Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-28

and stands daZZled and blinking 1T
the sunlight. After all, he was not the
count of Montcorbier; after all, he was
not the grand constable of France; af-
ter all, he was only a masquerading
beggar who had won the heart Of q
lady under false colors: who had tri-
umphed by flying a false flag. In all
those seven splendid days this simple
thought a never to come to ii His
whole soul had been so taken captive
by the fascination Of the part he had
been permitted to play that he forgot
he was playing a part. and allowed his
fancy to believe that q week-long
dream would endure forever. Now he
knew himself and what he had done
and what he must do. A divine farce
had turned to sudden tragedy. He
turned to the king with a groan.
Cheat, lie." he repeated. Sire, those
words fling me from my fools paradise.
XIII me II | fail to win her, but I will
tear this mask from my face, this false
hood from my heart"
Louis grinned at him
please yourself. Win her or swing.
Either way contents me-"
AS he spoke, he turned away. Kath-
crime had descended the steps
and was moving across the
grass to greet her hero who
stood with clasped hands in the moon
800 INV ~ AitAA 81 MN uulllbs \
crime was carrying In her hands a
crimson scarf fringed with gold, and
she lifted 1t to him as she spoke.
Wear this with my prayers. With
1t, I give o my hand and heart. You
shall carry my plighted troth with you
into the battle. Let me tell my love
to all the world"
Swiftly and lightly she threw 1t
about his neck before he could find
words, but now he spoke:
Wait. wait! You must say no more
until you know me-"
The girls eyes widened with sur
prise.
d I not know your"
Villon thrust his face forward very
close to hers.
Look into my face" he said. Look
well: Do you see nothing there that
reminds you of other hours ?"
Katherine smiled d~ivinely.
"Of happy hours In his rose garden"
Villon insisted fercely:
mo. no! OF a dark night, a tavern,
q leaked woman, a sordid fellow
dreaming sottishly by the fire, n pray
er, a love tale and a promise, a crowd
OF DULLES and wantons, a quarrel, a
fight with sword and lantern in the
dark, a breast knot of ribbon flung
from a gallery
Katherine ~recoiled a little, with a
horror in her eyes.
VIVA are you trying to tell me? ?"
she asked.
Villon dropped on his knees with a
groan.
Here Is the knot Of ribbon which
you flung to me in the Fircone tavern.
oh, pity me! I am Francois Villon."
Katherine pressed her hands to her
forehead.
II can hear what you say but 1t
makes no mark on my brain"
Villon's words ran fast from him:
Il am Francois Villon and yet no
longer he, for my old evil self Is dead.
I am FrancoiL Viilon VINO served you
with his swofd, who praised you with
his pen, and who loves you with all his
soul"
The girls whole body shook with fear
as she answered: .,
ut isn't true! 1t isn't true; I don't
believe YOU"
Villon sprang to his feet.
Whatever my fate Is" he cried, you
shall know the truth"
Turning to where the released con-
spirators stood apart, he called to them
peremptorily:
Guy! Rene! All of YOU, come
here!"
Amazed to be thus in
their own names by so great a per-
sonage as the grand constable of
France, the thieves crept forward tim
idly and, in obedience to Villon's COM
handing gestures, gathered about him
as he turned to them, pressing his face
near to their faces, and cried:
Look at me closer-closer. Don't
you know Francois Villon in spite Of
this new spirit shining in his eyes,"
Rene de Montigny gave q cry of
recognition.
Il should never have known you.
You are SO strangely changed"
Guy Tabarie Endorsed him.
Still, tbs his dear old c~ountenance."
Katherine watching the scene In sick
despair, turned piteously to the king.
Sire, sire, is this true?"
Louis, who had been watching all
With unmitigated satisfaction, an
swered 1eeringly:
Most true, pretty mistress. You
disdained me for this"
With blazing eyes and trembling
hands Katherine moved across the
grass to where Nillon stood.
"Pitiful traitor, why did you live this
lie ?"
Villon pleaded desperately:
II loved you"
Katherine's anger famed into a great
fire.
~ HOI SIdIlle the sweet WOrQ. i
hate you! To think the face that |
have learned to love should mask so
base q heart!"
Then as yillon drew a little closer to
her, in an agony of %entreaty. she struck
out at him with both hands, beating
him on the breast in an unconquerable
fury. Villon bowed beneath the blow
while she ragged at him:
You have stolen my love like a thief,
you have crucified my pride. I hate
you! Go pack to the dregs and lees of
life, skulk in your tavern, forget what
1 shall never forget. that so base Il
thing as you ever came near mel"
The king was by her side in an In
slant and whispering into her ear:
rs this the course of true love?"
She swung upon him in scorn.
Sire, you have wreaked a royal re-
venge upon a woman There are no
tears in my eyes yet, but l pray they
will come that I may weep myself clean
of this memory"
With clasped hands and set lips she
moved away from Louis and stood
apart in the moonlight, a fixed and
rigid figure OF despair. Louis stepped
to where Villon stood In stricken an
guish and whispered to him:
Il am afraid you will hang tomor-
row, Master Villon."
Vfllon threw back his head ~defiantly.
II should be glad to greet the gallows
now, but l have a deed to do before 1
die"
AS he spoke the great bell Of the pal
ace beat out the first stroke of the
hour of 3. 1t reused the wounded spirit
in his soul He moved to where Kath-
crime stood and spoke to her:
Il dreamed that love through which
/ have been born again could lift me to
your lips. The dream is over. But
you baoe me serve France, and l ride
and fight for you tonight"
While he spoke the lords Of Lau, of
Riviere and of Nantoillet in panoply of
war came from the palace with their
Immediate followers. The garden began