The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-02-13

the eager girls who bounced. upon them.
lhen they left him with many curtsies
and salutations and drifted away de-
llghtedly into h mazes of the rose
garden.
Villon turned to look at the men pris-
oners, who were a~nXiously scanning his
actions.
As for these gentlemen he said to
Noel, let them go where they will, but
1lrst give them food and drink and a
pocketful Of money"
The effect of his words was almost as
paralyzing O the rogues as it was
upon Messire Noel. 1t pleased the n
as much as it displeased the other.
Noel looked the contempt he did not
venture to express. The men rushed
forward, choking with gratitude.
God save you, sir"
Your excellency is of a, most excel
lent excellence"
Long live the grand constable!"
"A most rare constable
Villon waved them away.
60 your ways he said, land if you
can, mend Them
Shouting and dancing for joy the men
TOOK advantage Of his permission and
disappeared in their turn among the al
leys of the rose garden, seeking and
finding the wandering women and van
ishing with them in due course into the
labryinths of Paris.
Villon turned to Noel.
You may dismiss your soldiers he
said. ATTEND me within CALL" and as
Noel obeyed him, he advanced to where
Huguette was standing, with a smile
of scornful Indifference still on her fair
face. E
Villon asked himself as he went:
'WhV in Gp1'c noroa 1naS tho would
appear so different today? Is it the
thing they call the better self, or mere
ly this purple m fine inen?"
What he said when he came to the
girl was,
Fair mistress, you have a comedy
face and 0 make it very plain that
you have a comedy figure. Why do you
go thus?"
The girl shrugged her green shoulders
and shifted the balance of her body
from n green leg to the other, as she
answered impudently,
For ease and freedom, to please my
self, and to show my fine shape to
please Others" 81
Last night this girl had been his own
familiar friend; today she lay leagues
away from his fairy greatness. There
was pity in his next speech.
Are you a happy woman, mistress?"
Happy enough" she answered as she
snapped her fingers d%efiantly, when
fools like O don clap me into prison
for living my life in my own way"
Il may be a fool, but I did not clap
you into prison. Heaven forbid"
A curious look came into the girls
eyes, and she drew a little nearer to
him. Her voice was a caress; the tenor
of her hands was a caress; every supple
curve Of her alluring body caressed.
She seemed to coax him, cat-like, as
she whispered:
seigneur. Had 1 ever the honor to
serve you?"
Fillon drew away from her. He felt
suddenly ~body-sick and soul-sick; sorry
for the woman; sorry for himself.
"Who knows?" he answered. The
girl laughed and turned aside.
WHO cares? What are you going to
do with me?"
Set you free, my delicate bird of
prey. Those wild wings were I've
meant for clipping and caging. Is
there anything I can do to please your
On the instant her enticement shifted;
all her being was a tremendous en-
treaty.
What has come to Master Francois
Villon?"
why do you ask?"
He was with us when we were
shared last night. But he did not
share u prison and he rs not with us
now. Does he live?" w.,
Villon hesitated for a moment before
speaking.
He lives. He is banished from Paris
but he lives"
Huguette clasped her hands in graft.
tude.
. ssfT1,n cu-nnt S,ipf. la fIo an hall - chr
said; n there was that in her voice
which made the simple words sounC
very sincere to Villon' ears.
What do you care for the fate of this
fellow?".
A L am a fool, I believe I love him.
Heavens mercy! Why"
II cannot tell you, Messire. A look il
his eyes, a trick of his voice-the some.
thing-the nothing that makes a wo.
mans heart run like wax in the fire
He never made woman happy yet, anc
I'll swear no woman ever made him
happy. If you gave him the moon, he
would want the stars for a garnish. He
believes nothing; he laughs at every
thing; he is a false monkey-and yet, J
wish 1 had borne such a child"
There was a sudden pain at Villon's
heart, is il the girls fingers nae seizec
it and squeezed it, but he replied
lightly:
Let US speak no more of this rascal
He believes more and laughs less thar
he did. He is so glad to be alive tha1
his forehead scrapes the sky and the
stars fall at his feet in gold dust. Paris
is well rid of such a jackanapes"
"You are a merry gentleman"
Il would be more gentle han merry
with you. Will you wear this ring fol
my sake? Fancy that it comes from
Master Francois Villon, who will al.
ways think kindly of your wild eyes"
Let me see your face" h requested
but Villon denied her. He signed tt
Noel lie JOYS, where lie stood apart
and the young soldier came hurriedly tt
him.
Captain he said, "give this lady
4 honorable conduct
He moved away and left the pair to.
Il getaer-the mannish woman and the
womanish man, looking at each other
the man in admiration and the woman
in yelled disdain.
You are a comely girl" Noel at
E1rmed roundly.
Huguette laughed.
This is news from no-man's land"
Noel spoke lower.
."Where do you lodge2"
Etiquette was a of business II
IAN instant. She flashed in Noers face
the ring the grand constable had gtver
her as she answered:
aAt the sign of the Golden Scull, har
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