Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-27
Served Out

committed under the SANCTION or Wnat
the people were pleased to call the Code
of Honor. There was certain Comte
de " man of great physical
strength, imperturbahle' sang froid, and
relentless cruelty. Not a bad sort of a
companion, as some said, when the duel
ing fit was not on him, but this came on
once In every six months, and then he
must have blood, it mattered little
whose. He had killed and manned boys
of sixteen, fathers of families, military
officers, journalists, advocates, peaceful
country gentlemen. The cause of the
quarrel was of no importance if one
did not present itself readily, he
made one; always contriving that, ac-
cording to the 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 a society in which such a
wild man could be permitted to go at
large but we know it to be historically
true that such creatures were endured IN
France; just as we are assured that
there were at one time wolves in York
shire only the less noisome vermin had
a harder time of it, as civilization pro-
crossed, than was dealt out to the hu-
man brute.
The last exploit of the Comte de
V, previous to the story | am about
TO tell, was to goad poor young stud
ent into challenge; and when it was
represented to him that the boy had
never held sword in his life, SO that it
would be fairer to use pistols, he replied
that ''fools sometimes made mistakes
with pistols" and, the next morning,
ran him through the lungs. The evil fit
was on him; but the blood thus shed
ouieted him for another half year, and
rather more, for public opinion was I'M
favorable, and the air of BoadeauX be-
came too warm for him.
But the scandal blew over after a
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 establishment our wolf staggered one
fine summer afternoon, with the heavy,
dark and nervous twitching of the hands
which those who were acquainted with
him knew we'll meant mischief. The
evil fit was on him, consequently he
found himself the center of circle
which expanded as he went on. This
did not displease him. He liked to be
feared He knew he could make q
quarrel when he chose, SO he looked
round for victim.
At table almost in the middle of the
garden sat man of thirty years of age,
of middle height, and an expression OF
countenance which at first struck one as
mild and good natured. He was engag-
ed reading journal which seemed tc
interest him, and eating strawberries, an
occupation which does not call forth
any latent strength of character. Above
all he was profoundly unconscious Oh
the presence of M. lie Comte de V,
and continued eating his Strawberries
and reading his paper as if no wolf were
in that pleasant fold.
AS the Count approached this table il
became sufficiently well known whom
he was about to honor with his insol-
ence; and the circle narrowed again to
see this play. 1t was not bad sport with
some of us to see a fellow-creature bait
ed-especially when we were out OF
danger ourselves.
The strawberry-eater's costume was
not such as was ordinarily worn in
France at that time, and he had curl
Gus hat, which-the weather being
warm-he had placed on the table by
his side.
"He is a foreigner" whispered some
in the dress circle ''Perhaps he does
not know Monsieur lie Comte."
Monsieur lie Comte seated himself at
the table opposite the unconscious
stranger, and called loudly, "Garcon !"
''Garcon," he said. when that func-
tionary appeared, stake me away from
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-" Numbered the
Count. "Take that thing away No
one has right to place his hat on the
table"
81 beg your pardon, said the straw
berry-eater, politely, placing the offend
Ing article on his head, and drawing his
chair little aside; 81 will make room
for the monsieur"
The garcon was about to retire well
satisfied, but the bully called after him
''Have | not commanded you to take
that thing which annoys me away ?"
''But, Monsieur lie Comte, the gentle.
man has covered himself"
..What does that matter to me ?"
.'But, Monsieur lie Comte, it is impos-
sible."
"Wbat is impossible ?'
"By no means, observed the stranger,
uncoyering again; 'sbe so kind as to
carry my hat to the lady at the counter,
and ask her, on my behalf, to do me the
favor to accept charge of it for the
present"
HYou speak French passably well fol
a foreigner, said the bully, stretching
his arms over the table and looking his
peighbor full in the face--a litter OF
contempt running around the table.
81 am not foreigner, monsieur"
81 am sorry for that.
$50 am L
''May one, without indiscretion, ask
why -" ....l =. /.
Certainly. Because if / were for
eigner, | should be spared the pain of
seeing compatriot behave himself so
rudely." fst,
Meaning mo?"
Meaning, precisely, you
''Do you know who / am p asked the
COuHl, nail turning MS Dack upon him,
and facing the lookers-on, as much as to
say, Snow observe how ] shall crush
this miserable creature"
Monsieur" said the strawberrg-eater,
with perfect pleasantness in his tone, 81
have not the honor to know YOU. :"
death of my life !, am the Count
de ""
The strawberry eaCer looked up, and
the easy, good-natured face was gone.
In the place was one with two gray eyes
that flashed like fire, and a mouth that
set itself very firmly.
1.-THE Comte de ". he repeated,
in a low voice.
"Yes, monsieur, and what have you
10 say against him ~ ..tt.' ~
81 Oh, nothing"
THAT may be we'll for YOU"
''But there are those who say that he
is coward. y re-
THAT is enough, said the bully, start
ing 10 his feet. monsieur will find me
in two hours at this address fiinglng
him card. r.,
Il shall not trouble myself to seek
4. ~ d