Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-02-28

lon Numbered. give me my week of
wonders, though / die a dogs death
at the end of II. I will show France
and her what lay in the heart OF the
poor rhymster."
Louis applauded, clapping his thin
hands together gleefully.
Spoken like a man! But remember,
a bargains a bargain. If you fail 10
win the lady, you must. with
help, keep yourself for the gallows. NO
self slaughter, no finging away your
life on some other FOOLS sword. l give
you the moon, but l want my price for
It,"
Villon's blood now ran warm again
in its channels, and he answered stout
ly:
sire, I will keep my bargain. GIVE
me my week of opportunity. and IL l
do not make the most of it l shall de-
serve the death TO which you devote
me-"
Even as he spoke the air was
stirred with q cheerful flourish or
trumpets and the quiet garden was In
vaded by Tristan PHermite and a COM
pany OF soldiers, escorting a tall and
stately gentleman, those gorgeous ia
DdTu proclaimed Hllil W bS lOiSOiA -
the herald of the duke Of Burgundy.
The news of his coming had run
through the palace, and the terrace was
Z lddenly flooded with courtiers ana
lIdies eager to ear what the enemys
envoy had to say and what answer the
king would send back TO him. Louis
seated himself On the marble seat
anigh the image of Pan and drew VII
lon down beside him..
'I Istnn well To his mans words, my
lord constable" he whispered, and then
turning to the cleaning figure OF the
herald, he demanded:
Your message, sir?'
Toison dor advanced n few feet
nearer to the monarch and spoke in a
ringing voice.
I'm the name of the duke of Bur-
gundy and OF his allies and brothers.
in-arms assembled in solemn Lacquer
outside the walls Of Paris, l hereby
summon you, Louis of France, to sur
render this city Internationally and to
yield yourself in confidence to my mas
ter's mercy"
The king folded his hands over his
knees and inclined his head n little,
like an inquiring bird.
"And If we refuse, Sir Herald|'
The herald answered promptly:
The worst disasters of war, fire and
sword and famine, much blood to shed
and much gold to pay and for yourself
no hope Of pardon"
Great words" the king sneered.
The herald replied proudly:
The angels of great deeds"
Villon had been sitting listening as a
man listens in a dream, almost uncon-
scious of what was taking place.
Among the ladies on the terrace Kath-
crime stood conspicuous in her youth
and beauty, and to her his eyes were
turned in worship. The ~quarrels of
great princes, the destinies of France
were for the moment Indifferent to
him. He forgot his high desires of
empire, his swelling belief in his real
mission. He was only conscious that a
great prize lay temptingly within his
grasp, that he might win his hearts
desire. Louis interrupted his reverie:
1.-The count Of Montcorbier, constable
of France, Is my counsellor. His voice
delivers my mind. Speak, friend, and
give his messenger his answer"
He touched Villon on the arm and
Villon turned to him in establishment
"As I will, sire?"
'rhe king caught him up impatiently.
Yes, go IN, go on. If Villon were the
king of France"
Villon leaped to his feet and adj
vanced toward the herald. A wild ex-
ultation filled his veins with fire. He
felt as If he were the lord of the world,
as if his hands held the scales hat de-
cided the destinies of nations. He had
always dreamed of the great deeds he
would do, and now great deeds were
possible to him, and at least he would
try to dc them. He looked straight in
to the herald's changeiess face, but his
heart shrined Katherine as he spoke.
Herald of Burgundy, in Gods name
and the kings, l bid you go back to
your master and say this: Kings are
great in the eyes of their people, but
the people are great in the eyes of God
and 1t is the people Of France who an
Swer you In the name of this epitome
The people of Paris arc not so % OF
spirit that they fear the croak of the
Burgundian raven We are we'll VIC
tualled, we are well armed; we lie snug
and warm behind our stout walls; we
laugh at you Lacquer. But when we
who eat are hungry, when we who
drink are dry, when we who glow are
frozen, when there is neither bite or
the board 20 sup in the pitcher nol
spark upon the hearth, our answer tc
rebellious Burgundy will be the same
You are knocking at our doors, beware
lest we open them n come forth &c
speak with our enemy at the gate. w
give you back defiance for defiance
menace for menace, blow for blow
This is our answer-this and the
drawn sword. God and st. Denis fol
the king of France!"
AS he spoke, he drew his sword anC
flashed it aloft in the sunlight. There
was contagion in his buring words, anC
every soldier present barred his blade
and pointed 1t to heaven, while Villon'E