Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15
VENTING HIS SPITE.

lI4N Il l1NO ~ k)t lie
THE chateau Of Vert Coteau and that Of
Bots Fleuri were distant from each other
only few hundred yards Not day passed
that Count Pierre de Courval, owner Of
Vert Coteau, as he passed along the road
on his horse, did not look over the hedge into
the grounds of his neghbor; nor that
Baroness de korbon, owner OF Bots Fleuri,
as she galloped by on her beautiful horse,
Strapontin, could not have looked into her
neighbours grounds had she turned her head
to do so.
Sometimes while riding they met and
passed each other, when, instead of friend
ly greeting which such close neighbors
might reasonably be supposed to give, each
head was turned aside and the expression of
each face became one of disdan. Some
times, however, the baroness did not turn
away, but looked straight at her neighbor
with a sardonic smile on her lips and
CLEAN of amused malice in her eyes, which
the count felt rather than saw, and which
made him furious He would stop and watch
the horse ard rider out of sight and mutter
imprecations under his breath.
To-day the baroness had looked at him in
stead of turning her head away, and he had
looked, too, and met the loveliest eyes in the
world full of malicious laughter and con
tempt, and, as usual, he was angry.
He pulled up and turned in the saddle.
What magnificent anilual!' he said
aloud. and to think that such creature
as that woman should own him! How
hate her! Pretentious, conceted! viii
find way to get even with her yet-l'll
make her as ridiculous as She has made me"
And he rode on, trying to think of some
scheme by which he could be revenged.
Il have it" he cried, at last, and rubbed
his hands with delight.
That night he went 10 see his lawyer, he
only one in the little village.
M Clavin, the count began, IL am think
ing of fencing in that bit Of road VII, runs
along my meadow by the river"
But, NJ. le Count, objected the laWycr,
Il am not so sure that the road belong ex-
clusively to you"
Il have papers which prove hat it does"
replied the count. Il shall build high fence
at the north end Of it, as do not mean to
have it used in future"
Are you aware that the baroness and
yourself are the only people who use the
road, and that her daily ride leads her al
ways through this very spot? Do you know
that she viii have to make long detour if
you close this way"
Il know it perfectly" replied the count,
calmly, and that is why am doing it,"
She will probably go TO law to contest
your right"
That is my thought exactly"
on desire a lawsuit, them
"When am sure of winning it, YES"
IF it would not be impertinent on my
part, should greatly like to ask what the
baroness can have done to have gained an
enemy in you, monsieur"
The count liked nothing better than
recital of his grievances, and so he began
"You know have lived here only few
years. Before came to Vert Coteau lived
in Paris, and few men enjoyed life there
more than did, until met a certain young
girl. | fell deeply in love with her, and
| finally proposed to her She told me to
speak to her parents, at the same time show
ing me that | was at least not disagreeabe
to her Well, the parents fatty refused my
| offer, saying that their daughter was already
engaged to Baron de Korbon."
The count paused, and the lawyer said:
"a love affair is at the root of the matter,
| them"
"No, there is more than that left Paris
| broken hearted and bought an estate here
and lived quietly for awhile. Then, one
morning in the village paper, | saw the an
nouncement that the young Baroness de
! Korbon widow, had purchased the estate
next TO mine You may imagine how re-
| joced felt | still loved her and thought
that now the way was open to me and that
might win her. When size came | sent a
note asking her if | might call and received
curt reply in the third person, stating that
| the baroness was in mourning and saw no
one"
"You should not have been offended at
that" put in the listener
II was not in the least offended. She
would not forever be in mourning, | thought
and | would yet have my chance. i would
| perhaps meet her on the road some day and
we could quite naturally fall into a CONVEX
sation Well, at last | did meet her and
bowed to her with perfect Offences. What
do you think she did," The count paused
for emphasis. "She cut me completely!
Looked a. though she had never seen me
before"
81 am surprised that the baroness could
do such a thiig." said Clavip ''she has al
ways seemed to ne the very essence of kins-
ness and good VII
And so, one afternoon, the fence was
built, and the next morning the count took
himself to the spot to enjoy the discom-
future of the baroness He knew the time of
| her ride and seated himself on a pile of
stones and leisurely rolled and lit ciga-
rette.
At last there was sound OF hoofs and
| then the beautiful baroness galloped around
bend in the road which was very lear the
fence. When she saw it she pulled up
sharply and surveyed it.
MY enemy's bulwarks," she said aloud,
and then she saw the count and blushed furi-
ously.
There was moments hesitation, and the
woman looked at the height Of the fence.
Her face expressed unconquerable deter
mination She turned and rode back short
distance, then turned again and rode straight
at the fence.
The count realized that she was going to
attempt to leap it, and sckening horror
turned his face white. He sprang forward
and caught the horses bride
You must be mad" he cried, ito try to
take such leap! You would kill yourself"
Iwould much rather die than turn back, "
replied the baroness, her eyes flashing with
anger and excitement.
The count still held the bride, and they
remained thus, looking into each other
avay Cuddan1v ha sid.