Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-14
Just tbsn, gt,,e seryant entered, say


ling that the horses were harnessed.
Sylvio shook my hand and took his
seat in the carriage, where his only
baggage, besides his dressing case,
was the box Of pistols.
; Several years passed aIid the death
Of my father compelled me to leave
the army and assume my position
as the head Of the family. Our es-
tate was in the district Of N and
III was living there alone when heard
that the Count and Countess Of B,
who owned the property adjacent to
mine, were coming there to live.
The advent Of a neighbor Is a great
event in the country, and I fastened
to call upon their excellencies and
lay my services at their feet.
The count was a handsome. proud
looking man and his wife was charm
ling, and we were soon talking with
all the pleasure Of old friends Dur
ing the conversation I examined the
books on the table, but presently my
attention was caught by a picture,
pierced by two bullet holes, one i'm
medietely below the other.
| What a good shot!" I could not
help remarking.
| YES" said the count. a strange
expression passing over his face. do
you shoot?"
"A little," I replied, "but I do not
pretend to have the skill Of an old
friend OF mine, who used to kill the
flies on the wall by shooting at them.
In never knew any one with an aim
like Sylvio's."
"sylvio!" cried the count. do you
know him?'
Surely" I answered; II knew him
we'll when my regiment was station
ed in K"
How strange! Did he ever speak
to you of a duel he left unfinished?"
"Are you the MANI" I exclaimed,
remembering sylvio's story the night
of his departure. j..
"I am," said the count, "and that
picture which you have been looking
at lust now Is a souvenir of our last
Interview. 1t happened a month az
ter I was married. We were staying
here, my wife and I. during our hon.
eymoon, and one night, as sat talk
ing with my bride, the servant came
to tell me that some one who wished
to speak with me was In the library.
entered the room and saw man
with a long beard, covered with dust,
sitting at my table
"'Sylvio! I cried. And I will con-
fess that I felt my hair bristle with
terror on my head.
"It is my turn to shoot he re-
marked. evenly. Are you ready"
81 nodded my head in assent and,
measuring twelve steps, I took my
place in a corner Of the room, beg
ging him to be quick and shoot be-
fore my wife entered the room. He
paid no attention to my request, but
said
| "I cannot see. Have more light
brought
| "I rang for the servant and COM
manded more candles; then I closed
the door and once more asked him
to be quick.
| He aimed; I counted the seconds,
thinking Of my wife. whom I loved
devotedly. One horrible moment
passed.
"Sylvio's hand dropped.
| "It is unfortunate that the pistol
is loaded with a bullet instead Of
cherry seed he said. 1T is heavy and
It makes my arm tired
Another moment passed, which
seemed a century to me. He spoke
again.
| This is too much like murder. 1
am not in the habit of firing at an
unarmed man. Let us begin again
and toss up for the first shot
my head whirled. At first /
thought would refuse, but presently
( found myself loading a pistol The
silver coin flashed through the air
and once more fate decided for me.
You are twice fortunate, count
said Sylvio, with a smile which shall
never forget.
"I fired, but my ball, instead OF
touching my enemy. lodged in the
picture above his head.
"Once more Sylvio raised his arm,
and 1 saw from the expression on his
face that 1 would have no mercy.
Just then the door opened. My wife
appeared and ran to me with cry
of terror. Her presence restored my
self possession. I pretended to laugh.
"'Go away, dear I cried. Don't
you see that we are amusing our
selves? We are settling an old wa
ger; run away for a minute or two
and then 1 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 a habit Of the counts to
Joke, dS you hHOW. OlCc do O Johcb
he struck me; another time, still jok-
ling, he made this bullet hole in my
helmet; lastly, and still as a joke, he
hit this picture instead Of me. 1t is
my turn to joke now!
LAS he spoke he raised his pistol
for the third time and aimed 1t at
my breast Marie understood; she
threw herself at his feet.
"'Ah,' cried, are you not asham-
ed?'
"Still he hesitated.
"'Come, shoot, man. / exclaimed
angrily. Will you or will you not?
mo answered Sylvio, I am con-
tent I have seen your fear, your an
guish and your terror. Twice I have
made you shoot at me and twice you
have missed me. You will never for
get it. My revenge Is sufficient
He strode to the door. On the
threshold he paused, turned to the
picture and. throwing up his arm,
fired and went out. In order that l
should not doubt his skill, he had