The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-30

region OF he was the king $ maid
and the kings friend. At least it could
do no harm to assume SUCH friendship
when his solemn companion seemed to
take it for granted.
Always delighted TO see dear Louis.
He and I are very good friends. Peo-
pie say hard things OF him, but believe
me, they don't know him."
He was trying his best to piece to-
! gether the disordered fragments of his
memory and to explain to himself how
it came to pass that he was dizzy and
heavy and he felt like a man in a ark
room who was cropping to find the door
handle. The voice of the barber inter-
rupted these mental struggles.
May we take our leave, monseig-
~neur?"
Villon's face lighted. He felt that it
would be pieasanter for him to be alone
while he was attempting to regain con-
troll of his faculties, more especially as
he noted that the pages had placed
their golden cups and fiagons on the
marble table and that his instinct as
sured him that these precious vessels
sheltered no less precious wine.
You may, o may he ~assented,
and then as the barber made to depart,
Villon's mood changed and he caught
him by the sleeve and drew him con-
fdently toward him.
Stay one moment" he murmured.
You know this plaguy memory of
mine-what a forgetful fellow l am.
Would you mind telling me again who
I happen to be?'
No look of surprise stirred the bar
ber's face; there came no change in his
extreme complaisance.
You are the count of M~ontcrobier
monseigneur." he answered. gravely.
You have just arrived in Paris from
the court of Province, where you stood
in high favor with the king of hat
country, but your favor is, I believe,
greater with the king of France, for he
has been pleased to make you grand
constable. 1t is his majesty's wish that
you contrive to remember this"
Villon laughed a laugh which he tried
hard to make hearty and natural, but
with Indifferent success.
"Of course, it was most foolish of me
to forget. Now, l suppose, good master
| Long-toes, that a person in my exalted
rank has a good deal of power, infu-
ence, authority, and what not?'
with the kings favor, you are the
first man in the realm"
"Quite so. n does my exalted po-
sition carry with it any agreeable per-
quisite in the way Of pocket money!
IF you will dip your finger in your
pouch Oliver suggested, pointing a
thin forefinger at Villon's jewelled
belt.
Villon thrust his fingers into the
pocket that hung from it II brought
them out again loaded with great gol.
den coins, bright and clear from the
mint, that cleaned joyously in the sun
light. He gave a little cry of delight
as he let them run in a shining stream
from followed hand to followed hand
and contemplated their jingle and gilt.
ter with the delight of a new Midas
But the first thought that welled up il
his heart to welcome this strange
wealth was bravely unselfsh.
Gold counters, on my honor. Deal
drops from the divine stream of Pacto,
lus. Good sir, will you s~traightwa!
dispatch some one you can trust witt
a handful of these broad pieces to the
Il Church of the Celestins and inquire
of the beadle there for the dwelling O
Mother Villon, a poor old woman sorel!
plagued with a s~capegrace son? LIE
him seek her out-she dwells in tn
seventh story and therefore the neare:
to the heaven she deserves-and Civ
her these coins hat she buy hersel
food, clothes and firing
He was too confused to reason clear
ly with his situation, but he felt sur
| that whoever he vas n whatever h
was in this amazing dream of his, tn
poor old woman whom he loved so we
must needs be in it and might benefi
by this gift of fairy gold.
Olivier bowed deferentially.
1T shall be DONE" he said, trans
ferring the great gold discs to his owl
pocket. Then pointing to a small gol
den bell which one of the pages ha,
: placed upon the table, he added, II
there be anything your dignity shoul
desire, he has only to strike upon thi
bell"
: you are very good" Villon respond
ed solemnly, and on the phrase OLIVE
and the pages withdrew into the palac
with every sign of the most profoun
5 respect. The king at his peep-hole wa
: pleased to observe that his command
l were being o5eyed most strict
: and that no hin of any secret rnirth, II
! obvious consciousness Of a hidden jok
marred for one moment the monumen
( tai gravity Of the parts which OLIVE
ana the pages had to play.
CONTINUED Next Week.)