Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-03

fact that it was shot through by two bullets
one planted just on the top of the other.
ga good shot," 1 remarked, turning Il
the Count.
"Yes," he replied, "a very remarkable
shot,"
DO you shoot well?" he added.
"Tolerably,' 1 answered, rejoicing tina
the conversation had turned at last on
subject which interested me. "At distanc,
| of 80 PAGES do not miss card; mean, o.
course, with q pistol that ] am accustomed
to-"
"Really?" said the Countess, with look
Of great interest. "And You, my dear, could
| you hit a card at so paces?"
"Some day." replied the Count, Eve will
| try. In nv own time did not shoot badly.
But it is four years now since held pistol
in my hand"
"Oh," L replied, sin that case 1 bet,
Count, that you will not hit card even at
20 PAGES. The pistol demands daily prac-
tice. l know that from experience. In our
regiment 1 was reckoned one of the best
shots. Once happened not TO take pis-
| tol in hand ior whole month. had sent my
| own to the guhsmith's. Well, what do you
think, Count: The first time 1 began again
to shoot four times running missed a bottle
at 20 PAGES The Captain of our company,
who was a wit, happened to be present. and
he said to me, Your hand, my friend, re-
| fuses to raise itself against the bottle No,
Count, you must not neglect tto practice, or
you will soon lose all skill. The best shot
ever knew used 10 shoot every day. and at
least three times every day before dinner.
This was as much his habit as the prelimi-
nary glass of vodka
The Count and Countess seemed pleased
that had begun 10 talk
And what sort of a shot was he?" asked
the Count
This sort, Count: If he saw a fy settle
on the wall. Yod SMILE Countess, but 1
assure you it is a fact. When he saw the
fly he would call out, 'Kouska, my pistolP
Kouska brought HIM the loaded pistol. A
crack, and the fly was crushed into the
WALL
That is astonishingr said the Count.
And what was his nane?"
'Silvio was his name"
''Siivior' exclaimed the Count. starting
from his seat. "You knew Silvio?''
How could l fail to know him?-we
were comrades; he was received at our mess
like brother officer. 1t is now about five
years since last had tidings of him. Then
you, Count, also knew hin?''
II knew MIN very we'll. Did he never
tell you of one very extraordinary incident
in his liIe?''
do you mean the slap in the face, Count,
that he received from a blackguard at a
ball?"
"He did not tell you the name of this
blackguard?"
mo, Count, he did not Forgive me-"
added, guessing the truth, forgive mel
did not-could it really have been you?"
ut was myself" replied the Count,
greatly agitated; land the shots in the pic
ture are memento of our last meeting"
''Oh, my dear, said the Countess, "for
Gods sake, do not relate It'll 1t frightens
me to think of it,
No." replied the Count; 81 must tell
him all. He knows how 1 insulted his
friend. He shall also know how Silvio re-
venged himself The Count pushed
chair toward me- and with the liveliest in
terest listened to the following story:
Five years ago" began the Count, 81
got married. The honeymoon spent here,
in this village. To this house l am indebted
for the happiest moments of my life, and
for one of its saddest remembrances.
Zone afternoon we went out, riding to-
cether. Ny wife's horse became restive
She was frightened, got of the horse, handed
the reins over to me and walked home. /
rode on before her. In the yard 1 saw a
nv study sat n man who would not give his
name, but simply said that he wanted to see
me on business. / entered the study, and
saw in the darkness man, dusty and un-
shayen. He stood there, by the fireplace. L
approached him trying to recollect his face.
You don't remember NE, Count?' he
said, In a tremulous voice.
"'Silyio 7 L cried. and 1 confess, 1 felt
that my hair was standing on end.
EXACTLY SO, he added. You owe me
a shot; 1 have come to claim it. Are
you ready? A pistol protruded from his
side pocket.
81 measured II PAGES, and stood there in
that corner, begging him to fire quickly, be-
fore my wife came in.
He hesitated and asked for a light. Cam
dies 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.
II counted the seconds. 80. 1 thought o
her. A terrible moment passed Then
Silvio lowered his hand.
"I only regret, he said, that the pistol
is not loaded with cherry stones. NV bullet
is heavy, and it always seems to me that an
affair of this kind is not duel bnt mur-
der. l 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; think I OBJ
jected. Finally, however, we loaded an
other pistol and rolled up two pieces of paper
These he placed inside his cap; the one
through which. at our first meeting, I
had put the bullet. 1 again drew the lucky
number
"'Count, you have the devils luck. he
eoid Uith a SDila which T shall pavar
get.
Il don't know Whist was about, or how
it happened that he succeeded in inducing |
ME. But L fred ana 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.
II fireG," continued the Count, land, |
thank heaven, missed. Then Silvio-at this |
moment he was really terrible-then Siivio |
raised his pistol to take aim at me.
Suddenly the door flew open, Masha |
rushed into the room. Sne threw herself |
upon my neck with loud shrek. 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 a glass of water |
and then come back; L will introd uce 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; is it true that you are only ioking?' |
He is always joking, Countess, Silvio |
replied. he once in joke gave me slap
in the face; in joke ne put bullet through |
this cap while l was wearing it; aud in |
joke, too, he missed me when be fired lust |
now. And now L have a fancy for joke