The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-02

Jehan lie Loup, Selling upon an empty
barrel that stood in q corner, trundled
it forward, and standing it on one end
invited Villon to a k his seat upon this
whimsical throne. The poet sprang
lightly upon the perch thus provided
for him, n sat there with his legs
crossed, holding his long sword against
his knees with both hands. The men
and women gathered about him, like
bees about a rose bush. Huguette
placed herself on a stool at his feet.
~Jehanneton flung herself full length on
the ground and stared up into his face.
Robin Turgis straddled a bench at
some distance and grinned. Louis
seized the opportunity to whisper be-
hind his hand to Tristan that he found
the fellow, diverting, to which Tristan
replied gruffy that he for his part
found him a dull ape. Louis might
have argued the point but his interest
was claimed by the voice Of Villon,
who, being comfortably installed on his
wine cask, was beginning his promised
narrative. A philosopher would have
d1scerned something pathetic in the
picture of the ragged rascal thus CIR
died about with blackguards Of a baser
sort, his lean body quivering, his eager
face alive with emotions, mockery on
4 his lips and sorrow in his eyes: to the
sardonic king it afforded nothing more
and nothing less than amusement.
You must know dear devils and
ever-beautiful Blowens, that three
days ago, when I vas lying in the ken
mel, which is my humor, and staring at
the sky which is my recreation
speak, honest citizen, but in parable or
allegory, aydear device with the school
men| say between me and heaven the
face of a lady, the loVeliest face I ever
saw"
, Here the poor Abbess, indignation
ov~ercrowGing her borrowed mannish-
ness, began to sni31e and to assert that
the speaker was b faithless pig, but
Villon, u~nheeding her whimpers, went
on with his tale.
"she was going N,to church-God
shield her-but she looked my way as
she passed, and thoughSshe saw me no
more than she saw theScobble-stone ]
stood on, I saw her once n forever,
We song-chandlers babbleadeal of love,
but for the most part we know little Or
nothing about it, and when,it comes it
knocks us silly. 1 was knocked so silly
silly thing 1 did?"
Villon turned his alert face fts>each
member of his audience, and his Me
risive mouth belied the sadness Of his
eyes. M& /
"Emptied a can for oblivion" Mon
tigny suggested. Blanche was no less
practical.
kissed d wench for the same pur-
pose" she cried. THE times that I've
been Wooed out of my name!" -.
Picked the woman's pocket Casin
Cholet limited, wagging his shock head
wisely, While Jehan lie Loup, with a
hideous leer, ~sniggered: Got near her
in the crowd and pinched her." and
suited the action to the word with fin
ger and thumb on Blanche's plump
shoulder.
Master Francois dissipated all this
rouguish philosophy with a contemptu-
ouS gesture.
La. la, La he chirruped. "Sillier
than all these. 1 followed her into the
church" ~
The silence of establishment fell up
on h audience. Only Colin de Cay
eulx had sufficient presence Of mind to
formulate his amazement in a pro-
longed whistle. Louis crossed himself
repeatedly under his gown. you are
not a church goer, sir?" he questioned
sourly. Villon answered him sweetly.
mo. old Queernabs, unless there's an
alms-box to open or a matter of gold
plate to pilfer.' Guy Tabarie hurriedly
interrupted him with a warning cry OF
"Cave!" and a significant glance at the
strangers, but Villon derided his fears
Nonsense" he cried, leaning for
ward and playfully slapping Louis on
the back with hts sword. This good
Cuffin has a friendly face and can AXE
a joke. Can't you, old rabbit"
Louis WINGED and then grinned as
Tristan gasped in anger. Il thank
heaven 1 have a sense Of humor," he
said, with a sly glance at his compan-
ion. Villon went on with his story.
We'll, l sprawled there in the dark
with my knees On the cold ground, and
all. the while the sound of her beauty
was sweet in my ears, and the taste OF
her beauty was salt on my lips, and the
pain of her beauty was gnawing at my
heart, and 1 prayed that might see hel
again. -
At this point Huguette, who had
been following the narrative with a fe-
line ferocity, caught up a wine-jug and
made to throw it at the poets head, but
was dexterously disarmed by Guy Ia
barrie before the vessel had time to quit
her fingers. Sulkily she pumped her
self down on her stool again, while Vii
Ion. quite unconscious of the averted
peril, rambled on dreamily.
"And the incense tickled my nostrils
and The painted saints sneered at me
and bits of rhymes n bits of prayers
ljigged in my brain and I felt as if
were drunk with some new and delec-
table liquor. And then she slipped out
and I after her: She took the holy wa.
ter from my fingers"
Vilon's voice mi reverentIy an6
Huguette took advantage of the pause
II wish it had burned you to the
bone she Interrupted s%pitefully. Mas:
ter ViIlon shook his head.
ut burned deeper than that, believe
me. Outside, on Gods steps, stood {
MELLOW haired, pink faced puppet who
greeted her and they ambled away to-
4 gether, I on their heels. Presently the,
came to a gateway and in slips m,
quarry, and as she did SO she turned
to her squire and I saw her face again
and lost4;t, for the tears came into m.
eyes" With a heavy sigh he turned t,
Louis. Il suppose you wonder why
talk like this, but when my hearts il
my mouth l must spit it out or !
chokessme.
eIS ave learned to wonder al moth
ing. Louis answered sagely. EiIlol
pickad up the dropped thread of hi