The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-03

/
My lord, was led astray; my lord, / was
| not alone"
Villon had had enough entertainment from
lie made sign. ana instantly soldier
! swooped upon the groveling figure, witch
| ed him to his feet ana drew him nptrt,
| cence.
yillon looked at the list in mis- hand, and
this time he called for two names, colin De
Cayeulx and Casin Cholet, ana as he
| spoke, the two knaves were pushed for
ward toward him. villon drew the pair
little way apart and stood between them,
| cycling their rogulsh faces on which false
| affability struggled with very real fear.
Are you good citizens, sirsT' he asked,
and Cholln immediately answered him:
| 81 am loath to sing my own praises, but
| can speak frankly for my friend here The
King has no better subject, aud Paris no
more peaceabe burgess than Casin Cholet.
AS he spoke he waved Casin Cholet
warm salutation, and Cholet responded to
his praises with a friendly grin and yet
| more friendly words:
III have any poor merits, | owe them
| all 10 this good gentleman's example.
| have followed his lead, hating and humble.
Keep your eye on Colin De Caycux, l
have ever said e. myself and learn how
The-two men leered at each other across
| Nillon, hoping that their praises OF eacn
other might have due effect upon the great
| lord who seemed SO condegcendng them.
| Nillon smiled.
''You are the Castor and Pollux Of purity?
/ Do you remember the night Of last Shrove
/ Tuesday and the girl you carried on TO Fat
! Marquis and held to ransomf'
! The effect of his words upon the two
men was startling The ugly episode loom,
! ed up In their memories and they shlvered
| to find It known In Il second the siInu-
| lated friendship of bandit for bandit van
isned and the two men glareG at each other
| with the ferocity of lighting dogs as they
| hurled accusation and denial ut each other:
THAT was Collins adventure
That was Casin's enterprise!'
IL. =
Il had TO hand in it."
Forgetting their respect for authority In
| the fury OF thcr antagonism, they struck
! angrily at each other across their question.
| or and were for graphing In close combat
| when Villon made a signal and they, In
| their turn, were dragged bnck raging Into
] the ranks Of their fellow prisoners.
There was only one left now-Jehan lie
Loup-who stood with folded arms and
lowering brows, surveying the efforts OF MS
I comrades Nillon made n sign, ana the mul
was dragged into his presence. Nilon clap
ped him on the shoulder,
you seem a brisk, assured fellow for
| man In durcss.'
The friendly demeanor Of the great man
cheered the prisoner and he answered
bunly;
'My good conscience sustnins me"
| Nion's dcmeanor was stu! amicaole as
! he put his next question in q voice that
caqc only to Jehans ears.
II am glad to hear IT, How did Ihevenin
| Penscte come to his deathY
The muscles Of Jehan lie Loup's face
twitched for moment, but he clinched
his fingers tightly to restrain himself himself ana
answered with a surly inpassaDlllty'
How shoulu know my lordF
Vilon drew him nearer and spoke lower
WHO better7 That nasty quarrel over
the cards tho high words and snatch for
tAe winnings a tilted table, an eXtnsulshed
taper n stab IN the dark and Il groan.
Exit Theyenn Pensete' Your dagger docs
not grow rusty
JehGn's gray face grew grayer and uglicr,
but he kept his countenance
'Monsclgueur" h. answered, Il loved
mn IA C Gin loved loved Abel" vnlon said. He
made sign, and Jehan lie Loup was taken
$50 Sc far VIion had been sufficiently dl.
vcrted He had played upon the terrors OF
his friends he had htwldered them to the
top Of his desire. He now forcsaw the, pos
fell upon the group of girls who cluster d
together like frightened birds at the foot
q thu statue OF Pan, He made sign to
Nlcsslrc Noel, andtthe gilded exquisite drew
near.
firing me hlther chose four gentle
women" he commanded.
The fops face heightened with amazed
/ "Gcntew omen, messire? Those four
doNios?"
Nulon reproved him.
"Taey are women, good captain, and you
and l are gentlemen, or should be, and
must use them gently
Messlre Noel frownrd and his hand made
gesture I'm the direction OF his sword hlt;
thsn he remembered the folly Of quarre
Ing with so sr. at a man ana con,ented him
} self with smuggling his shoulders as he
question
And the demIrcp In the doublet and
hose2"
Let her stay FOR the present." villon
. answered, and in obedience Co. n sign from
Noel the four girls came rmldly forward
with downcast ewes, while Hqgnettc re.
manned apart leaning "omposediy against
the image Of Pan AMI surveying the scene
with gool-humored ind n renee.
When the girls were close to him. Villon
= "Wen, Young Indies. what Is this trade of
yours That has Thought YOU into trouble?''
Jehanneton dropped a curtsey.
~ make the caps That line helmet
Isabeau followed quickly;
i am lace weaver Enne, an honest
Blanche came next.
II am q slipper maker"
Denise ended the catalogue.
And / Il glover"
Mischief danced In viuon's eyes.
, NO worse and no better. word In
your ear He whispered something into
,, each girls ear in turn, and as he did so,
fused, laughed and blushed.
, IL Is ever TO be deplored that the worthy
, Dom Gregory, whose ecclesiastical history
i OF Potion is the source Of SO much curious
l Information concerning Nillon, should have
omitted, from mistaken sense OF deli
/ cacy 20 chronicle precisely what Il was
| the poet whispered In the ears of each of
tina girls
I All history is certain Of is that the girls
gathered together chatting like sparrows,
each speaking rapidly:
: The gentleman Is n wizard. Why, he
4 told me"
/, .&nne' a miracle; he reminded me-
/ What do you think he saidf"
e Each girl was whispering to the other
4 what Nillon had told her, when Villon in
. | tcrrupted them
Z Young women, young women, the world
{ ! Is deNil Of place for those who are
4 | poor could preach you powerful ser
t mon on your follies and trailties, but, some
T. now the words stick In my gullet. Here
/ Is gold coin apiece for you. Go and
1 gather yourself roses my roses to take
Q your homes"
! :Jlehanneton gave little gasp OF surprise.
+ Are we frec3"
Nlllon answered her sadly
I FreeY Poor children! Such as You are
Q never free. Go and pray heaven 10 make
s men better for the sake of your daugh.
@ ters daughters"
d Ills extended hands were full OF gold
n pieces, nut they WprR soon ernntia1 nv . "a