Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-06

on the shelf and began TO stride up and
down the room lake d tiger in his cage,
listened to him motionless and torment
ed by a thousand different sentiments.
A servant entered aud announced that
the horses were ready. Silviopressed my
hand He mounted little carriage, on
wb CD there were two cases, one contain
ing his pistols, and another his baggage
We said alden once more and the horses
started.
A few years passed and family affa;r'
compelled ne to exile myselfin little
village in the district of-Busy with
my own interests did not cease TO sigh
when l thought of the noisy, careless
life that ! had hitherto led, What
found most painful was to accustom
myself to pass the spring and winter
evening in complete solitude. Until
dinner-time / contrived to kill time in
one way or another, but as soon as ii
began to grow dark did not know
what to do.
At distance of four versts was fine
property belonging to the Count B,
but her steward alone was there: the
countess had only lived at he chateau
once in the first year of her marriage,
and then she had only staid a month.
ne day i'll the second spring ofmy her
mit's life | learned that the countess
and her husband would pass the summer
at the chateau. They arrived, indeed, in
the month of June.
The arrival of rich neighbor marks
an epoch in the life Of country folks. For
my part, l was dying with impatience
to see her the first Sunday of her arrival
went to pay my respects as being her
closest neighbor and her most humble
servant. A.lacky conducted me to the
cabinet of the count, which was furnish
ed with the most consumste luxury.
The door opened, and l saw enter a
handsome young man of thirty two
years of age, who received me in the
most fir ank and amiabie manner. We
were Just settling down into easy con-
versation when the countess appeared
She was really beauty. The CONT in
troduced me. wished to assume an
easy air, but the more tried the more
awkward and embarrassed became. My
hosts, to give me time to recover myself,
began to talk to each other to show that
they treated me already as neighbor
and without ceremony. | walked about
the room looking at the books and pic.
lures, i am no cJnnoiseur, but stopped
before view of Switzerland, not 80
much because was struck by the merits
of the picture but because it was pierced
by two bullets, which had evidently
been fred through the same hole, one
after the other.
That was fine shot said, turning
toward the count. ....# ...
Yes, said he, "a strange shot, indeed,
Are you an adept with the pistol sir p
To certain degree l replied, de-
lighted to fue some topic of converse.
ton within my powers. AT thirty PAGES
l could hit card, of course with pistol
that knew .
Indeed 2 said the countess, with an
air of interest. And, you, my dear
could you hit card at thirty PAGES 2 I
We will see,' said the count. In my
time was not bad shot, but have not
touched pistol for four years. <
Then, count 1 said, l dare bet that
you would miss even at twenty PAGES
Pistol shooting requires constant pratice
l know it by experience. The best |
over knew used to shoot every day a,
least three shots before dinner. He
never missed, any more than be missed
taking his glass of cognac before the
SOUP
And how did be do it7' asked the
Count,
Howl He would see fly on the
wall-you smile, countess swear
that it 10 true. Ell! Kouzka! a pistol |!
Kouzka brought loaded pistol. Bang
and there was the Hy flattened on the
wall
What skillvcried the count. And
what was his name2
'SilviOp
'Silviov cried the count, jumping tc
his feet. You knew Silviop
We were close friends; he was with US
in the regiment like comrade. But
now five years have passed since had
any news of him. And so he has the
honor of being known to you, count p
Perfectly. Did he ever tell you a
strange adventure that happened himN