The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10
THE COUNTS PICTURE,

We were stationed at the little village
~ We used to meet at each others
:. boms, where we never saw anything
BIT one another's uniforms.
: There was only one man among us who
d not belong to the regiment. lie was
bout thirty-fve, and, of course, we
/ BOXED upon him as an old fellow. He
I'D the advantage of experience, and his
abitual gloom, stern features and his
harp tongue gave him great influence
yer his juniors.
He was surrounded by certain mys-
ery.
His principal recreation was pistol
hooting. The walls of his room were rid
led with bullets-a perfect honeycomb.
One afternoon about ten officers were
dining with Silvio. They drank as usual;
hat is to say, great DEAL After dinner
Fe asked our host to make pool. For a
bng time he refused on the ground that
e seldom played. At last he ordered
ards to be brought in.
Among us on this occasion was an Of
Ger who had but lately joined. While
playing he absentmindedly scored a
boint too much. Silvio took the chalk
knd corrected the score in his own fash
Nm.
The officer, supposlng him to have
made mistake, began to explain. Sill
bio went on dealing in silence. The
officer, losing patience, took the brush
Ind 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
fompany, thought himself aggrieved
Rnd in fit Of passion seized brass can
flesticll and threw it at Silvio, who only
Just managed to avoid the missile.
kGreat was our confusion. Silvio got
lp, white with rage, and said with
Sparkling eyes:
"Sr, have the goodness to withdraw,
and you may thank Gcd that this has
happened in my own house"
N At the riding school next day we were
already asking one another whether the
Young lieutenant was still alive, when
he appeared among us. We asked him
& the same question, and We're told that he
had not yet heard from Silvio.
n We were astOnished.
We went to Silvio's and found him in
the courtyard popping bullet after bullet
Ninto an ace which he had gunmed to the
Igate.
Silvio did not fight. He accepted a
fimsy 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. Ga one occasion, letter
having been handed to him, saw him
break the seal and, with look of great
lImpatience, read the contents.
Gentlemen" said Silvio, "circum-
stances demand my immediate depar-
ture.' With these words he hurriedly
left.
Invent 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 did not require satisfaction from
that drunken maniac. Six years ago
received a slap in the face and my
enemy still lives"
Did you not fight him." I inquired.
Il did fight him. replied Silvio, land
here is memento of our duel"
He rose and took from cardboard
box a red cap with gold tassel and gol'
\ braid.
" "In my time dissipation was tn
fashion" he went on, land | was TIT
most dissipated man in the army.
'My comrades adored me, while tn
commanders of the regiment, who were
constantly being changed, looked npoi
me as an incurable evil.
81 was calmly, or rather boisterously
! :, enjoying my reputation, when cerVall
I young man Joined our regiment. LII
was rich and came of distinguishes
Y family will not name him.
II took dislike to him. His success
II the regiment and In the society
women brought me to despair. l tne
to pick quarrel with him.
"At a ball at the house or PonS
landed proprietor, seeing him receiN
marked attention from all the ladies an
especially from the lady OF the nous
who had formerly been on very frlendl
terms with me, whispered some 10
insult in his ear.
| "He flew into passion and gave me
slap on the cheek. We clutched OF
lords; the ladies tainted; we were sep
.ated, and the same night we drove OF
I to fight.
"Itwas nearly daybreak. Twas stan
ing at the appointed spot with my thr'
seconds. How impatiently lawaited Il
opponent! The spring sun had risen al
1t was growing hot.
cat last saw him in the distance
was on foot, accompanied only by o.
y second. We advanced to meet him.