North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-12-01

A>ssSAAAAS -.oVO1u0 VSs 1870
In the year Of 1S3- there lived at Bor
deaax the last-or one of the last-of
long line of scoundrels, who had made tha
part Of France infamous Ito our ideas) b,
q succession Of cold blooded murders
committed under the sanction of wha
people were pleased to call the Code o
Honor. There was o certain Comte d
V, q man Of great physical strength
imperturbable sanafroid, and reientles
cruelty. Not bad sort of companion
as some said, when the fit-the duellin,
ft-was not on him; but this came o,
once in about every six months, an,
then he must have blood, IL mattered lit
tie whose. He had killed and maine,
boys of sixteen, fathers Of families, mil
itary officers, Journalists, advocates, peace
full country gentlemen. The cause Of {
quarrel was Of no importance if one die
not present itself readily, he made one
always contriving that, according to thu
code aforesaid. he should be the insulted
party, thus having the choice of weapons
and he was deadly with the small sword
1t is difficult for US to realize state Of
society in which such wild beast could
be permitted to 90 at large; but we know
it to be historically true that such crea.
lures were endured in France; just as we
are assured that there were, at one time
wolves in Yorkshire, only the less noisome
vermin had harder time of it, as ciyili-
zation progressed, than was dealt out to
the human brute.
The latest exploit of the Comte de
v, previous to the story am about
to tell, was to goad poor student into a
and when it was represented
to him that the boy had never held o
sword in his life, so that it would be fair
er to use pistols, he replied that "fools
sometimes made mistakes with pistols, -
and the next morning ran him through
the lungs. The fit was on him; but the
blood thus shed quieted him for another
half year, and rather more, for public
opinion was unfavorable, and the air OF
Bordeaux became too warm for him.
But the scandal blew over after time,
and he came back to his old haunts, one
of which was cafe by the river side,
where many used to spend their Sunday.
Into the little garden of this establish
nent our wolf staggered one foe summer
afternoon, with the heavy dark look and
nervous twitching of the hands, which
those who were acquainted with him vel
knew meant mischief. The evil fit was or
him consequently he found himself tn,
centre of circle which expanded as b,
went on. This did not disp,eass him
He liked to be feared. He knew he could
make quarrel when he chose, so ht
looked around for victim.
At a table, almost in the middle of thu
garden, sat q man of about thirty years o.
age, middle height, and an expression o
which at first struck one as
mild and good humored. He was en-
gagged reading journal which seemed to
interest him, and eating strawberries, an
occupation which does not call forth any
latent strength of character. Above all,
he was profoundly unconscious Of the
presence of M. le Comte de v, and
continued eating his Strawberries and
reading his paper as though no wolf was
in that pleasant fold.
As the Count approached this table, it
became sufficiently well known whom he
was to honor with his insolence and the
circle narrowed again to see the play. It
is not bad sport, with some of us. to see a
fellow creature baited,-especially when
we are out Of danger ourselves.
The strawberry-eater's costume was
not such as was ordinarily worn in France
at that time, and he had q curious hat,
which-the weather being warm-he had
placed on the table by his side. "He is a
whispered some in the Dress
circle. ''Perhaps be does not know Mou-
sieur le Comte.'
Monsieur le Comte seated himself at the
table opposite the unconscious stranger,
and called loudly "Garcon."
'Garcon," he said, when that function
ary appeared, stake away that nasty
thing!" pointing to the hat aforesaid.
Now the strangers elbows, as he read
his journal, was on the brim of the "nas-
ty thing" which was very good hat, but
of British form and make. The garcon
was embarrassed.
"Do you hear me-" thundered the
Count. "Take me that thing awayl No
one has right to place his hat on the
table,"
~ beg your pardon" said the straw.
erry-eater, politely, placing the offend
ing article on his head, and drawing his
chair little aside; ~ will make room for
Monsieur"
The garcon was about to retire. well
when the bully called after
him.
"Have I not commanded you to take
that thing which anaoys me away?"
"But, Monsieur le Comte, the gentle
man has covered himself"
"What does that matter to me?"
"But, Monsieur le Comte, it is impossi-
ble."
"What is impossible p
"That I should take the gentleman's
,at."
"By no means,' observed the stranger,
,ncovering again. ''Be SO good as to
,arry my hat to the lady at the counter,
u ~