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

together. Ny wife's horse became rest
i've. She was frightened, got off the
horse. handed the reins over to me and
walked home.
s'I rode on before her. In the yard 1
saw travelling carriage, and was told
that in my study sat a man who would
not give his name, but simply said that
he wanted to see me on business.
''I entered the study and saw in the
darkness a man, dusty and unshaven.
He stood there by the fireplace. I ap-
preached him, trying to recollect his
face
"'You don't remember me, count?' he
said in tremulous voice.
"'Silvior cried, and 1 confess felt
that my hair was standing on end.
's'Exactly so,' he added. You owe
me shot; I have come to claim it. Are
you ready? A pistol protruded from his
side pocket.
ST measured twelve PAGES, and stood
there in that corner, begging him to fire
quickly, before my wife came in.
"He hesitated and asked for light
Candles were brought in. 1 locked the
doors, gave orders that no one should
enter, and again called upon him to fire.
He took out his pistol and aimed. /.
81 counted the seconds. . thought of
her. A terrible moment passed! Then
Silvio lowered his hand.
"1 only regret he said, that the
pistol is not loaded with cherry stones.
My bullet is heavy; and it always seems
to me that an affair of this kind is not a
duel, but q murder.
'' Il am not accustomed to aim at un-
armed men. Let us begin again from
the beginning. Let us cast lots as to
who shall fire first
"My head went round. 1 think OBJ
jected. Finally, however, we loaded
another pistol and rolled up two pieces
of paper. These he placed inside his cap;
the one through which, at our first meet
ing, l had put the bullet. again drew
the lucky number.
Count, you have the devils luck
he said, with smile which I shall never
forget.
81 don't know what l was about, OF
how it happened that he succeeded in
inducing me. But fired and hit that
picture"
The count pointed with his finger to
the picture with the shot marks. His
face had become red with agitation
The countess was whittier than her own
handkerchief, and l could not restrain
an exclamation.
81 fred" continued the count, .sand,
thank heaven, missed. Then Silvio-at
this moment he was really terrible
then Silvio raised his pistol to take aim
at me.
Suddenly the door few open; Masha
rushed into the room. She threw her
i, IL, ;o1~
Her presence restored to me all my
courage
My dear. L said to her, don't you
see that we are only joking? How
frightened you look. Go and drink
glass of water and then come back; I
will introduce you to an old friend and
comrade.'
''Masha was still in doubt. Tell me,
is my husband speaking the TRUTH she
asked, turning to the terrible Silvio; SIS
it true that you are only jokingY
'''He is always joking, countess Sill
vic replied. He once in joke gave me
a slap in the face; in joke he put bullet
through this cap while was wearing it,
and in joke, too, he missed me when he
fired just now. And now have fancy
for joke With these words he raised
|
her eyes.
''Masha threw herself at his feet.
:. Rise, Masha! For shamel' I cried
in my passion; and you, sir, cease to
amuse yourself at the expense of an un-
happy woman. Will you fire OF not?'
81 will not, replied Silvio. 4 am
satisfied. | have witnessed your agita-
ton, your terror. forced you to fire
at me. That is enough; you will re-
member nae. / leave you to your con-
science.
''He was now about to go. But he
stopped at the door, looked round at the
picture which my shot had passed
through, fired at it almost without TAX
ing aim and disappeared.
my wife had sunk down fainting.
The servants had not ventured to stop
Silvio, whom they looked upon with
terror. He passed out to the steps,
called his coachman, and before could
collect myself drove off,"
The count was silent. l had now
heard the end of the story of which the
beginning had long before surprised me.
The hero of it 1 never saw again.
heard, however, that Silvio, during the
rising of Alexander Ipsilanti, command
ed detachment of insurgents and was
killed in action.-Translated from the
Russian of Alexander Pushkin, Boston
Globe.
How to Eat Bananas at the Table.
Bananas ought never to be peeled en-
tirely and the skinned fruit taken in the
fingers. This is not nice at all. 1t il
Il