The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

| Ia a souvenir OF our last interview. II
happened month after l was married
| We were staying here, my wife and
! during our honeymoon, and one night, a.
/ ] sat talking with my bride the servan,
: came to tell me that some one who wisheC
! to speak with me was in the library.
entered the room and saw a man with q
long beard. covered with dust, sitting q,
'Sylvion cried. And will confess
that felt my hair bristle with terror on
at is my turn to shoot he remark
evenly. Are you ready?'
Il nodded my head in assent and, meas
urlng twelve steps. l took my place in a
corner of the ROOM begging him TO he
quick and shoot before my wife entered
the room. He paid no attention to my
request. but said:
AZ cannot see. Have more light
brought
Il rang for the servant and commanded
more candles; then I closed the door and
once more asked him to he quick.
He aimed; ! counted the seconds. think
ing of my wife whom loved devotedly
One horrible moment passed.
"Sylvios hand dropped
1T Is unfortunate that the pistol il loaded
with bullet instead Of a cherry seed, he
said 1T is heavy and it makes my arm
tired.
Another mome" passed, which seemed
a century to me. i.s spoke again.
"'This is too much like murder I am
not In the habit OF firing at an unarmed
man; Let us begin again and toss up for
the first shot.
2My head whirled. At first I thought
would refuse, but presently found myself
loading pistol The silver coin flashed
through the air and once more Fate decided
for me. ,
You are twice fortunate. Count said
Sylvio, with smile which I shall never
forget
Il fired. but my ball, instead Of touching
my enemy, lodged in the picture above his
head.
Once more Sylvio raised his arm, and
I saw from the expression on his face that
I would have no more mercy. just then
ran to me with cry Of terror, Her pres
ence restored my self-possession. | pre-
tended to laugh
$50 away, dear. cried. Don't you see
that we arc amusing ourselves? We are
settling an old wager; run away for min
ute or two and then will present an old
friend to You
But she was not to be deceived.
"'In the name OF Heaven, is this true,
sir?' she cried to the somber Sylvio
Yes, replied the latter, we were joking;
it is habit of the Counts to joke, az you
know. Once, as joke, he struck me;
another time. still joking. he made this
bullet hole in my helmet; lastly. and still as
a joke. he hit this picture instead of me-
IT is my turn to joke now
As he spoke, he raised his pistol for the
third time and aimed it at my breast. Marie
understood she threw herself at his feet
"'Ah,' I cried, are you not ashamed?'
"Still he hesitated.
Come, shoot, man. Exclaimed angrily
will you or will you not?'
NO answered Sylvio, y am content:
I have seen your fear. your anguish and
your terror. Twice have made you shoot
at me and twice you have missed me. You
will never forget it, My revenge is suff-
cient.'
"He strobe to the door On the threshold
he paused, turned to the picture and. throw
ing up his arm, fred and went out. In
order that should not doubt his skill he
had lodged his bullet directly beneath my
own"
The Count was silent.
had listened to him with the keenest in
terest, for 1t was the conclusion Of the story
whose beginning had heard so long
before.
Inever saw Sylvio again. Later heard
that during the Greek revolution Sylvio
had commanded a company of the Hellenes
and had been killed in the battle OF Ora
gachan.