The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-12-12
THE COUNTS PICTURE.

We were stationed at the little village
of q. We used to meet at each others
rooms, where we never saw anything
but one another's uniforms.
There was only one man among us who
did not belong to the regiment. He was
about thirty-fve, and, of course, we
looked upon him as an old fellow. He
had the advantage of experience, and his
habitual gloom, stern features and his
sharp tongue gave him great influence
over his juniors.
He was surrounded by certain mys-
terry.
His principal recreation was pistol
shooting. The walls of his room were rid
died with bullets-a perfect honeycomb.
One afternoon about ten officers were
dining with Silvio. They drank as usual;
that is to say, great deal. After dinner
we asked our host to make pool. For
he seldom played. At last he ordered
cards to be brought in.
Among US on this occasion was an Of
ficer who had but lately joined. While
playing he ;.bsentmindedly scored a
and corrected the score in his own fash
ion.
The officer, supposing him to have
made mistake, began to explain Sill
vio went on dealing in silence. The
officer, losing patience, took the brush
and rubbed out what he thought was
wrong.
Silvio took the chalk and recorrected
it. The officer, heated with wine and
play and irritated by the laughter of the
company, thought himself aggrieved,
and in fit of passion seized a brass can
dlestick and threw it at Silvio, who only
just managed to avoid the missile
Great was our confusion. Silvio got
up, white with rage, and said with
sparkling eyes:
''Sir, have the goodness to Withdraw,
and you may thank God that this has
happened in my own houser'
AT the riding school next day we were
already asking one another whether the
young lieutenant was still alive, when
he appeared among u.s. We asked him
the same question, and were told that he
had not yet heard from Silvio.
We were astonished.
We went to Silvio's and found him in
into an ace which he had gummed to the
gate. a..
Silvio did not fight. He accepted a
himsy apology and became reconciled to
the man who had insulted him.
Silvio's letters used to be addressed to
our regiment, and he usually called for
them himself. On one OCCASION "a letter
having been. handed to him, saw him
break the seal and, with look of great
impatience, read the contents.
''Gentlemen," said Silvio, '.circum-
stances demand my immediate depar-
ture." With these words he Rurriedly
left
went to Silvio's shortly after to bid
him goodby.
Perhaps we shall never meet again, -
he said. Before saying goodby want
to have few words with you.
''You thought it odd,' he continued,
'that 1 did not require satisfaction from
that drunken maniac. Six years ago
received slap in the face. and my
enemy still lives"
''Did you not fight him?" inquired.
''I did fight him." replied Silvio, 'sand
here is memento of our duel"
He rose and took from cardboard
box red cap with gold tassel and gold
braid.
''In my time dissipation was the
fashion," he went on, "and was the
most dissipated man in the army.
my comrades adored me, while tht
commanders of the regiment, who wer,
constantly being changed, looked upol
me as an incurable evil.
ssI was calmly, or rather bpisterously
enjoying my reputation, when a certain
young man joined our regiment. 81
was rich and came of distinguishe,
family will not name him.
81 took dislike to him. His success
in the regiment and in the society G
women brought me to despair. trie
to pick quarrel with him.
ssAt a ball at the house of Polls
landed proprietor, seeing him receiv
marked attention from all the ladies an
especially from the lady of the houss
who had formerly been on very friendl
terms with me, whispered some lo'
insult in his ear.
HE flew into passion and gave me
slap on the cheek. We clutched or
swords; the ladies tainted; we weresep;
rated, and the same night we drove OF
to fight
sit was nearly daybreak. Twas stan,
ing at the appointed spot with my thrs
seconds. How impatiently awaited m
opponent The spring sun had risen an
it was growing hot.
cat last Isaw him in the distance.
was .on foot, accompanied only by OF
SECOND. We advanced to meet him. {