Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-02-12


! girls gathered together, chatting like
sparrows, each speaking rapidly:
The gentleman is u wizard. Why,
he told me"
"Enne, miracle: he reminded
me-"
Why, he Knows"
Each girl was whispering to the other
what Villon had told her, when Niilon
| interrupted them.
Young women, young women, the
i world Is a devil of a place for those who
are poor. l could preach you a power
4 full sermon on your follies and frailties,
but, somehow, the words stick in my
I outlet. Here Is a gold coin apiece for
4 you. Go and gather yourself roses, my
roses, to take back to what, heaven pity
/ you! you call your homes"
Jehanneton gave a little gasp of sur
/ prise.
Are we free?"
4 Villon answered her sadly:
free? Poor children! Such as you
! are never free. Go and pray heaven to
make men better, for the sake of your
daughters daughters
Ills extended hands were full of gold
pieces, but they We're soon emptied by
the eager girls who pounced upon them.
Then they left him with many curtsies
and salutations and drifted away de-
ightedly into the lnaZes of the rose
garden.
Villon turned to look at the men pris-
oners, who We're anXiously scanning his
actions.
AS for these gentlemen" he said to
Noel, "let them go where they will, but
first give them food and drink and a
pocketful of money"
The effect of his words was almost as
paralyzing upon the rogues as 1T was
, upon Messre Noel. 1t pleased the one
as much as 1t displeased the other.
Noel locked the contempt he did not
venture to express. The men rushed
forward, choking with gratitude.
/ God save you, sir"
! "Your excellency is of most excel
lent excellence
Long live the grand constable!"
"A most rare constable"
+ Villon waved them away
\ Go your ways he said, land If you
can, mend Them
Shouting and dancing for joy the men
took advantage of his permission and
disappeared in their turn among the al
leys of the rose garden, seeking and
finding the wandering women and van-
ishing with them in due course into the
labryinths of Paris.
< Nillon turned to Noel.
You may dismiss your soldiers" he
said. Attend me within CALL" and as
Noel obeyed him, he advanced to where
Huguette was standing, with a smile
of scornful indifference still on her fair
face
( Villon asked himself as he went:
Why in Gods name, does the world
appear so different today? Is it the
thing they call the better self, or mere
ly this purple and fine linen?"
I, I,.o ~,
girl was,
Fair mistress, you have comedy
face and you make 1t very plain that
you have comely figure. Why do you
go thus?"
The girl shrugged her green shoulders
and shifted the balance of her body
from one green leg to the other, as she
answered impudently,
For ease and freedom, to please my
self, and to show my fine shape to
! please Others"
Last night this girl had been his own
familiar friend; today she lay leagues
( away from his fairy greatness. There
was pity in his next speech.
Are you happy woman, mistress?"
Happy enough she answered as she
snapped her fingers defiantly when
fools like you don't clap me into prison
4 for living my life in my own way
A II may be a fool. but l did not clap
( you into prison. Heaven forbid!"
4 A curious look came into the girls
eyes. and she drew a little nearer to
+ him. Her voice was a caress; the tenor
! of her hands was a caress; every supple
curve of her alluring body caressed.
I She seemed to coax him, cat-lke, as
she whispered:
Your voice sounds familiar, Mon
seigneur. Had l ever the honor to
serve you?"
Vllon drew away from her. He felt
suddenly body-sick and soul-sick; sorry
for the woman; sorry for himself.
WHO knows?" he answered. The
girl laughed and turned aside.
who cares? What are you going to
do with meg"
Set you free, my delicate bird of
prey. Those wild wings We're never
meant for clipping and caging. is
| there anything / can do to please your"
On the instant her enticement shifted,
all her being was a tremendous en-
| treaty.
What has come to Master Francois
Nillon?''
why do you ask?"
HE was with us when we were
shared last night But he did not
share our prison and he is not with us
now. Does he live?"
Nillon hesitated for moment before
| speaking.
He lives. He is banished from Paris,
| but he lives
Huguette clasped her hands in graft
tude.
The sweet saints be thanked" she
| said; and there was that in her voice
which made the simple words sound
| very sincere to Villon' ears.
What do you care for the fate of this
| fellow?"
"As am fool believe 1 love him. y
Heavens mercy! Why?"
Il cannot tell you, Messire. A look in
| his eyes, a trick of his voice-the some
thing-the nothing that makes a wo-