre
OF Pcrgola was crowded with long file OF
brilliant cquipages. A considerable crowd,
which had not been able to find places
within the house, already filed by the
wealthy and privileged classes, vented
their indignation in loud words near the
| principal entrance. A riot even was eX-
| pcctcd, 80 much dissatisfaction was there
manifested In the language and gestures of
the multitude. But fortunately, the in
flammablc crowd was at last pacihcd.
Madame p. was to appear that night in
| the opera OF Norma for the last time. The
audience that assembled to greet her on the
| occasion was composed Of the elite of Flor
ent nc society. Never was more bril-
liant dress circle to be seen. In one of
the side boxes sat the young Count Bach
eroni and his friends. This nobleman,
well known for his liberal principles, was
regarded as one of the chiefs of the rcpub-
lican party of Florence and Italy. Indeed
whether from motives Of ambition CT dis
interestt dness, the Count had always been
found arraycd in opposition to the ancient
nobility OF Tuscany, and had always shown
himself an ardent and prompt defender of
the mcnaccd liberties of the people. The
people, who arc never ungratcful when a
man devotcs himself to the interests of the
country, seeing in him al intrepid protector,
| cherished for him a kind of worship ap-
proacning the reverence of son for his
father. Although gifted with Il good edu-
cation and rare intelligence, the Count
partook of the opinions Of the vulgar with
regard to stagc-playcrs, and was imbued
with the same prciudiccs In this view an
actress was entitled TO no respect, and a
singer was of less consideration than the
lowest OF the popuacc.
Ensnared by the graccs and beauty Of
Madame p, he had made that celebrated
vocalist oilers, the most muniticcnt and
brilliant, but they were met with contin.
ucd rcpulses. The evening of the dcpar-
turc OF the actress was arrived and the
Count was no further advanced in her good
graccs. Irrilated by her Indifference, and
infiamcd with anger, he entered the theatre
with the fixed intention of bantcring the re-
b; ;llous cantatricc into compliance with his
wishes.
Madame p. was III the midst of scene
with the tenor singer Zorelli, who person
atcd the part Of "Palconc," when the
Count, from his position near the stage,
hazardcd some pleasantrics at first gay and
satirical, then gross and injurious, while
his friends applauded and laughed ut his
sallics Zorclli approached near the box
of the Count and listened attentvcly. SO
absorbed did he become that he lost his
cue and forgot his part, while Bachcroni,
percciving that he watched him began to
hiss. In this he showed himself less in
dulgent than any Of the audience, who had
pardoned the actor his momcntary disLrac-
tion. Zorelli lcvelcd an angry glance at
the Count and resumed his part. Bachcr-
oni continued his annoying remarks until
he fall Of the curtain.
They were yet laughing in the box of the
Count, when the door opened aud Il man
appeared upon the threshold. 1t was the
singer Zoreli. His tncc was pale and his
brow contracted with emotion.
s'Sir Count he said, advancing. "you
have traducca and injured female when
she was without protection against your in
| suits, and who had given you no cause cx-
ccpt the rejection of your dishonorabc pro-
posals That female I regard as sister.
l am the only protector she has in the
world, and come to demand satisfaction
from you for the wrong you have done
her.
"Fath, you are not over fastidious III
your selection replied the Count, with Il
phlcgmatic air, and with his hand waved
Zorelli away, as beneath his notice:
eff, in order TO contend with you, sir, it
is necessary that | should be of noble
birth, | will prove that my family Is of q
rank equal, if not superior to your own;
but in the first place, swear that you will
render me satisfaction"
"Iou nobc!" interrupted Bacheronl,
"away, awayl What would bc thought of
me, were to cross swords with stroller
49,
The Count was stopped in the midst of
his remarks by blow from the hand of
Zorelli.
Bacheroni rushed toward his adversary,
but his friends intercepted him and held
him back. The actor remained standing
near the door, with his arms folded upon
his breast. The Count, having been calm
ed down, approached him, and said in a
whisper, 81 consent"
Name your place, hour and weapon, {"
said Zorclli
"At the San-GallO gate at midnight,
with swords; they will make less distur-
| Dance than flrc-arms-the light Of the moon
| will be cnough-thcre must be no witness
Co."
"Agrced," said Zorclll, and he went to
resume his part in the opera. He sang
| till the close without manifcsting the
| slightest alteration in his voice, and with
out bclraying the least emotion. Madame
! p. having cvnce1 sornc curiosity as to the
cause of his absence, he quictcd her ap-
prchcnsions by the GOODNESS and sclr-pos-
session Of his manner
The Count retired from his box shortly
after the encounter with Zorcli and did
not re- appecr there the rest of the even
ing.
In intcrrogating his conscience Zorelli sat.
tislicd himself that he had acted as became
him toward his adversary. Ic had owed
such debt of gratitude to tho noble can
tatrice, that he would have proved himself
rccrcant and an migrate If hc had suffered
her TO be outraged with impunity. Born
OF noble family Of Trieste, Zorcll had,
from his youth manifested remarkable
talent for music, and his father had D or