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

of our officers; and, though his dinners,
cooked by retired soldier. never consisted
of more than two or three dishes, champagne
flowed at them like water. His income or
| how he got it no one knew; and no one
ventured to ask. He had a few books on
military subjects and few novels, which
he willingly lent and never asked to have
returned. But, on the other hand, he never
returned the books he himself borrowed.
His principal recreation was pistol shoot
ing. The walls of his room were riddled
with bullets-a perfect honeycomb. A rich
collection of pistols was the only thing
luxurious in his modestly furnished villa
His skill as shot was quite prodigious. If
he had undertaken to shoot pear off some
ones cap, not man in our regiment would
have hesitated to act as target. Our con-
versatiou often turned on dueling. SilVio-
so 1 will call him-never Joined in it.
When asked if he had ever fought, he an
swered curtly, eyes" But he gave no par
ticulars, and it was evident that he disliked
such questions. We concluded that tine
memory of some unhappy victim of his
terrible skill preyed heavily upon his con-
science. None of US could ever have sus-
pected him OF cowardice. There are men
whose look alone is enough to repel such
suspicion.
An unexpected incident fairly astonished
us. One afternoon about ten officers were
dining with Sllvio. They drank as usual;
that is to say a great deal. After dinner
we asked our host to make a pool. For a
long time he refused on the ground that he
seldom played. At last be ordered cards to
be brought in. With half hundred gold
pieces on the table. we sat round him, and
the game began. 1t was Silvio's habit not
to speak when playing. He never disputed
or explained. Ii an adversary made mis-
take, Silvio, without a word, chalked it
down against him. Knowing his way, we
ALWAYS let him have it.
But among us on this occasion was an
officer who had but lately Joined. While
playipg he absent-mindedly scored point
too much. Silvio took the chalk and cor
rected the score in his own fashion. The
officer, supposing him to have made a mis-
take. began to explain. Silvio went on
dealing in silence. The officer, losing
patience, took the brush and rubbed out |
what he thought was wrong. Silyio took |
tine chalk and recorrected it. The officer, |
heated with wine and play, and irritated by \
the laug hter of the company thought him
self aggrieved, and. in fit of passion, seized
a brass candlestick and threw it at Silvio,
who only lust 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"
We could have no doubt as to the conse-
luences, and we already looked upon our
lew comrade as dead man. He withdrew,
aging that he was ready to give satisfaction
or his offense in any way desired.
The game went on for few minutes. But
ceiling that our host was upset we gradually
eft off playing and dispersed, each to his
wn quarters. At the riding school, next
lay, we were already asking one another
whether the young lieutenant was still alive,
vhen be appeared among US. We asked
lin the same question, and were told that
lie had not yet heard from Silvio. We were
stonished. We went to Silvio's and found
i'm in the court-hard popping bullet after
ullet into an ace which he had gummed to
he gate. He received us as usual, but made
10 allusion to what had happened ON the
revious evening.
Three days passed, and the lieutenant was
till alivs. "Can it be possible" we asked
ne another in astonishment, "that Silvio
7ill not fght?"
Silv1o did not fight. He accepted fimsy
pology. and became reconciled to the man
rho had insulted him. This lowered him
lcony " snC oPiuion VI tHS youuS mcu, VINO, |
lscing bravery above all the other human
irtues, and regarding it as an excuse for
very imaginable vice, were ready to over
,ok anything sooner than lack Of courage.
Iowever, little by little all was forgotten,
nd Silvio regained his former influence. /
lone could not renew my friendship with
i'm. Being naturally romantic had sur
assed the rest in my attachment to the man
hose life was an enigma, and who seemed
, me hero of some mysterious story. He
ked me; and with me alone did he drop his
lrcastic tone and converse simply and most ,
sreeably on many subjects. But after this