The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-04-10

supplement? Who will be his lieuten-
ant, who will be heir to his heritage
of a cross bar and a rope? You are not
so brisk as o were. Does your de-
votion falter? Were you hooking me
and him?"
Villon looked at the king with a kind
of disdainful admiration.
King of foxes!" he ~applauded, and
the king heard him and smiled again.
Tristan" he said, "go into yonder
church n bring me an inch Of CANDLE
Tristan bowed and entered the
church. The king went on:
Our royal mercy Is mild. our royal
mercy is patient. AS 1t Is our hope and
our belief to live in history as a good
and gracious sovereign, we would not
nave 1T said Of us that we denied even a
felon all due and reasonable opportun-
ity."
Even While he spoke, Tristan came
out of the church carrying in his hand a
great gold candlestick In whose socket
a little piece of candle, scarce an inch
high, was burning. He gave it into the
hands of one of the soldiers Of the Scot
fish Guard, who held it In his strong
grasp and stood as immovable as a
statue, while the thin faint flame
pointed spear-like towards heaven in
the warm and MINDLESS air.
Louis stopped and whispered to q
page behind him who bowed and en-
tered the church. Then the king spoke
again to the silent. wondering crowd:
80 long as this candle burns, SC
long Francois Villon lives. If while II
burns, n of you is moved to take
Master Villon's place on the gallows,
SO much the better FOR Master Villon,
and so much the worse for his SUBJ
Gtttnta Herald ncpcloJ,, p,,,. ,,1aoc
ure."
At a sign from Montjoye, the royal
herald. two pu%rsuivants stirred the air
with the blast Of golden trumpets,
Then Montjoye spoke:
The kings grace and the kings
justice is ready to grant life and liberty
to Francois Villon If anyone be found
willing to take his place on the gal
lows and die his death that he may live
his life!"
AS M%ontjoye's words died away a
great silence fell upon the assembled
people, a silence SO still n cruel that
mems hearts grew cold and the warm
June air seemed to be signing ove1
fields Of ice. The king leaned over and
addressed his prisoner confidentially:
Master Villon, Master Villon. you
see what human friendship means anG
the sweet voices of the multitude"
Viilon answered boldly:
Sire, it is no news to me that mer
love the dear habit of living"
Louis signalled to Montjoye.
proclaim again. he said; and once
more the pair Of pursuivants blew theil
trumpets and once again Montjoye
made his singular proposition of par.
don to the assemblage.
CHAPTER XVI.
WE SPEAK TO MEN"
1t fell this time upon fresh ears, thu
ears of an old woman who was patient,
~ pushing her way through the Grove
in her effort to reach her humble lodg.
ing. She had succeeded in making he
way to the open space. as the las
words Of the herald's offer were beint
spoken, n suddenly her dulled brair
caught the full significance Of Mont
joye's speech. Looking wildly around
her, h saw where Villon stood, al
armored figure held captive, and with.
out attempting to realize the meaning
Of what h beheld, she dropped he
stick and tottered forward to the dais
where she fell on her knees will
clasped, entreating hands.
Sire, sire, l will die for him!"
Villon's heart leaped to his throa
when he saw her.
Nanny, nanny, go aWaN!" HI
cried, and he made a vain attempt tt
move toward his mother, a moyemen
instantly restrained by the crossed
weapons of his captors. At the sam,
moment Katherine de VaucelIes cam,
of the church door in obedience t,
the summons Of a royal pag VIII,
a found her at her prayers, and wis
told her that the king desired her pres
ence. She paused at the head of tn,
steps in amazed survey Of the crowded
place and a scene that at first sh,
could not understand.
Who is this woman?" Louis asked
looking down at the poor old dame, VIII,
knelt before him and besought him
Olivier answered in his ear:
1.-THE fellows mother, sire"
A very little tenderness came int,
Louis eyes, a very little tenderness
trembled on his lips.
woman, we cannot hear YOU" h
said. by Gods law you have gfvel
him life C and by my law you ma,
not give him life again."
Sire, l beseech you," Mother Villol
entreated; but the kings pity was no
to be purchased so.
Take her away and use her gently,
he said.
Noel lie Jolys stopped to obey tn
kings command, but the Did woman
rising to her feet, repulsed him fercely
No! mol" she said. II Will not leav
my son." and she flung her old bod,
passionately upon the prisoners necl
and clasped with her lean arms hi
mailed shoulders.
Concluded Next Week.