Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-03-19
CHATTER XI.
THE DEATH OIL, A wANTo

THE DEATH OF A WANTON.
The sham king leapcd to his feet, still
laughing, flung off the black cap with
its little row of leaden saints and the
rusty black mantle which mmcked
the kings habit, and stood delighted
ANA defiant before 1'hbaut the FRAN
co.'s Nillon Who thus Il second time had
crossed his path
well. friend what has the wizard
told you Louis asked blandly.
Nillon sw:iyed with laughter as he
pointed TO the beWildered giant
wonders, sire he answered. Il have
not laughed so heartily since attained
greatness" Tut even as he spoke Thi-
sbaut had recovered his wits. He might
be. defeated, but he would not be UNI
avenged.
You shall laugh no more." he shout
ed, wrenching himself free from re-
straint, and he spr;lns ut his enemy
with lifted dagger.
From behind the statue of Pan there
came q warning shrek, and swiftly be-
tween Nilon and Thbaut IL slim green
figure darted and slim green arms
casped Nillon around the neck The
dagger of Ihibaut drove deep into the
soft body of Huguette.
With II curse Thibaut turned and,
sweeping aside the archers who tried
to stop him, disappeared down the
nearest alley. Noel lie Jolys, drawing
his sword, rushed in pursuit, followed
by several soldiers Nillon held the
bleeding body of the girl in his arms,
and tried his best to staneh the wound
which was staining the green jerllin u
dull red, but the girl protested family,
pushing his minstering hand away.
Let me alone; | am done for she
;sasped.
Olivier was by her side in an instant,
cycling, the wound with the professional
interest of the surgeon-barber and
looking from 1T TO the girls pale face.
WILLOWS gaze questioned him. Olivier
shrugged his shoulders and shook his
head. Nilon knew that the wound was
mortal, and hi; own blood seemed like
water within him. He carried the girl
across the grass and rested her on 1t,
the red stain on the green coat growing
wider ami wider as they moved
Courage. Abtess; courage, lass" he
Whispered, Gghting With his horror and
his SORROW AS he inoaned to himself:
"lhat any one should die for me-"
The girls arms chung CLOSER about his
neck and her lips moved family. lie
stopped close to her to catch her words.
This is a Strange end, Francois.
always thought should die in u bed.
Here is another kind of Battlefield
Give me drink
who stood a litt!e apart from. the pair
with the resigned look of the physician
who knows that his art is OF no avail
Iiuguette protested family.
''Not water Wine. | have everloved
the taste of it, and It's too late to
change now
Olivier filled cup from the fiagon on
the table and was for lifting it to the
girls lips, but her feeble hand repulsed
him and tlIslIeil ia, William.
Give it to me- Francois"
Villon took the cup from the BARRIERS
hand, lifted it to the dying girls lips,
and she drank sreedily. The strong
Wine gave her for 4 moment something
of it's own false strength, and she
struggled to her feet, Villon rising with
Grand supporting her.
your health Francois. | suppose /
have been u great sinner Win God
forgive me-
villon stilled Il heavy groan, but he
was sworn to console her ii he could.
and. indeed, he believed his words of
consolation.
"Ile understands his children"
The heavy head dropped its golden
curtis upon his shoulder.
You always We're hopeful she said
brokenly. Then suddenly clasping him
tightly, she cried: Many men have
taken my body; only you ever took my
heart. Give me your lips.
Nillon's spirit WAS troubled. 1t seemed
I to him that his lips We're bound to wait
for that kiss of his lady's, and yet the
dying girl loved him and he had loved
the dying girl after Il fashion, and he
could not refuse her now. He bent to
grant her prayer, when suddenly she
shook herself free from his arms and
began to sing faintly the words of the
song he had made for her:
Daughters of pleasure, one and all"
Then she caught her breath with a
sob and slipped to the last lines of the
Verse.
Use your red lips before too late.
Love ere now flies beyond recall
She shook her head back in wild
peal of laughter; then she gave Il great
cry and fell forward. Nillon caught
her. looked in her face and knew that
she was dead, and that the best of his
old bad life lay dead with her.
Olivier in obedience 10 an order of
the kings. gave q signal and the girls
body was swiftly wrapped in t, soldier $
cloak and laid gently upon Il pair OF
crossed halberds. AS this was being
done, Noel lie Jolys came painting back
with red sword in his hand.
"Thibaut d'Aussigny is dead. SIRE
he said, my hand was the hand that
finished him.
Then as his ayes fell on the dead