The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-04-17
Louis babe Montjoye proclaim for

grim terms OF the Kings clelHeHcy.
The silence that followed was swiftly
broken by the sweet, clear voice Of a
girl.
II WILL" said Katherine de Vaucelles
from her stand on the church steps, and
on the instant all eyes were turned to
the spot where the maiden stood with
face as white as pear-blossom and her
hands tightly clenched by her sides.
She moved slowly down the steps in
the dead silence and paused before the
kings throne.
Il will die for him, SIRE" h said
quietly.
From Villon's lips there came a
mighty cry of "Katherine!" and a faint
spot of color rose on the kings cheeks.
Mistress, we speak to men, he said.
Tristan pressed his great hands to-
gether.
''By st. Denis, our women seem to
make the best men," he grunted.
Katherine stood, tall and PROUD,
facing the king. Mother Villon, stirred
by this heavenly interference, left her
son to fall at the feet of the angel lady
and kiss the hem of her garment.
Katherine spoke bravely:
'Sire, I love this mar and would be
proud to die for him. 1t may chime
with YOU pleasure to STAY him; 1t can
not chime with your honor to deny me.
Your word is given and a king u
keep his word.
The king made an impatient gesture.
wv speak to men,"
Villon caught at his words.
'I speak to a woman" he cried, and
gazing passionately at his love, he
called to her: Katherine, my Kath-
crime, death is a little thing. For love
is deathless and you give me a better
thing than life"
With unmoved voice, with unchanged
face, Katherine persisted:
Sire, I claim your promise"
Louis again denied her.
We speak to men. Tristan, do your
Office"
At this moment the situation sud-
denly changed. Villon unexpectedly
wrenched himself free from the control
of the two soldiers beside him, whose
hold had relaxed in their wonder at
what was passing. and sprang towards
Katherine. His act instantly inspired
the hearts and hands of his sympathiz-
ers, and in a second he was caught up
and encircled by a crowd of armed and
determined men, who drove back the
Scottish archers. Villon snatched a
drawn sword from the hand of Rene
de Montigny and held it high in the
air while he shouted:
mo, by Gods rood, the candle Of my
Z llbo llol ySI W ilS ooAhSl
People of Paris, shall 1 not speak to my
lover before / die?"
The place was a raving bedlam of
noise and enace. The Scottish archers
did not dare to mak any attempt to re-
capture their escaped prisoner, but kept
their line in front Of the royal dais,
while Villon stood by the side of Kath-
crime with drawn sword, an angel Of in
surrection, ready at any moment to
Tirr fha qnroao Iohir1 him 11rpr hic
adversaries. Yet the king remained as
unmoved as if he had been witnessing a
puppet show. In his thin, even voice,
he commanded:
Speak to her while the candle burns,
not a second longer"
With one accord, Villon's adherents
drew back and Villon was left with
Katherine alone in the open space.
Katherine whispered to him.:
Francois. will you not AXE life at
my hands?"
Villon answered her tenderly:
Dear child, if hat crowned Judas
there had taken you at you word, do
you think 1 would have outlived you by
the space Of a second?"
She looked tixedly into his eyes.
you are Iresolved?"
{ He smiled back at her.
Il am as stubborn as a mule and no
pleadings will move me-"
She looked over her shoulder with a
shudder.
Dearest, the candle fickers in the
wind. There is a dagger in your girdle.
Stay me and yourself"
you mean it?" he gasped, and she
answered firmly:
by Gods Mother and Gods Son."
A sudden, wonderful thought flashed
through Villon's mind. He had won
love, he could not hope to win life, but
at least he might SO manage as to die
a soldiers death and not a knave's. He
whispered to her eagerly:
Then we will spoil old Louis pleas
ure yet. Love, will you marry me here
at the foot of the gallows?"
She answered him:
with all my heart"
Instantly he turned and left her and
strobe towards the throne.
king, l crave your patience, but
your sentence must tarry and turn, for
I claim to marry this lady"
Louis smiled derisively.
1T is too late. Sing your n~eck-rhyme
and have done, for your moose is too
large for a wedding ring"
Villon gave him back smile for smile.
"Sire," he said, 81 am a master Of
arts of the University of Paris and as
such have the right in extremis to n
sacrament of the church. I have lived
a confirmed bachelor, but now Ihave a
mind to change my state. Find me a
priest, King Louis"
Olivier stopped to tile king.
He speaks the truth, sire. He can
claim this right"
Louis leaned forward interested.
"What do you hope to gain by this ?'
Vllon answered calmly:
THE right to die like a soldier by the
sword, not like a rogue by the rope
A murmur of approval stirred the
silent crowd. but it died away as Kath-
crime suddenly advanced and stood, a
white figure like afair lily, between the
king and Villon.
May, you gain more than this. I an
the lady Katherine de Vaucelles, kins-
woman of the royal house, mistress Of al
hundred lands, grand seneschale of Cas-
cony, warden of the Marches of Poi
tou. In my own domains I exercise the
high justice and the low. This mar is
of humble birth. and when Iamarry him
he becomes m Vassal. Over my vas
sails I hold the law of life and DEATH
Villon dropped on his knees beside
his lady.
Louis clapped his thin hands together
as q man might applaud aplay.
You are a bold minion and you have
a quick wit. But If you marry this gaol
bird O decline tc his condition. Yoi1r
high titles fall from you, ycar great
estates are forfeited to the crown and
You and he must go out into exile to-
Pethar. tha happar wonnop ,,;Xl e