Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-02-07


I'm a line before him at the base of the
terrace, and their prinked and fragrant
captain came trippingly forward ana
saluted Villon. presenting to him at the
same time a piece of paper, covered
with writing.
my lord" he said. dapperly. here
are the names of these night birds"
Villon look the paper and looked
straightly into the young mans eyes.
Have we ever met before?" he
asked.
Noel lie Jolys made a d~eprecatory
gesture.
"Alasl no." he said. your lordship
has swept into court like an unheralded
comet. You shall tell us tales of Prov
ence to please our ladies'"
Still gravely looking at him, Villon
questioned him again.
'Messire Noel, if you n / had a
mind to pluck the same rose from this
garden, which of us would VIM"
The affable fribble's intelligence APP
peared to be baffled.
II do not understand you" he pro-
tested.
Villon shrugged his shoulders. New
er mind" he said, seating himself again
on the marble seat and looking at the
IamllldT names OIL TIC plGNS VI PoPCAs
send me hither Rene de Montigny."
He was fairly convinced by this
time that he was not wandering in the
labyrinth of a dream, that he really
was awake, but that for some reason
which he was unable to fathom he had
been thus strangely transmitted into
the semblance of splendor and au-
thority. .
The popinjay fails to recognize me-"
- IT,. EanWV NAWY nj
lies" and as he thought, Rene de Mon
tigny was pushed forward by a couple
of soldiers and stood sullenly defiant
before him.
Villon leaned forward, oddly inter-
ested in the grotesque turn of things
which put him in this position with his
old companion and fellow-scamp.
You are" he questioned.
Montigny answered angrily, Rene
de M~ontigny, of gentle blood, fallen on
ungentle days"
Through no fault of your own, of
course?"
LAS your grace surmises. through no
fault Of my own. / am poor, but, l
thank my stars, | am honest"
This remark, which was made aloud
for the benefit of all and sundry, pro-
voked q roar of laughter from Guy
Tabarie, which was promptly convert
ed into a groan as an indignant soldier
smote him into silence by a lusty blow
on the back. Nillon caught him UP on
the assertion.
Since when, sir? Since last night2'
Il do not understand your grace"
When Jason was a farmer in Colchis
he sowed dragons teeth and reaped
soldiers. What do you grow In your
garden, Sire de Montigny?"
Montigny gave n little start of sur
prise, but his answer came prompt.
"Cabbages."
Villon shook his head. Arrows, Mas
ter Rene, Burgundian arrows, most
condemnable vegetables. Have a care
'Tis q pestilent crop and may poison the
gardener. Stand aside"
Rene de Montigny stared at his In
te~rlocutor in q paroXysm of amaze
ment. Here was his dearest secret
loose on the lips Of his questioner. II
was the first time that he had ven
tured boldly to gaze into the face oil
authority and Villon returned his gaze
d%efiantIy. But there was no recognl'
tion in Montigny's eyes. He could see
nothing in common between the splen'
did gentleman who now addressed hin
and the ragged rhymester who shareC
so many squalid adventures with him
and in an instant he reverted his heac
respectfully.
IF your grace will deign," he plead
ed, stretching out his hands in en-
treaty, but Nillon was memorable.
Stand aside" he repeated, anC
Montigny protesting was dragged bacl
TO his place with his fellows while VII
Ion read the name Of the next rogue OF
the list. which happened to be that o.
Guy Tabarie.
BY this time ViIlon's spirit had en-
tered into a very complete appreciation
of the humors Of the situation. HaY
ing realized that his identity was SAT-
even from the keen eyes or Rene d'
Montigny, he felt assured that n
might defy the Indifferent scrutiny 0
his less alert companions. And though
he made use of the long pendant folt
Of his cap to conceal in some meas
ure his C~ountenanCe, he was now 81
confident OF his safety that he was pre-
pared to greet each prisoner With com
posture.
Guy Tabarie cut a plteous figure a
he tottered across the grass, rudely pro
PEELED by the violence of the soldier VIII
escorted him tweaking him b,
the ear, and fell, a q'lakini
mountain of flesh, at the fee
of the man whom he believed to be tn
grand constable of France. With pit
eous g~estiCulations and tremblln
fingers, the red, gross man knelt an
attempted to plead for mercy. Villo
eyed him sternly though he found ]
hard to restrain his laughter.
YOU come with clean hands? n
asked, and Guy answered, babbling, hi
words tumbling' from him, incoheren
and confused, holding out his hug
paws like a schoolboy reproVed fo
want of soap and water:
las decent q lad, my lord, as eve
kept body and soul together by walkin
on the straight and narrow path tina
leads to-
He had suffered thus far when vi
Ion interrupted him.
The gallows, Master Tabarie."
Guys bulk quivered in piteous mega
ton.
mo, no; l have the fear Of God in m
as strong as any man in Paris"
Villon leaned over n little nearer I
his victim and breathed a question int
his ear:
do you know the Church Of S
MatUrin, Master Tabarie?"
The little pig-like yes Of Tabar
widened in surprise and he stan
mered a mo, my lord" that was
itself q fragrant confession of shamefl
knowledge. Villon wagged his hea
wisely.
Master Tabarie, Master Tabari
your memory is failing you. Why, Il
later than the middle of March la!
you broke into the church at dead
night and p~ilfered the gold plate frol
thn altar Tha sfanr of God lie mot var