The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-05

tied a lively picture. Silvio used to receive
his mail through our regiment, and was usu-
ally there Once he received package
which he opened with an air of greatest i'm
patience. Hastily running over the con-
tents of tho letter with his eyes, they
seemed to be kiudled with an unusual gilt
tering brightness. Our officers, busy with
their mail, had no time to notice 1t. "Gcn-
tlemen," said Silvio, turning to US, "circum-
stances require my immediate leaving or
demand that should leave immediately
leave tonight; l hope YOU will not refuse
to dine with me for tho last time. l also
expect YOU" he continued, turning to me;
''oxpect you, without fail"
With these words he hastily went out
and consenting TO meet again at Silvio's
each of us went his way. j came to Silvio's
at the appointed time and found there al
| most tho whole regiment All his portablcs
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 foaming,
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 tho 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.
81 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. Slvio was care re-strickcn; all
| the traces of his previous nervous jolliness
were gone. A gloomy paleness, glittering
eyes and thick clouds of smoke issuing from
his mouth, gave him the appearance of a
| real devil. Several minutes passed and Sill
vic broke the silence.
'It may happen that we shall no more see
zach other" he said; 'before my departure
| 1 would like to offer you some explanations.
You might have noticed that hardly care
| snap for the opinions of others, but l love
| you and feel quite anxious to dispel any un-
| just impressions which my former conduct
| might cause to take root in your mind" He
stopped and began to fill his pipe. l sat ST.
lent with downcast eyes. 1T 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 choose the weapons, his life was
in my hands, and mine utterly beyond danger.
L could attribute to mere magnanimity my
moderation. But l would not lie. If l
could punish P without subjecting my
own life to danger would in no way have
pardoned him." looked astonished at Sill
vic. Such a confession confused me 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
carl, and my enemy is still alive My curl
osity was strongly awakened "You did
not fight him thenW inquired; ''circum
stances must have separated you" ~
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 (that which the French call bonnet de
police); he put it on; it was shot through an
inch from the forehead.
.'You know" continued Silvio, "that
served in X = \ Hussar regiment. You
know also my character. was 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. was the |
first fighter there. Debauchery was |
matter of pride. We used to boast of it. |
| exceled in drinking the illustrious drunk |
ard Beurzoif, extolled in song by Dennis |
Davidoff. Duels were of frequent occur |
renee / was in each of them, either wit I!
ness or an active participator. My com
rades admired me, and the regiment
stituted by others, considered me necessary
evil. Quietly, or rather unquietly, enjoyed
my fame.
cat one time young man of renowned
family relations G would not name him)
enlisted in our regiment. / never yet met
such fortunate, splendid young man |
Imagine youth, intelligence, beauty, jolli- |
ness of the maddest description, the most |
careless courage a 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 OH 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. ] began to
hate him. His success in the regiment and
in the society of ladies brought me into
utter despair. began to look for u chance
of quarrelling with him. To my cpigrams
he answered with epigrams which seemed |
to me more surprising and sharper than my |
own, aud which were, of course, by far |
livelier aud brighter. He jested, but / was |
not quite in fun. Once we happened to be |
together ut ball of Polish landowner. |
Seeing him the object of attention of all |
ladies, aud especially of the landlady who
had some connections with me, l whispered |
INTO MS car some nat, ltnpOllue 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
IL began to dawn. / stood on the appointed
place awaiting with three seconds and mex
pressible impatence the arrival of my |
opponent. The spring sun arose and it began |
to grow hot l discerned him from afar. |
He came by foot, with his uniform on, his
sabcr, accompanied by one second. He ap-
preached, holding his cap filled with cher
ries. The seconds measured off twelve
PAGES for us. / was to shoot first; but the
excitement of malice was so strong in me
that could not rely on the certitude of my
hand. l conceded to him the first shot; my
opponent did not consent.
"We decided to draw lots. His was the
first number the eternal fayorite of luck
He aimed and shot through my cap 1t was
now my turn To shoot; his life was at least
in my hands. / scrutinized him eagerly,
trying to detect even shadow of anxiety.
He stood under the pistol picking out cher
ries from his cap and splitting out the stones,
which reached as far as my place. His in
difference enraged me. What is the use,'
thought /, 'of depriving him of his life
when he cares 30 little forit.' A malignant
thought here occurred to me. dropped the
pistol. you seem to be least disposed to
die at present., said /; you are breakfast
ing. have no desire to disturb your break
fast You don't in tho least disturb me-
replied he, you may go on shooting, how
ever as YOU please. Your shot remains for