Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-16

| gum Terms OF me lklnS ClemenCy.
The silence that followed was swiftly
broken by the sweet, clear voice Of a
s,,i.'l.
L WILL" said Katherine de Vaucelles
from her stand on the church steps, and
On the Instant all eyes were turned to
the snot where the maiden stood with
face as white as pear blossom ana her
hands tightly clenched by her sides.
She moved slowly down the steps in
the dead silence and paused before the
4 kings throne.
4 will die for him. sire" she said
quietly.
From villan's lips there came a
mishty cry of '.katherine!" and a faint
spot OF color rose. on the kings cheeks.
Mistress we speak to men" lie said.
Tristan pressed his great hands to-
sether.
Try ST. Denis. our women seem to
make the best men," he grunted.
I Katherine stood. tall and proud.
i facing the king. Mother Viliop, 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 b.avely': 'e
Sire. love this man and would be
proud to die for him. 1t may chime
With your pleasure to slay him; 1t cam
Your word is given and q king must
| keep his word.
The king made an impatient gesture.
4! we speak to men,.
Nillon caught at his words.
Il speak to woman" ne cried, and
called to her. katherine, my Kath-
crime, death is little thing. For love
Is deathless and you give me a better
thing than life
With unmoved voice, with unchanged
face, Katherine persisted: -.
Sire, l claim your promise"
Louis again denied her.
| I'VE 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
1 Katherine. His act instantly inspired
| the hearts and hands of his sympathiz-
ers, and in q second he was caught up
and encircled by crowd. of armed and
determined men, who drove back the
Scottish archers. Villon snatched
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
grace has not yet burnt to the socket!
| People of Paris, shall not speak to my
| lover before / die?"
| The place was raving bedlam of
noise and menace. The Scottish archers
did not dare to make 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
| surraction, ready at any. moment to
\ fling the forces behind him upon his
adversaries. Yet the king remained as
uninoved as II he had been witnessing a
Il MI, oft CHI In, hi 10 hi upio
| 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 take life at
| my hands?"
| Villon answered her tenderly:
| Dear child, IL that crowned Judas
4 there had taken you at your word, do
/! you think would have outlived you by
the space of second?"
| She looked fixedly into his eyes.
| you are resolved?"
\ IIe smiled back at her.
| II am as stubborn as a mule and no
| pleadings will move me-"
| She looked over her shoulder with a
| shudder
dearest, the candle ficlSers in the
y
| 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 Villons mind. He had won
| love, he could not hope to win life, but
| MT least he might SO manage as to die
a.soldier's death and not a knaves 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?"
4 She answered him:
with all my heart"
| Instantly he turned and left her and
strobe towards the throne.
your sentence must tarry and turn, for
l claim to marry this lady,"
Louis smiled derisively.
1T is too late. Sing your neck-rhyme
and have done, for your moose Is too
| large for a wedding ring"
Villon gave him back smile for smile.
Sire" he said, II am q master of
arts of the University of Paris and as
such have the right in extremis to any
{, sacrament of the church. 1 have lived
I II confirmed bachelor but now have a
| mind to change my state. Find me a
! priest, King Louis
| Olivier stopped to the king.
| HE speaks the truth, sire. He can
| claim this right
i Louis leaned forward interested.
What do you hope to gain by this?"
| Nillon answered calmly:
| 1.-The right to die like soldier by the
sword, not like rogue by the rope
| A murmur of approval stirred the
silent crowd, but 1T died away as Kath-
| crime suddenly advanced and stood, a
| white figure like fair lily, between the
| king and Villon.
NAY, you gain more than this. am
the lady Katherine de Vaucelles, kins-
woman of the royal house, mistress of a
hundred lands, grand seneschale of Cas-
cony, warden of the Marches of Poi
tou. In my own domains exercise the
high Justice and the low. This man is
| of humble BIRTH and when marry him
| he becomes my vassal. Over my vas
sails hold the law of life and death"
/ Nillon dropped on his knees beside
(, his lady.
| Louis clapped his thin hands together
as man might applaud a play.
! You are bod minion and YOU have
{. quick wit. But If you marry tllis gaol
bird you decline to his condition. Your
high titles fall from you, your great
| estates are forfeited to the crown and
/! you and he must go out into exile to-
gether; the beggar woman with the
! 6eggar man"
| Katherine turned to Villon where he
knelt beside her.
| "'Tis a little price to pay for my
lover"
| Villon looking up into her eyes, ques-
| toned her:
do you think I'm worth it, Kate?
IT'S big price to pay for thiS poor
anatomy,