Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-10-30
SERVED OUT.


Il In tho year Is there lived al Bo,
deaux of the last, or one OF the last, {
a long line Of scoundrcls who mad
that part of France infamous Ito ou
ideas) by succession of cold-bloode
murders, committed under the sane
ton of what the people were please
to call the Code of Honor. Their
was o certain Comte de v. a ma
of great physical strength, impertui
bale sang froid, and relentless cruelty
Not bad sort of q companion, a
some said, when the dueling fit wa
not on him but this came on once ii
about six months, aud then he mus
have blood, 1t mattered little whose
He had killed and maimed boys o
sixteen, fathers Of families, militarv
officers, journalists, advocates, peace
fnl country gentlemen. The cause o
the quarrel was of no importance
one did not present himself readily, h
made one, always contriving that, ac
cording to the code aforesaid, h,
should be the insulted party, thu
having the choice of weapons; ani
he was deadly with the small sword
II Is difficult for rs to realize society
in which such q wild man could bs
permitted to 60 at large; but Nv,
know 1t to be historically true tha
just such creature was endured Ii
France, just as we are assured tha'
there was at one time wolves in York.
shire, only the less noisome vermir
had o harder time Of 1t, as civilization
progressed, than was dealt ont to the
human brute.
The last exploit of the Comte dc
", previous to the story am
about to tell, was to goad a poor
young student into q challenge; and
when 1t was represented to him that
the boy had never held q sword in his
life, 30 that 1t would be faircr to use
pistols, he replied that ssfools some.
times made mistakes with pistols ,
and, the next morning, ran him
through the lungs. The fit was on
him; but the blood thus shed uuieted
him for another half year, and rather
more, for public opinion was unfayor.
able, and the air of Bordeaux become
too warm tor him.
But the scandal blew over after q
time, and he came back to his old
haunts. one Of which was q cafe by
tho river side, where many used to
spend their Sundays. Into the little
village garden of this establishment
our wolf staggered one fine summer
afternoon, with the heavy, dark and
nervous twitching of tho hands which
those acquainted with him knew well
meant mischief. The evil fit was on
him, consequently he found himself
the center of a circle which expanded
as ne went on. This did not displease
him. He liked to be feared. He
knew he could make quarrel when
he chose, so he looked around for a
victim.
At table almost in the middle of
the garden sat man about thirty
years of age, of middle height, and an
expression of countcnance which at
first struck one as mild and good.na.
tured. He was engaged reading a
journal which seemed to interest him,
and eating strawberries, an occupa-
tion which does not call forth any
latent strength Of character. Above
oil he was profoundly unconscious Of
the presence of NJ. le Comte dc ",
and continued eating his strawberries
as2 .:aa!ng his paper as &c no wolf
were IN that pleasant fold,
as the Count apprvache0 this table,
It became sufficiently well known who
he was about to honor with his inso-
lence and the circle narrowed again
- sec this play. II was not bad sport
with some Of us to see q fellow
creature baited - especially if VIC
were out of danger ourselves.
The strawberry.eater's costume was
not such as ordinarily worn In France
at that time, and he had a curious hat,
which--the weather being warm
he had placed on the table by his
side.
"He Is foreigner" whispered some
In the circle; perhaps he does not
know Monsieur le Comte."
Monsieur le Comte seated himself
at the table opposite the unconscious
stranger, and called loudly, "Garcon {"
"Garcon," he said, when that func-
tionary appeared, "take away from me
that nasty thing~ pointing to the hat
aforesaid.
Now, the strangers elbow, as he
read his journal, was on the brim of
the "nasty thing" which was very
poor hat, but of British form and
make. The garcon was embarrassed.
"Do you hear me-" thundered tho
Count. take that thing away! No
one has a right to place his hat on the
table,
81 beg your pardon, said the straw
berry-eater, politely. placing the Of
fending article on his head, and draw
ing his chair little aside; al will
make room for monsieur
The garcon was about to retire we'll
satisfied, but the bully called after
him:
"Have l not commanded yon to take
that thing which nnnoys me away?"
"But Monsieur le Comte, the gentle
man has covered himself"
"What does that matter to me ~
"But, Monsieur le Comte, it is i'm
possible"
"What is impossible 2"
"By no means,n observed the stran-
ger, uncovering again "bc SO good as
to carry my hat to the lady at the
counter, and ask her, on my behalf, 10
do mo the favor to accept charge Of IL
for the present"
"You speak French passably well
for q foreigner" said the bully,
stretching his arms over the table and
looking his neighbor full in the face
q litter of contempt running around
tho table.
II am not . foreigner, monsieur.
81 am sorry for that"
$50 am l."
"May one, without indiscretion, ask
why?"
Certainly. Because i'll were a for.
eigner l should be spared the pain ol
seeing q compatriot behave himself 50
rudely."
"Meaning mop
Meaning, precisely, you."
"Do you know who amp asked
the Count. half turning his back upon
him, and facing the lookers.on, Of
much as to say, 1Now see how shall
crush the miserable creature"
Monsieur" said the straw berry.
eater, II have not the honor to know
you"
"Death of my lifsi lam the. Comtt
de w."
The strawberry. .eater looked up and
the easy, good-uatured face was gone
Is~N - ~1A