Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-18

side pocket.
81 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. I 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.
"I 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
duel, but murder.
"I 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 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, had put the bullet. again drew
the lucky number.
Count, you have the DEVILS luck
he said, with smile which shall never
forget.
81 don't know what was about, or
how it happened that he succeeded in
inducing me. But l fired and hit that
picture"
The count pointed with his finger to
~ 4. II
face had become red with agitation.
The countess was whittier than her own
handkerchief, and I could not restrain
an exclamation.
II fred" continued the count, ''and,
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 flew open; Masha
rushed into the room. She threw her.
self upon my neck with loud shrek.
Her presence restored to me all my
courage.
4" My DEAR 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;
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; lis
it true that you are only joking?
"'He is always joking, countess Sill
vic replied. He once in joke gave me
slap in the face; in joke he put bullet
through this cap while l 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
his pistol as if to shoot me down before
her eyes.
'Masha threw herself at his feet.
"'Rise, Mashal For shameP I cried
in my passion; and you, sir, cease to
amuse yourself at the expense of an un-
happy woman. Will you fire or not?
az will not replied Silvio. I am
satisfied. 1 have witnessed your agita-
ton, your terror. 1 forced you to fire
at me. That is enough; you will re-
member me. I 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 never saw again. 1
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.