Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-18
THE COUNTS PICTURE.


We were stationed at the little village
ofZ. 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-6ve, 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 a
long time he refused on the ground that
he seldom played. At last he ordered
cards to be brought in.
Among us on this occasion was an Of
fcer who had but lately joined. While
point too much. Silvio took the chalk
and corrected the score in his own fash
ion.
The officer, supposing him to have
made mistake, began to explain. Sill
vic 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 a 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 house"
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
the courtyard popping bullet after bullet
into an ace which he had gummed to the
gate.
Silvio did not fight. He accepted
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, letter
having been handed to him, I 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 hurriedly
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,
tu6b oA0 hOb AC4uAA Q odUAolbStAOA AiOAA4
that drunken maniac. Six years ago
received slap in the face, and my
enemy still lives"
"Did you not fight himr' I inquired.
"I did fight him." replied Silvio, land
here is a memento Of our duel"
He rose and took from q cardboard
box a 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 the
commanders of the regiment, who were
constantly being changed, looked upon
me as an incurable evil.
II was calmly, or rather boisterously,
enjoying my reputation, when a certain
young man joined our regiment He
was rich and came Of a distinguished
family will not name him.
II took dislike to him. His success
in the regiment and in the society of
women brought me to despair. tried
to pick quarrel with him.
"At u ball at the house Of Polish
landed proprietor, seeing him receive
marked attention from all the ladies and
especially from the lady of the house,
who had formerly been on very friendly
terms with me, whispered some low
insult in his ear.
"He few into a passion and gave me
slap on the cheek. We clutched our
swords; the ladies tainted; we were sepa-
rated, and the same night we drove out
to fight.
ut was nearly daybreak. Twas stand
ing at the appointed spot with my three
seconds. How impatiently awaited my
opponent! The spring sun had risen and
it was growing hot.
"At last Isaw him in the distance. He
was on foot, accompanied only by one
second. We advanced to meet him. He
approached, holding in his hand his regi-
mental cap filed full of black cherries.
.'The seconds measured twelve PAGES.
II was for me to fire first. But my ex-
element was so great that could not
depend upon the certainty of my hand;
and in order to give myself time to get
calm, I ceded the first shot to my adver-
sary. He would not accept it, and we
decided 10 cast lots.
&