Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-17

do I look like a ghost?" the fall
woman answered.
In an ecstasy Of joy villon fell on his
knees as he seldom kneeled In prayer
while he gasped:
IF this be a dream, pray heaven
may never wake"
The girl drew from her bosom a little
piece OF folded parchment and held II
out towards him.
You wrote me these verses. My ell
ders tell me that poets say much and
mean little; hat their oaths are like
gingerbread, rs hot and sweet in the
mouth and as easily swallowed. Are
you such a one?"
Villon rose to his feet. He knew that
this exquisite presence was flesh and
blood; that her speech was human
speech. He answered her very grave
ly--
MY words are life. l owe you!"
Just because 1 show a smooth
face?"
A grave wave OF rapture swept over
the poets soul and his brain seemed as
busy with words as a hive with bees.
He spoke slowly like a man inspired.
Because you are the loveliest she
alive. If Ill 10Y dreams of loveliness
had been pieced together into n per-
feet woman she would have been like
you All my life l have read tales OF
love and tried TO find their secret In the
bright eyes about me-tried n failed.
/ might as we'll have been seeking for
the Holy Grail. But when i saw you
the old heaven and the old earth
seemed to shrivel away n / knew
what love might mean, and God-like
desire and God-like surrender. The
urnrlH To chanaa1 hv UO1Ir COMING all
sweet tastes and fair colors and soft
sounds nave something of you in them.
/ eGt and drink, / see and hear In your
honor. The people In the street are
blessed because o have passed
among them. That stone on the ground
Is sacred, for u foot has touched it;
or the dusty booth at the corner, which
your sleeve has brushed in passing. /
love you! All philosophy, all wisdom,
religion, honor, manhood, hope, beauty
lie In those words-I love you!"
The girl looked at him with wide
eyes, quite fearless, much astonished,
as a brave maid might look at some
wild beast Of the woods that came in
her way. But tn. purport of his words
seemed to please~her, for she answered
him quickly and readily.
We'll, l have come to you to put your
protestations to the proof. If you meant
every word you said, every syllable,
every letter, you can serve me well.
If not, good night and good bye"
And with these words she moved a
little as If she were ready to say fare
well to him then and there. Villon put
an appealing hand that stayed
her.
Il wrote with my hearts blood" he
protested, n even a green girl could
not foil 20 ranl fhn fpi1th IN hiC Nynipn
Now she came close to him, speaking
very low but very distinctly.
Listen l am one of the queens la
dies; Thibaut d'Aussigny, the grand
constable of France, loves me a little
and my broad lands much. He will
that / should marry him. He tried to
me to his will, to shame me to his
pleasure, and SO l hate him, and so
should you, for it was he who gave you
your beating"
Villon, who had beer listening to her
In wonder, started as If he had been
struck anew.
"Oh, 1t was hep" he interrupted. The
girl came a little closer, became a little
more confidential,
HE gave your rhymes to me n told
how you had beef treated. When
[ read them l said-here, If a poet
speaks truth, is the one mar In France
who car help me-"
Villon drew himself back with q little
5hiver Of intelligence. The fumes of
vine, the fumes Of wonder were drift
.ng away from him, leaving him face
20 face with naked, amazing reality,
why not your yellow-haired, pink
lover?" he asked. Katherine
disdain.
Noel lie Jolys is a man many wom-
-, ,,,i.i,t lp,ya h,,t I 1nyn No non. 7
Taibaut d'Aussigny. Do you I'M
lerstand?"
II begin to understand" Villon ans
Yered, sadly.
The girl came nearer to Villon. Her
ace was very pale in the dim light, and
| feeting image Of the moon in clouds
eased his fancy. Her lips were as red,
lie thought, as the ruby of a bishops
ing, and her eyes out-starred Venus.
so it was he who trembled and not the
maiden who was saying strange IN
naiden-like words in a clear, steel-like
whisper.
Kill Thibaut d'Aussigny. You are
skillful swordsman, they say. You
IRE little better than an outlaw. You
ay you love me more than life. Kill
'hibaut d'Aussigny!"
Villon looked at her queerly. TO save
lis life he could not keep his face from
.uivering. He was eating his heart and
/ tasted very bitter, and his oWn voice
far away to him, like a voice
.eard in a dream.
so that you and Noel what's his
anne may live happily ever after?"
Katherine drew back from him, a
tile scorn in her eyes and on her lips.
Are you less eager to serve me than
were?"
The question struck him in the breast
Ike the stroke of a sword. He remem-
cred his golden VOWS and his golden
erses, and sickened at his shadow Of
isloyal doubt and anger.
mo, by heaven, but I've been doing
dreaming. and I've got to rub the
leep out Of my Eyes and the dream out
{ my heart. Tell me how to serve
Ou."
She was treasured on the instant and
cared him again confidently.
''Thibaut d'Aussigny comes here to-
light. He has come here before in dis
uise, for 1 have had him followed. l
link he means to betray the king to
iurgundy, SO you will serve France as
ell as me. How do such men as you
i'll each other?"
Villon looked at her ironically out of
ne corner Of his eyes; answered her
OlllCdllJ III VI lllC NOlllCi TX lllS |
He saw himself as she saw
i'm, and was sadly entertained at the
.ght.
Generally in a drunken scuffle. Will
on wait here till he comes, pretty lady,
Or / never say him? Then leave the
EST to me-"
Something in his voice. though 1t was
rm and clear, seemed to touch the
iris ear more than any word he had
ct uttered. A new curiosity seemed
} Turk in her eyes and there was al
lost a sound Of pity in her speech.
love me very much?" she asked
Villon drew himself up proudly
Id answered her proudly.
with all the meaning that he word
IN have in paradise
A faint shade of color came into the
oman's pale, pure cheeks.
you didn't expect to be taken at
our word?"
Villon smiled brightly and his eyes