Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-10

then, seeing a form a Few
feet away from her. she rushed toward
the stranger furiously while the others
rose in eager expectation OF some new
excitement.
What do you seek here?" she asked
fercely Of the old woman, and then, as
she saw the pitiful wrinkled face star
ing up at her, she started back In sur
prise.
The old woman, mis~interpreting the
sex of her qIestioner from the dress
that Huguette wore. began apoiogetic-
ally.
Asking your pardon, young gentle
man. and for a m~oment4her words
were drowned In a shout of delighted
laughter, as the listening rogues APP
preciated the blunder she had made.
Asking YOU pardon, young gentie-
man, l seek Master Francois Villon.
Huguette snapped at her impatient
ly, Seek him anlInd him." Then
turning to Rene, shc cried, "Montigny'
you beast!' and with her hand on her
dagger, made holly for aim.
Montigny, grinning like q delighted
monkey, skipped for safety, lodging
her around the table, while the others
| ~perceiving a victim In the bewildered
old woman Joined hands in a ring and
| began dancing wildly around her, sing
ing a ribald song. The old woman, as
frightened and timid as a mouse might
be If IL suddenly found Itself the center
Of a circle of dancing cats, stood still.
At this moment the cellar door
opened, and Master Francois reap
peared, carrying In his arms a large
Jug OF win .Perceiving hat the land
lord still lay in his heavy sleep, he
| smiled delightedly to himself, closed
the cellar door softly and placed his
booty In the corner of the fireplace
nearest to the settle. The noise of the
tumult attracted him from his success
full plumber, and looking up, he became
aware Of what was happening. In a
second his contented mien changed,
and dashing into the dancing crowd,
he struck Jehan lie Loup a heavy blow
with the bunch of keys, which felled
him TO the ground like a log. In a
moment the cluster Of rascals dissipat-
ed, and Villon caught the old woman
in his arms.
Damn you, chubs!" he shouted at
| them. It's my mother" Then as he
drew the trembling old woman towards
the fireplace, he whispered In her ears
Don't be frightened, nanny, they
meant no harm"
A certain hang-dog air of contrition
was on the faces Of most Of the mem
bers of the gang as they stood apart
and eyed the mother and son shame
facedly. Guy Tabarie, who had a
| wholesome dislike to quarrels, slipped
| quietly into the cool street to seek
pleasure in some place where the at
mosphere might be less stormy.
Robin Turgis wakened from his
heavy sleep, clapped his hands in
stinctively to his girdle and found that
his keys were missing.
MY keys! my keys" he shouted
Il "NVn orc are nv kaVG2' And then
catching sight of them where they lay
| by the PROSTATE form of Jchan lie Loup
he rushed forward and secured them
greedily.
By this time Jehan le Loup had re-
covered the senses which Villon's
swinging blow had knocked out OF him
and was ere r-ltu5 slowly into n sitting
posture. He glared ferociously at Mas
ter Francois and his evil right hand
stole to the pommel Of his dagger.
You ave cracked my crown, curse
you," he grunted, and then swiftly
sprang to his feet with the bare blade
in his hand and rushed at his assail-
ant. But Villon was too alert to be
taken He had not time &c
! draw his sword, but in a second he
had snatched a spit from the fire and
extending 1t scientifically kept Jehar
lie Loup at arms length. Huguette
| StlHGu JtIIdI ny ne htiSSG dlIl.
She is his mother!" she said an
grily. You all had mothers, 1 sup
| pose? Let him alone!"
Jehan lie Loup unwillingly sheathe(
his weapon; Huguette dragged hin
back to the table; Villon replaced the
| spit, which had somewhat burned his
fingers, and sat down by his mothers
side on the settle, In peace.
Did they brighten you, mammy?'
he whispered. But they meant M
harm. Boys and girls, girls and boys.
The old woman put her arms tightly
about him Villon grimaced. Her low
ing touch was as painful IS a hostile
| one to his bruised body, but he made
no attempt to repress her embrace.
Come home, Francois" she said
Come home. Where have you beer
these three days?"
Villon caressed the old very
tenderly, as ne answered:
Very busy, mammy-state secrets
NUNS the word. How did you find me
out?"
They told me at the Unicorn" the
old woman said, that l might find yol
here"
Villon made a gesture of contempt
"Oh, the Unicorn is no longer fash.
ionable. They want payment on the
nail there, confound them! Besides
this is nearer the walls and we car
hear the Burgundians shouting. 1t Is
as good as a relish with our wine"
Mother Villon shook her grey heaC
sadly.
Come away" he entreated. "Yol
have had wine enough.
Villon ~contradicted her instantly.
Never in my life, nanny. / have
a fools head and always get into my
attitudes too soon"
Then, seeing the look of disappoint.
ment that made her grey old face lool
greyer still, he added. Il cannot come
home just now, nanny, but there /.
| something l can do for you. Do yol
remember when / was a little child
Something In the words made hin
stop suddenly. The hideous contras
between the phrase n the plac,
wherein he was, between the mothe,
who fondled him and the wild men,
a and women-savages who wer,
his daily friends and who were drink
ing and dicing behind him at the otheI
side of the settle, came upon him Xix
q great wave of pain and knocked tn,
mirth out of him. He turned ava
from his mother and repeated to him,
self dismally, God! when / was a lit
tie child" The mothers pity, tn,
mothers protection Immediately as.
serted themselves.
you were the prettiest child woman
ever bore" she said, softly.
Villon turned towards her again
while he tried to wink the tears out O
his eyes.
you used to sing me to Sleep" h,
said, and as he spoke he rocked he
slowly backward and forward in hi!
arms, while he crooned the words O
thaf old nIIrSa'c song which hoe cnnth