St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-14
A PISTOL SHOT.
BY ALEXANDRA DUMAS

hliOW uuO CuotOuuly illO VI Ill olnSSl VI
the line; in the morning it is drill, then
dine with the general or else alta Jewish
in, and in the evening bowl of punch
and cards. In this village there was not
even one house that held forth a promise
of this much pastime, and therefore we
all met at one another's house, and there
we saw nothing but our own uniforms.
Only one among us was not OF the mil
itary.s He was a man of about So, and
that is why we considered him veteran.
His experience gave him a certain
amount of authority among us. and
in the same manner his habitual sad
ness, his decided character, and his cauS-
tic tongue had great influence upon our
young characters. Something mys-
FERROUS hung over his existence; he had
the bearing of Russian, and, more
ouer, he had foreign name. Before
that time he had served in the hussars,
and even happily; but nobody knew
why he had left the service to install
himsef lin such miserable burg, where
he led life that was at once sad and
expensive. Whenever he left the
house he went on foot. He wore an
Id black surtout. His table was always
open to the officers of the regiment,
though, it is true, his dinners consisted
only of two or three dishes prepared by
an old soldier, but to offset thathiS
champagne flowed freely.
No one knew OF the means OF the re-
sources of this person, and none dared
ask him about them. His library con-
sisted in large part of military works
and novels, which he loaned freely,
never asking that they be returned, and
on his part he never returned a Dor
rowed book. His principal occupation
was to shoot at target, and the walls
of his rooms were as full of holes as
honeycomb, they were so riddled with
balls. A rich collection of pistols was
the only luxury of the room that he oc-
cupied. and the perfection with which
he could handle them was such that
one day, upon making proposition to
shoot pear off the head of one of the
officers, it was Immediately accepted.
Often in our conversations we would
speak of duels; Sylvio-that is what l
will call him-never took part in that part
of them. If by chance one of us asked
him if he ever fought, he would answer
angrily with dry "Yes;;" but he would
never give the details of his duels, and
one could very easily see that such
questions were very disagreeable to
him.
We became convinced that his con-
science reproached him with the death
of victim of the fatal art he so per
fectly protested. And, besides, he had
never given the least evidence of cow
ardice, for there are men whose very
manner allays such suspicious. But
one day an adventure happened that
surprised us.
Ten of our fellows ate at the house of
SylviO, and, as was customary, drank
enormously. After dinner we asked
the master of the house to play bank
for us: He refused, rarely he played.
But finally, pushed by our remon-
strances, he threw down half hun
dred ducats, and dealt the cards. We
gathered around the table and the play
commenced. AS was usual. he played
silently, never disputing, and never eX-
planning. If he lost through the coun-
ter he paid what he owed; if the run
was in his favor he wrote it down. We
knew his customs and never inter
fered with his whim; but that day
there was among US young officer who
played loose: he doubled stake; Syl-
vic accordingly took the crayOn and
wrote it down. The officer, believing
that he was being cheated, asked
an explanation; Sylvio paid no atten-
ton to him and commenced to deal.
The officer lost patience, and, taking
the brush. erased all that appeared too
much to him. Then Sylvio took the
crayon and rewrote the figures. The
officer, excited by wine, the play, and
the raillery of his comrades, believed
himself grlevously insulted, and in fit
of anger took candelabre and threw 1t
at the head of Sylvio, who calmly
lodged it.
We were all confusion. Sylvio arose
pale with anger and his eyes flashing.
monsieur, leave the house instantly,
tell you," said he, sand thank God
that this thing occurred in my house."
We had no doubt that following such
killed. The officer upon going out said
to Sylvio that having insulted him he
was ready to give such satisfaction as
he might ask.
The next day upon going to drill we
wondered If the lieutenant was still
alive. At that moment he arrived. We
put the same question to him, but he
said that he had not heard of Sylvio since
the occurrence. We went to SylviO's
house and there we found him putting
| ball after ball into a target against the
| porte-cochere. He received us in the
| usual way, saying nothing about the
evening before. Three days passed
the lieutenant was still alive. We asked
if Sylvio was going to challenge him.
They never fought. Sylvio contented
himself with simple apology and made
peace. All was soon forgotten, and
Sylvio retained his influence over us.
l only was unable to blame him fol
the seeming cowardice. Having a rO
mantle Imagination | was attached t6
that man whose life was an enigma, ano
who seemed to me to be the hero Of
some mysterious romance. He liked
me, or if he did not, at least when he
was with me he dropped his usual sar
casms, speaking frankly, simply anC
agreeably. But after that unhappy
evening the thought of the spot on his
honor, stain which he had not tried te
wash away, would not leave me, and
could not appear the same to him thai
had before that time. Icould not look
him in the face. And Sylvio was too
penetrating and too experienced to mo-
notice my GOODNESS and to not divine the
cause. He seemed to be affected by it
and two or three times | observed thai
he showed a desire to make some
sort of an explanation; but l did no
wish it, aud SO he renamed silent
After that time never visited him ex
cept with my comrades, and ourinti
mate conversations ceased.
Sylvio received his letters through
our chancellerie, and once when the
day came he was given a package, the
seal of which he broke with lively i'm
patience. In scanning the letter hi
eyes glistened with new light; but, al
each was occupied with his own affairs
no attention was paid to him.
| "Messieurs," said SYlvio. my affairs
demand that leave Immediately, and
shall go tonight; and l hope you will
not refuse to dine with me for the las
time. will await you. You also mus
come, you absolutely must attend" sai(
he, addressing me. Upon saying thes,
words he left hurriedly'
arrived at Sylvio's at the hour indl
Gated, and there | found all the fellows
The effects and even the furniture wer,
already packed, and there remained
only the walls pierced with balls ant
the table and chairs. 1t was late whel
we rose from the table and began goin!
away, Sylvio taking leave of one ant
all, and as was leaving after the other
he said to me in low voice: Il WiSl