Year: 1876

ter, lncilulng ratncr 10 the siuuy oi sCleEce
and the entertainment Of his books rather
than the riotous scompanlonship and rodoman~
tade of his fellow officers. For this reason
he did not stand in very exalted favor with
them, in fact they even gave current TO
rumor to the effect that Captain M-- was
lacking in the courage So cssentla! TO an Off
Ger and soldier.


About this time the regiment received g
new commander, Count l., a young gentle
man celebrated throughout the whole army
for bis war and peace adventures and his
merry pranks. who was indebted for his
high position to his royal descent and his re-
lationship to the English crown. As soon
as he discovered the opinion generally enter
tanned of Captain NJ, he determined to
convince himself of its justic at the first good
opportunity. ;.
At the regimental &c love feast a dinner,
so called-given shortly after. he had 1t SO
arranged that the captain of doubtful courage
should be seated next to him at the table, and
the remarkable timidity and singular reserve
manifested by the officer really Influenced
the free and easy commander to believe the
rumored opinion rect; and began to i'm
provise some plan by which the matter could
be put to the test on the spot and settled for
certainty.


During dessert he directed the conversation
upon pistol shooting, in which be claimed to
be expert, and at last sent a waiter after his
pistol cases to prove the truth Of his boasting
words.
The wepons were soon at hand, and TAX
ing IA wine-cracker about the size of silver
half dollar from the table, he coolly chal-
of the room and hold this up as target for
him.


A universal stare of astOnishment, mingled
with malicious satisfaction greeted this ex-
traordinary request. The officers all looked
at the innocent captain, who very maturity
made some decided protest, as his superior
officer had INDUCED to a very perceptble ex-
tent in the sparkling glass in the course Of
the meal.


IL hope you are not afraid, captain, or is
the smell of powder disagreeable, perhaps? F"
was the sarcastic remark of his commander.


"Well, Idon't know, but Iguess not, was
the phlegmatic reply of the captain, as, with
peculiar smile, he slowly rose, cracker in
hand and walked to the other end of the room.
With his Jack resting against the wall, he
took the target between thumb and forefnger
and held it up.


Count L. drained his champagne glass, sd-
justed his lorgnette hastily; aimed; fired.


The ball passed Though the center Of the
target.


Not a feature moved, not nerve quivered
Calmly the captain surveyed the hole in the
target made by the bullet.


The laughter was silenced: the cOntemptu-
Gus faces Of the officers now expressed moth
ing but admiration, and possibly regret, for
having misjudged their companion. But the
generous commander advanced with the il
tention of saying something complimentary
o. Captain NJ, who had placed the mu-
tilated cracker on the table and taken up one
of the pistols, and was examining it On ali
sides with evident interest. Said he with
the most artess face imag Unable:


G. You are amighty clever shot, count, and
treated me nicely; didn't take off SO much as
the tip end Of my little finger; wonder if
could make as clean a shot, now Will you
do me TIE honor OF holding the target for
me? am real curious to see if can find the
opening your little bullet made


1t was interesting to observe the change in
the faces Of the company at this guileless re-
quest. CONSERVATION was visible everywhere,
but most plainly to be seen on the face of
Count L., who exclaimed;


"Why, captain, didn't you say but mo-
ment ago you never handled a pistol before
in your life?'


"You are right, count, ~ replied the captain
with chid-like smile, but that is the very
reason want to try my luck now.


There Was no help for it, the usually re-
served man was persislant, end to escape the
point Of the joke turning against him so un-
expeciedly, the commander was forced to
submit.


What the emotions were deep down in his
heart could not be discerned by the calm ex-
terror, as he walked over to the spot occupied
by the captain a short time ago. Pale, but
dignfied, be held up the target.


Somewhat awkward in handling the wea-
pom, it required some time for the captain to
take aim His hand trembled with the yaci-
la,ing uncertainty of action. In deathlike
silence the anxious company watched the
clumsy maneuvres, until every hair seemed
bristling with eXpectant horror, when sud-
denly the arm holding the pistol was lowered
and the captain exclaimed with impatient
simplicity:


''What wriggling thing it is! When l
think I've got it, then haven't got it at all.
l guess had better let it alone; no telling
where the ball might strike"


"A long breath of relief passed around the
board as the captain laid the weapon down,
and quietly resumed his place at the table,
saying good-naturedly to the commander:


I'm just IS much obliged to you, count
Four weeks after the timid captain received
majors commission, and has no better
friend than Count L.


i'm the window of q shop In an abscure
D0rt of London IL the following Announce.