The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-05

at seeing him. SllVl0 was TOO smart ana
experienced for this to escape his notice and
not to guess the reasons thereof. 1t seemed
| to vex him; at least noticed in him twice
the desire to come to an understanding with
me; but avoided such occasions and Silvio
receded Afterward l saw him only in COM
pany of my comrades and our former candid
conversations were at an end. The scattered
residents of the capital have no idea of
many impressions so much known to the
| inhabitants of villages or small towns. AS
for instance, the awaiting Of the post-day.
| On Tuesdays and Fridays our regiment
headquarters we're filled with officers, some
| awaiting money packages, some letters,
some newspapers. The packages were
usually opened on the spot, the news inter-
communicated and the headquarters eXhib-
tied a lively picture. Silvio used to receive
| his mail through our regiment, and was usu-
| ally there. Once he received q package
which he opened with an air Of greatest i'm
patience. Hastily running over the con-
tents of the letter with his eyes, they
seemed to be kindled with an unusual gilt
tering brightness. Our officers, busy with
their mail, had no time to notice it Seen
tlemen," said Silvio, turning to US, "circum-
stances require my immediate leaving or
| demand that should leave immediately
leave tonight; 1 hope you will not refuse
to dine with me for the last time. / also
expect you" he continued, farming to me;
expect you, without fail"
With these words he hastily went out
and consentiug to meet again at Silvio's
each of US went his way. / came to Silvio's
at the appointed time and found there al
most the whole regiment. All his portables
| were already packed; there were left mere
naked walls bored with pistol shots. We
went to the table. The host was in very
good humor, and his disposition was soon
shared by the others. A score of bottles,
uncorked, the goblets filled with foamiug,
| bubbling wine with cordial greetings and
| solemn toasts we uttered our farewell
wishes and all goodness to boot it, to the de-
parting host. Weleft the table quite late in
| the evening. While my comrades were
looking for their caps preparing to leave,
Silvio took me by the hand and stopped me.
II want to speak to you," he quietly said.
staid there. Silvio took leave of the others.
| Soon all of them were gone; we were left
alone, took seats one opposite the other, and
| lit our pipes. Silvio was care-stricken; all
the traces of his previous nervous holiness
were gone. A gloomy paleness, glittering
| eyes and thick clouds of smoke issuing from
| his mouth, gave him the appearance Of
real devil. Several minutes passed and Sill
| VIC broke the silence.
SIT may happen that we shall no more see
each other" he said; "before my departure
would like to offer you some explanations
You might have noticed that hardly care a
snap for tho opinions Of others, but love
you and feel quite anxious to dispel any I'M
| just impressions which my former conduct
might cause to take root in your mind" He
| stopped aud began to fill his pipe. sat 81
lent with downcast eyes. SIT seemed to
| you strange" continued he "that l did not
| demand satisfaction from the drunk mad
man P. You will concede that, having
| the right to chooseth weapons, his life was
| in my hands, and mine utterly beyond danger.
could attribute to mere magnanimity my
moderation. But 1 would not lie. If
could punish P without subjecting my
own life to danger would in no way have
| pardoned him" looked astonished at Sill
vic. Such confession confused mo alto
gether ''But so it is" resumed Silvio, II
have no right to subject my life to any dan
ger threatening with death. Six years ago
received blow in the face (box on the
carr, and my enemy is still alive" My curl
osity was strongly awakened. "You did
not fight him then?" inquired; s'circum-
stances must have separated yous" ~
| fought with him." answered Silvio, ''and
here is the memento of this duel" Silvio
rose took out from paper box military
cap with golden wreath and embroidered
band chat which the French call bonnet de
| police) he put it on; it was shot through an
inch from the forehead.
"You know" continued Silvio shat
served in X n Hussar regiment You
know also my character. Twas in the habit
of being always among the first, but in
youth it was my passion. In my time fight
| ing was in vogue in the army. l was the
| first fighter there. Debauchery was a
matter of pride. We used to boast of It,
l excelled In drinking the illustrious drunk
ard Beurzoff, extolled in song by Dennis
Davidoff. Duels were of frequent occur
renee. l was in each Of them, either wit
ness or an active participation. My COM
rades admired me, and the regiment
commanders, quite often removed and sub
stituted by others, considered me necessary
evil. Quietly, or rather unquietly, enjoyed
my fame.
"At one time young man of renowned
family relations q would not name HIM
enlisted in our regiment. l never yet met
such fortunate, splendid young man !!
Imagine youth, intelligence, beauty, jolli-
ness OF Jne ulauucSG QeSCrlptlOn, the InOSI
careless courage laundering name, money
of which he knew no account, and which
never failed to be in his possession, and you
will easily surmise the influence which such
fellow was to exercise on US. My being
among the first began to waver. Enticed
by my fame he began to solicit my friend
ship; but accepted him coldly, and he left
off without the least vexation. l began to
hate him. His success in the regiment and
| in the society of ladies brought me into
utter despair. began to look for chance
of quarrelling with him. To my epigrams
he answered with epigrams which seemed
! to me more surprising and sharper than my
own, and which were, of course, by far
livelier and brighter. He jested, but / was
not quite in fun. Once we happened to be
together at ball of Polish landowner.
Seeing him the object of attention of all
| ladies', and especially of the landlady who
had some connections with me, whispered
into his ear some fat, impolite remark. His
temper was aroused and he boxed me in the
ear. We threw ourselves to the sabers;
the ladies tainted; we were separated, and
on the same night we went to fight it out.
1t began to dawn. stood on the appointed
place awaiting with three seconds and mex
pressible Impotence the arrival of my
| opponent. The spring sun arose and it began
to grow hot. l discerned him from afar.