New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-03
THE FATALIST.

It sometimes happened that I was
obliged to pass fifteen days ct a
stretch among the Cossack villages on
the left flank Of the army line in com
pany with a battalion OF infantry.
The officers OF different regiments Of
ten gathered in the evenings and en-
joyed the night gaming.
One evening, tired out with Boston,
threw my cards on the table and
went to chat in the corner with Mai.
S The conversation, contrary to
the usual custom, grew agreeable and
very interesting. One of the party
contended that the Mohammedan be-
lief, which decreed that the fate ofman
was written in heaven, found MANY
converts in the Russian ranks. Fl
nally all theparty dropped their cards
and commenced to relate anecdotes
to the contrary.
At this an officer seated in an OBJ
scure corner Of the room-rose and
advanced to the center of the circle
and gazed upon us with a calm but
proud look. He was a Servian by
birth, as his name indicated. The
exterior Of Lieut.. Voulitch CORE
sponded with his character. He was
tall, a parchment-like complexion,
brown hair, eyes black and penetrat-
ing, large but regular nose-a pecul-
iarity Of his race; a cold, sad smile
eternally playing over his thin lips.
He was man noted for bravery;
talked but little but with vivacity
when he spoke, and never had re-
Vealed any soul secrets nor his family
affairs. He drank but little wine AS
to the Cossack girls, whose charms are
celebrated, he never firted or made
love. 1t was said, however, that his
colonel's wife silently adored him. If
so, however, he was very discreet.
He had only one passion was
gambling at cards. Before a green
cloth heplayed and was always loser,
but his bad luck did not seem to dis
concert him-he was a believer IN fate.
Gentlemen" he said, in calm voice.
gentlemen, I fear my luck has been
disturbed. Can a man voluntarily
dispose OF his life or his luck? No, the
fatal moment OF ill-luck in play is the
same as ill-luck in life You don't be-
lieveit? Show me the man bold enough
to try the experiment. "Tllwager that
no man here has the courage to bet
against fate.
mot l! Not T. Not I'' echoed from
all sides. "Tll risk the wager" I
said. Il do not believe in predesti-
nation"
GLOW much money! demanded
Voulitch quietly tsMaj. s. shall
hold the stakes and be the Judge"
'"Twenty ducats," answered, throw
ing the gold on the table.
"Here are Is ducats, said Voulitch,
"but Twill owe you the other five
pieces, if satisfactory"
"This is all well,'' responded Maj.
s., placing the 35 ducats IN his
pocket. "But allow me to under
stand in what this test consists, in or
der that I may decide sthe matter
clearly"
Voulitch entered an adjoining cot
: tage and beckoned his fellow-officers
to follow him. He looked at the walls,
apon which hung numerous side-arms.
He pulled from a peg a pair of large
pistols in holsters. AS yet the compa-
ny did not comprehend his meaning.
Then he cooked the pistols and placed
them to his head. We seized his arms,
crying: "What do you intend to do?
This is foolishness"
Gentlemen" he exclaimed, "who
wins The bet? Who owes me 20 du-
cats?''
We all withdrew outside to the
bivouac fire. He made sign for us
to be seated around him and we obey
ed in silence. At that moment he
seemed to exert more influence over
us. I regarded him fxedly and his
glance was firmly fixed on me. His
pale lips smiled slightly, and notwith-
standing his GOODNESS saw death on
his pale visage. [ have often observed,
and many old army officers will con-
firm this remark, that death may be
read on the face of a man who will die
in a few hours. There is strange sort
OF irresistible expression in such in
stances that cannot be COMPOUNDED
with the ordinary aspect.
"You will die tomorrow" l said,
gazing at him sternly.
He looked at me calmly and replied
with one of his cold smiles: Perhaps
yes! perhaps nor Then l,l2,7 turning to
wrenched from my hand were loaded?"
"Well-loaded Voultich," answered
one of the young officers. "But your
pretended attempt to blow your.
brains out was a mere pleasantly
y "Foolish pleasantly" said another.
~ will bet SO roubles against that
the pistols were not loaded' exclaim-
ed third.
A new bet was made. These inter.
ruptions annoyed me.
1sListen!" saidI sHe should eth
er blow out his brains or his predesti-
nation theory; or,if the pistols are I'M
loaded, he must hang them against
the wall +"
THAT'S the ideal" laughed a chorus
!, of voices
They handed him the pistols.
Gentlemen, don't budget" observed
Voulitch, quietly applying the mouth