Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-09-21

w we MtI 4
not molested. We were stopped in
deed three times-once in each Of the
streets we traversed-by different bands
or murderers. But as we wore the
same badges as themselves, and cried
"Vive la Messed" and rave our names,
we were allowed to proceed. I can
give no idea of the confusion and up
roar, and ] scarcely believe myself now
That we saw some OF the things we wit
messed. Once a man gayly dressed. and
splendidly moAnted, dashed past US,
waving his naked sword and crying In
a rrenzied way: BLEED them! Bleed
them! Bleed In May, as good today!"
ana never ceased crying out the same
words until he passed beyond our hear
iue' once We came upon the bodies OF
a rather n TWO sons, which lay piled
togetner In the kennel; partly stripped
already. The youngest boy could not
nave been more than 10. 1 mention
this group, not as SURPRISING others in
pathos, but because II is well known
now that this boy, Jacques Nompar de
Caumont. was not dead, but lives today,
my friend, the Marshal de la Force.
This reminds me too of the single act
OF we were able to perform.
We found ourselves suddenly, on turn
ing q orner amid a rang OF seven or
eight soldiers. who had stopped and
surrounded a handsome boy. apparent
ly about Ia. He wore a scholars gown,
and had some books under his arm. to
which he chung irmly-though only
perhaps by Observation-Disclosures
the furious air OF the men who were
threatening him with death. They
were loudly demanding his name, as
we paused opposite them. He either
could not or would not give 1t, but said
several times in his fright that he was
going to the College OF Burgundy. Was
he a Catholic? they cried. He was
silent. With an oath the man who had
hold OF his collar lifted up his pike, and
naturally the lad raised the books TO
guard his face. a cry broke from
Crosette. He rushed forward to stay
the blow.
See! see!" he exclaimed loudly, his
voice arresting the mans arm In the
very act Of falling. HE has a mass
book! He has a mass book! He is not
q heretic! He is a C~atholic!"
The fellow lowered his weapon, and
sullenly snatched the books. He looked
at them stupidity with bloodshot wan
dering eyes, the red cross on the vellum
bindings the only thing he understood.
But is was enough for him: he bid the
boy begone, and released him with q
cuff and an OATH.
Croisette was not satisfied with this,
though did not understand his reason:
only | saw him exchange q glance with
the lad. Come. comet" he said lightly.
Give him his books! You do not want
them!"
But on that the men turned savagely
upon us. They did not thank us for
the part we . ! already taken; and this
they thought was going too far. They
were half drunk and quarrelsome, and
being two TO one, and two over, began
to flourish their weapons in our faces.
Mischief would certainly have been
done, and vecy quickly, had not an un-
expected ally appeared on our side.
Put up! put up" this gentleman
cried in a boisterous voice-he was al
ready In our midst. What is all his
about? What Is the use Of fighting
amongst ourselves, when there is many
a bonny throat to cut, and heaven to be
gained by 1t! put up, I say"
Who are your" they roared, in cho-
rus
1.-THE duke of Guise!" he answered.
coolly. Let the gentlemen go, and be
hansed to you. you rascals!"
me mans bearing was q stronger
argument than his words, for / am sure
that q stouter or more reckless blade
never staggered in church or street.
l knew him instantly, and even the
chew of the butchers seemed to see In
AAhi iiSll uldsleT. lney hung DacK q
Few curses at him, but having nothing
to gain they yielded. They threw down
the book with contempt-showing
thereby their sense Of true religion;
and trooped off roaring, "Tuez! Tuez!
AUX H~uguenots!" at the top Of their
voices.
The newcomer thus left with us was
Bure-Bldise Bure, the same who only
yesterday, though it seemed months
n months back, n lured us into
Beers power. Since that ome we
had not seen him. Now he had wiped
off part Of the debt we looked at him
whether to reproach him or
no. He, however, was not one whit
abashed, but returned our regards with
a not unkindly leer.
Il bear no malice, young gentlemen"
he said, "impudently.
NO, l should think not" l answered.
And besides, we are quits now" the
knave continued.
You are very kind" 1 said.
ITO be sure. You did me a good turn
once he answered, much to my sur
prise. He seemed to be in earnest now.
You do not remember 1t, young gentle
men, but 1t was you and your brother
here"-he pointed to Croisette-"did lt,
And by the pope and the king of Spain
l have not forgotten IT,"
Il have" j said.
What! Have you forgotten splitting
mat FELLOW at Caylus ten days ago? Ca!
sa! You remember. And very cleanly
done, too! A pretty stroke! Well M.
that was a clever fellow. a very
clever fellow. He thought so, and
hough so, and what was more to the
purpose the most noble Raoul de Be-
Zers thought SO too. You understand? ?"
He leered at me, and / did under
/ understood that unwittingly
| had rid Blaise Bure of a rival. This ac-
counted for the respectful, almost
kindly way in which he had-welI. de-
ceived us.
That is ALL" he said. IF you want
as much done for you let me know. For
present, gentlemen, FAREWELL"
He cooked his hat fiercely, and went
OF at a speed the way we had ourselves
been going, humming as he went:
zee petit homme tant toll,
touJours cause ct toujeurs rit,
%toujours baise sa mignonne
gard de NAL ce petit homme,'
His reckless song came back to us on
the summer breeze. We watched him
make playful pass at a corpse which
one had propped in CHASTITY fash
against a door-and miss it-and go
on whistiing the same air-and then
a corner hid him from view.
we fingered only a moment our
selves; merely to speak to the boy we
had befriended.
Show the book IL anyone chal-
lenges you," said Croisette to him,
shrewdly. Croisette was so much OF a
boy himself, with his fair hair like a
halo about his white, excited face. that
the picture of the two, one advising
the other, seemed to me a strangely
pretty one. "Show the books and
to the cross on them. And
send you safe to your college"
II would like to know your name If
you please" said the boy. His cool
ness and dignity struck me as admira-
Bile under the circumstances. II am