Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-02-14
CHAPTER VI.
GARDEN LOVE.

On the terrace the fair girl leaned
and looked over at the garden and its
golden occupant. To the eye of VII
Ion her beauty had never seemed rarer,
and the wild passion which had
prompted him to spin his very soul in
to song burnt with a new, delicious
strength Of hope. He stared at her as
a worshiper might stare at some sud-
den vision OF a long dreamed of god
dess, and as he stared, Olivier descend
ed the steps, soft footed, and came and
stood before him.
MY lord, there is a lady there who
desires to speak with you"
Villon turned his gaze unwillingly
from the gracious apparttion above
him to the somber~ servitor.
Il desire to speak with her" he said
earnestly, and again his Eyes Travelled
in the direction of the lady.
Olivier came close to him and
touched him respectfully on the wrist.
Remember, my lord" he said, very
softly, that you are Francois OF Cor
beuil, lord of Montcorbier, grand con-
table Of France, newly come to Paris
from the court Of his majesty of
Provence. Remember this as if it were
written in letters of gold upon tables
Of iron. Forget all else. The king
commands It,"
Inc "OluS SOullItu uully IllOuSh ol
Villon's brain, absorbed as he vas in
the contemplation Of his queen, but at
least they served to convince him of
what he had already begun to assure
himself, that for some purpose or other
King Louis wished him we'll and grant
ed him golden chances.
Francois Of Corbeuil, count Of Mont
Corbier, stood in a very different rela-
ton to the Lady Katherine from that
| of tho 1nyv1U moot md pno1hirI who had
rhymed and sighed and battled in the
FirCone tavern last night.
The king shall be obeyed," he said
graVely, and olivier, turning, made q
sign to Katherine, who descended the
steps slowly. AS she reached the last
step, Olivier saluted Villon and the
lady profoundly and, mounting the
steps, vanished within the palace.
The man and the woman were left
alone in the rose garden. Villon felt a
sudden strange sensation at his heart,
exquisite pain and exquisite pleasure,
and he clasped his hands together.
II am awake" he assured himself;
mo dream could be as fair as she"
Even at the thought, Katherine flung
herself swiftly at his feet, divinely gra-
cious in her surrender OF dignity as
she kneeled to him with uplifted i'm
ploring hands and eyes.
my lord" she cried, will you listen
to n distressed LADY,"
Villon stopped and caught her white
fingers and drew her to her feet.
mot while the lady kneels," he said
gently, and he looked with n strange
apprehension into the frank, bright
eyes Of Katherine. Would she know
him for what he was, he wondered. He
read no recognition in her sweet eyes.
Katherine returned his gaze, unfinch-
ingly regarding him as q great lady
might regard some stranger her equal
of whom she could ask a favor.
"She does not know me-" Villon's de-
light cried In his heart, and at the
thought his spirit nuttered with fierce
eXaltation. The lord Of Montcorbier
who was grand constable of France,
might say many things that were de-
MED TO the lips of Francois Villon.
Katherine pleaded warmly:
There is a man in prison at this
hour for whom l would implore your
clemency. His name is Francois VIII
lon. Last night he wounded Thibaut
d'Aussigny-"
Villon smiled a contented smile.
Thereby making room for me-" he
suggested.
Katherine wen on unheeding:
THE penalty is death. But Thibaut
was a traitor solo to Burgundy"
Did this Villon fight him for his
treaSOnG'
INC. He fought him for the sake of
a woman. He risked his life with q
light heart because a woman asked
him.
How do you know all this?"
Because / was the woman This
man had seen me, thought he loved me,
sent me verses"
How insolent!"
ut was insolence-and yet they were
beautiful verses. l was in mortal fear
of Thibaut d'Aussigny. 1 went to this
Villon and begged him to kill my en-
envy. He backed his love tale with his
sword-and he lies in the shadow of
| death. 1t is not just that he should
suffer for my SIM"
CONTINUED Next Week