The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-20

Villon turned suddenly upon til
beautiful suppliant. A thought ha
come into his brain so whimsical an
so fantastic that 1t made him as dizz
for an instant as If the smooth gras
beneath him a yawned into a shee
and evil precipice.
DO you by any chance love this Vii
lon?"
A little wave of disdain rippled owe
the girls calm face.
Great ladies do not love taver,
braves. But l pity him, and I do no
want him to die, though, indeed, lif,
cannot be very dear to hin if he would
fling it away to please a woman"
She held q rose in her hand, and a.
she spoke she flung 1t from her in dain.
ty symbolism Of the life. which the pool
tavern poet had risked so bravely fol
her sake. A mao resolve came into
Vfllon's mind. If he was, indeed, all
that this woman thought him to be, all
that those with whom he had spoken
a assured him he was, now was his
chance to play the lover to his hearts
desire. If the grand constable had HI
right to pardon, surely the grand con-
stable had also the right to WOO. She
had drawn a little way from him and
he followed her up, standing SO close
TO her that with q little movement he
L hiSSGu iSl VII Tile cheek. Z.
Even when you are the woman? If
4 had stood in this rascal's shoes, I
would have done as he did for your
sake"
The girl gave a joyous cry.
If you think this, you should grant
the poor knave his freedom"
Villon flung his hands apart with a
magnificent gesture of liberation.
That broker @f ballads shall go free.
Your prayer ynshack1es him and we
Will do no more than Danish him from
Paris. Forget that such a slave ever
came near you"
The lady dropped him a magnificent
curtsey, and her cheeks glowed with
gratitude.
i shall remember your clemency."
She made as If she would leave his
presence, but his boldness waNed with
In him as a fire waXes with new wood,
and he caught her lightly by the wrist
BY Saint Venus, l envy this fellow
thai he should have won your thoughts.
For l am in his case and /, too, would
die to serve you'll"
Surprise famed in the girls eyes,
surprise and amusement mingled.
my lord. you DO not know me- she
laughed, and her laughter was as fresh
and merry as a milhrnaid's in the
meadows.
did he know you? Yet when he |
saw you he loved o and made bold
TO tell you So"
Her forehead wrinkled In a little pro-
testing froWn.
His words were OF no more account
than the wind in the caves. But you
and I are peers, n the words we
change nave meanings"
Villon caught his breath. h lord
OF Montcorbier was, indeed. warded by
very different stars from the fellow Of
the F1rcone. He safuted her banter
ingly.
Though I be newly come to Paris I |
have heard much of the beauty and
more of the pride of the Lady RATHER
Inc de Vaucelles."
A little fire burned in the girls pale
cheeks, and she flung her head back
s%cornfully.
II am humble enough as to my
beauty. but I am very proud OF my
pride"
villon. leaning forward with entreat-
ing hands, pleaded with beseeching
lips.
Would you pity me If I told you
that / loved your"
Katherine laughed, and the music of
her laughter seemed to wake faint
echoes among the roses as If every
blossom were q magic bell with a fairy
Hand at the clapper. |.
Heavens mercy" she said. How
fast your fancy gallops. I care little to
be lattered and less to be wooed, and
swear that / should be very hard to
win"
She turned to mount the steps as she
spoke. as If she had said all that she
wanted to say but Villon delayed her
with irploring protest
Z have more right to try thar YOUR
taproom bandit. I see what he saw; I
what he loved"
Again the girls laughter frightened .
the summer air. !
You are very inAammable." !
Villon caught at her words.
MY fire burns to the ashes. You can
more stay me from loving you than !
you can stay the flowers from loving
the SOFT air, or true men from loving :,
honor, or heroes from loving glory. I
rake the moon from heaven for
l
The girl swayed her head daintily, as c
queen rose might in a realm OF roses. I
was something like pity In her q
but laughter fingered on her lips. I
lips. I
'"Tha promise has grown rusty since G
Adam first made it to Eve." She eyed
him in silence for a second time, derid- I
Ing his signs with a smile: then There +
Is a rhyme in my mind" she cried.
about moons and lovers" and she be- v
gan to declafrn, half muse. half mink.
some lines that had pleased her, to q
tease the importunate stranger. b
Lille l6 unStable,
Love may uphold; f
Fear goes in sable,
Courage IN gold. 7
Mystery covers s
Midnight noon,
Heroes and lovers u
Cry for the moon" X
AS the first words of the verse fell,
her lips, Viuon's heart leaped and h
ais eyes frightened for he knew the
sound. They were part of the rhvnae n
himself had sent her on that yery c
parchment which had cost him first a t
Inner and then a drubbing. He had
'ancied the words and the rhymes when o
Re wrote them, but now they seemed to T
sound on his ears with the married mn 8
SIC or all the falling waters and all the a
blowing winds OF the world. 1t was a O
mining face that he turned to the girl
lis heart: G
What doggerel!" s
The girl flashed scorn at him. g