Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-02-12
CHAPTER vi.
GARDEN LOWE

| On the terrace the fair girl leaned
and looked over at the garden and it's
/ golden occupant. To the eyes of Viii
lon her beauty had never seemed rarer,
and the wild passion which had
prompted him to spin his very soul in
| to song burnt with new, delicious
strength of hope He stared at her as
worshfper might stare at some sud-
den vision of a long dreamed of god
dess, and as he stared, Olivier descend
ed the steps, soft-footed, and came and
stood before him.
MY lord, there is lady there who
desires to speak with you.'
Villon turned his gaze unwillingly
from the gracious apparition above
him to the somber servitor.
Il desire to speak with her" he said
earnestly, and again his eyes Travelled
in the direction of the lady.
touched him respectfully on the wrist.
Remember, my lord" he said, very
softly, that you are Francois of Cor
beuil, lord of Montcorbier, grand con-
stable Of France, newly come to Paris
from the court of his majesty of
Provence. Remember this as if it were
written in letters of gold upon tables
of iron. Forget all else. The king
commands it,"
The words sounded duly enough on
| Villon's brain, absorbed as he was in
the contemplation of his queen, but at
| least they served to convince him of
what he had already begun to assure
himself. that for some purpose or other
King Louis wished him we'll and grant t.
! ed him golden chances.
| Francois of Corbeuil, count of Mont
corbier, stood in very different rela-
ton to the Lady Katherine from that
of the lowly poet and goalbird who had
rhymed and sighed and battled in the
Fircone tavern last night.
The king shall be obeyed," he said
gravely, and Olivier, turning, made a
sign to Katherine, who descended the
steps slowly. AS she reached the last
step, Olivier saluted Villon and the
lady profoundly and, mounting the
steps, vanished within the palace.
The man and the woman were left
alone in the rose garden. Villon felt a
sudden strange sensation at his heart
exquisite pain and exquisite pleasure
and he clasped his hands together.
Il am awake" he assured himself;
mo dream could be as fair as she"
Even at the thought, Katherine flung
herself swiftly at his feet, divinely gra-
cious in her surrender of dignity as
she kneeled to him with uplifted i'm
ploring hands and eyes.
My lord" she cried, will you listen
to distressed lady?"
\ Villon stopped and caught her white
fingers and drew her to her feet.
Not while the lady kneels," he said
gently, and he looked with a strange
apprehension into the frank, bright
eyes of Katherine. Would she know
him for what he was, he wondered. He
read no recognition in her sweet eyes
| katherine returned his gaze, unflinch-
ingly regarding him as a great lad,
might regard some stranger her euua
of whom she could ask favor.
She does not know me-" Villon's de-
light cried in his heart, and at the
thought his spirit huttered with fierce
exaltation. The lord of Montcorbier
who was grand constable of France
| might say many things that were de.
MED to the lips of Francois villon.
katherine pleaded warmly:
| There is man in prison at this
| hour for whom would implore YOU,
clemency. His name is Francois vii.
Ion. Last night he wounded Thibau,
\ d'Aussigny-'
Villon smiled contented smile.
Thereby making room for me-" he
suggested.
Katherine went on unheeding:
The penalty is death. But Thibau,
was traitor sold to Burgundy"
Did this Villon fight him for his
treason?"
mo. He fought him for the sake o,
a woman. He risked his life with 8
light heart because a woman asked
| him."
How dc you know all this?"
Because was the woman. This
man had seen me, thought he loved me
sent me verses"
How insolent!"
1T was insolence-and yet they wer.
beautiful verses. l was in mortal fea,
| of Thibaut d'Aussigny. went to this
Villon and begged him to kill my en-
envy. He backed his love tale with his
sword-and he lies in the shadow OF
death: 1t is not just that he should
suffer for my SIM
CONTINUED Next week,