Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-14

lie or q KING. Gentlemen VINO Drag
little may do much. The old love may
outlast the new"
Katherine frowned at his mystery.
You speak like a scented Sphinx, but
/ am too idle for enigmas. FAREWELL
and she vanished into the palace.
Noel looked after her fretfully:
why are the women all s~un1owers
to this scaramouch?" he asked himself
querulously. well, there are other
women, and a wise man gathers the
nearest grapes"
A nagon and cup stood on the table
by the marble seat. Noel poured him
self out some wine and drank it, seek
ing consolation. His duty called him
shortly to the service Of the king, but
he fingered in the garden on the chance
OF a hoped-for meeting.
81 shall be revenged," he said to him
self, IF my astrolCgar plays his part
and tells the weak king hat this Lord
of MCntcorbier is his evil spirit.
His thoughts were busy with the
events Of the past week; If Katherine
had been disdalnful, the girl Huguette
had been kind, and the Golden Soul
had found the dainty soldier a frequent
visitor. 1t was Huguette who, after
listening to Noel's complaints Of the
grand constable, had suggested to him,
in apparent artlessness of heart, that
llt tOuil pay upon the hlll5 - SUI
lions through-a new astrologer and a
promised 10 find him a star ga2cT who
would say anything and everything
that Mcssire Noel wished TO have said.
The scheme had appealed TO Noel, and
this very evening he expected Huguette
to bring the ~astrOlOger TO him, to which
end he had entrusted her with n pass
word which would admit strangers into
the royal garden.
As he unused, a figure in a pilgrims
gown came cautiously out Of the
shadows into the moonlight behind him
and stood for a moment watching him.
The god a could see the face that
smiled under the pilgrims hOod-a
girls face, with bright eyes framed in
golden hair, but when the girl saw
Noel, she slipped a mask over her face.
drew her pilgrims gown closely about
her slim body, and tip-toed lightly
across the grass to touch Noel on the
shoulder.
Noel turned with a start, and faced,
as he believed, n masquerading palmer.
May 1 vend you a benevolence, gem
tleman?' Huguette asked, Disgusting
her voice in an unfamiliar gruffness.
Noel waved aside importunacy.
Pass your ways, pilgrim. l am in no
mood for motley"
He turned away. but the persistent
pilgrim 1OllOWeu MIN.
Are you in q maids mood, or a
mood for a maid?"
Noel stopped impatiently.
Are you pander as well as pilgrim?
| wait for a woman"
The pilgrims ~pertinacity was not to
be banled.
rs she tall or short, young or old,
dark or fair, sweet or souri,"
Noel answered whimsically:
she Is OF the color Of the chameleon,
of the age of the ancient world, of the
height Of any mans heart, and as bit
ter-sweet as a crushed ounce"
The girl pulled off her mask and
threw back her hood.
rs she Of my feet, favor, years and
savor?"
The moment he saw her face Noel
gave a cry OF delight.
you are welcome, witch" he shouted,
for you bring the best love in the
world"
lie sprang to catch the girl in his
arms, but she repulsed him gently.
Hush, / am no love-monger now,
no gallantry girl, but a most polite
p%lotter. The world spins like a potter's
wheel to shape the vessel Of our enter
prise. We have a wizard ready for
your king. VIII Louis Gomez"
Noel nodded ~decisively.
LAS linnet to looking glass. He is
greedy Of star wisdom. Does your
]astrologer know his lesson?"
He is parrot-perfect. When all is
quiet, give an OWLS cry thrice, and a
friend will bring him. He will warn
the king against his grand constable;
will praise Tristan, applaud Olivier,
and commend Messire Noel lie Jolys."
Noel chuckled.
Then shall be king OF the castle,
and you shall have a great gold chain
and pearls as big as a virgins tears"
Noel did not detect the scorn in HUI
guette's voice, as she answered with
amiability:
you know the way to win a wom-
an"
II am no jingling rhyme-broker, l
thank heaven!" Noel cried. Il pay my
way"
lie caught Huguette in his arms as
he spoke and sought to kiss her, but
she avoided him deXtsrously.
II will kiss you when you win," she
Noel would have pushed his suit fur
Their, but at that moment the great
Of the palace chimed the half
hour and struck upon his memory as
well as upon his ear. He knew that
king expected him and he aban-
doned his love making reluctantly.
You are indeed a politician" he
Il must wait on the king"
lie opened the oor of the tower
and stood for a moment looking re-
gretfully at the girl, who smiled at him
temptingly, then he passed in and drew
the dOor behind him.
The moment he had disappeared, the
bearing changed. Her face and
blaZoned a world Of contempt
for her cOurtier lover.
Fool. Ounce, dolt, ass, peacock. buzz
gard, OWL" she stormed. Then her rage
faded and she turned sadly on her
heel as another mans name came into
her heart and flutteTed TO her lips.
THE world is as sour as n rotten
orange since Francois went into exile"
Her glance fell on the lutte which
on the marble seat where Villon
lad left it. She took it up and began
10 threm it pensiveiy, whispering to
herself the words Of Villon's song:
Daughters Of Pleasure, one and all,
OF form and features delicate"
she murmured to herself. AS she did
so, Villon, weary of wandering in the
'ose alleys, came into the moonlit
space and saw the cloaked and hooded
1gure where 1t sat. In a ome his
recalled the strange greetings
ne had overheard between h two pill
There is another of those pilgrims"
lie said to himself, determined now to
solve the mystery. He crossed the
grass quickly to the figures side and
II.
Hail, little brother"
Huguette leaped to her feet and an
iwered lightly:
Hail, little sister"
why little sister," Villon asked in
ZONE establishment.
The masked pilgrim answered him
IF l am a brother Of yours, you u
be a sister OF mine. But you t7lk
III of the litany."
What harm" Villon retorted, 1f
,ou give me responses"
Huguette shrugged her shoulders.