Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-02

il perfect master OF the art OF fencing,
IL was soon rumored that he was fatal
duelist and that this scar had been re-
ceived IN Q duel in which he bad killed
his adversary. Though altogether un-
untrue, yet the story served him IN good
stead. for at least it has prevented inper-
Thence on the score Of his jct'0turd.
During the few months we spent to-
gether in Italy it was surprising how
many seemed to drop the superstition.
ut least a. applied to him. People would
visit him more. and when he would ask
them il they were no longer afraid OF
the evil eye. they would answer: ooh,
we believe in 1t, but we don't think you
have il. D." The worst feature OF the case
was al times the poor fellow really be-
lieved that be possessed the dreadful
power Of bringing trouble to his dearest
friends, and again coincidence, which at
times seems SO wonderful, helped
to convince him OF the fact. Two
or three years before we met
him be had been engaged to q
beautiful Russian girl, who was
spending tho winter in Naples. Her
parents were delighted with the match,
aud, while everything looked most pro-
missing for them both, she suddenly fell
III and died with the Neapolitan fever,
which ut certain seasons OF the year IL
so fatal. he helped nurse her through
her last days OF illness, aud at her death
was accused by her parents Of having
killed her by his "power OF eyes.
The Russians are as superstitious about
it az the Italians That, added to his
natural grief, nearly killed him, and
when we met him he had Just com
menced to rally from this great trouble.
Little as We believed in such power,
il was strange to notice how many things
occurred 10 corroborate the truth Of the
stories We heard. Once in sitting on
tho bench and just about starting 10
walk ND the steep hill to the tableland
or plain on which Sorrento proper is
built D. suggested that we should putmy
little girl on donkey which some one
lad used and which the guide was about
to lead uphill. Every one thought 1t a
q good idea. The child was placed
securely IN the saddle, and just as the
donkey started it, hind feet sunk above
the knee Joints into tho seemingly solid
earth. The other Italians looked at me
and at each other as much as to
say: DO YOU see that? What
dld / tell you - OF course it could
be easily accounted for, As the water WAS
very near, and might have undermined
the ground just there. Still. it Was
curious. The next day on coming TO the
same spot to Join some friends who AL
wSys took morning dip with us in the
blue waters II tie Mediterranean We
found the party assembled and sitting
with them a friend We had not met for
some time. D., delighted TO see him,
said "My dear fellow, how glad / am
10 see you, AID with the words, placed
his hand on his friends head. As
though the magician IN the play had
said "Iresto change the chair
cumbled under him, and down went
tire poor fellow to the ground. OF
course, 1t could be easily explained.
The chair WIS rickety and ready to
fall TO pieces at the least additional
weight.
] could never have understood the
strength Of this superstition had 1 not
witne sed it and known personally one
Of the dreaded jetfaiHra. Certainly, at
his baptism feast the malicious fairy
must have been forgotten, aud so en-
dowed BIN with this fatal gift, which
an otherwise happy and
brilliant career.