Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-14

VIC dlC iillO Nolt yOu ohN a
forever in this green garden under
those Indifferent stars. breathing this
rose-scented air, spelling the secret of
the world"
you may say what you please to-
morrow" she whispered, but Villon
would not have 1t SO.
ALAS, no.! Tomorrow 1 shall be
MORALLY sober; tonight 1 am divinely
drunk-drunk with star wine, flower
wine, song wine. The stars burn my
brain; the roses pierce my flesh; the
songs trouble my soul. Tonight, II
l dared. l would ease my heart"
The girl spoke so family that only a
lovers ears could hear the words:
You may say what you please to-
night"
Villon caught at his heart as If to
keep 1t In the compass of his breast.
IF / were to die tomorrow, l would
tell you this tonight: love YOU hese
are Easy words to say, yet my heart
fails as / say them, for their meaning
is as full and musical as the bell of
doom. Men are such fools that they
have but one name for a thousand
meanings, and beggar the poor love-
word TO base kitchen usages and work.
a-day desires. But ! would keep IL
holy for the flame which 1t sometimes
pleases heaven to light in one heart for
the worship OF another. l never knew
what love was until | saw a girls face
on q May morning and wisdom stripped
the rind from my naked heart. The
God In me leaped into being TO greet
the God in your eyes. l love you. This
is what l would say If / were to die
tomorrow"
He was very close to her now, and
his eyes were looking into her eyes.
She answered him frankly:
IF you were to die tomorrow, 1 might
tell you this much tonight. A woman
may love n man because he is brave,
or because he is comely, or because
he Is wise, or gentle-for q thousand
thousand reasons. But the best OF all
reasons for q woman loving n man is
just because she loves him, without
rhyme and without reason, because
heaven wills 1t, because earth fulfills
1t, because his hand Is OF the right size
to hold her heart In It's hollow"
The lovers hands were closely
clasped, the lovers lips were very near
to meeting. Only the god Pan smiled
n sneered as If he knew that some
times lovers lips fail TO meet even
when the space between fervent mouth
and mouth is no bigger than a roseleaf.
Katherine" Villon whispered, and
drew her closer to him. Love, happi-
HESS Ire were coming 10 MS arms as
to a shrine.
In the sudden bliss that had come
upon both the lovers they paid no heed
to a footstep upon the terrace, till a
voice struck like n sword-stroke across
their ecstasy, the voice of Noel lie
Jolys.
Where are the lovers of yesterday? %
Noel said mockingly as he slowly de-
scended the steps to join them.
There was a red rage in Villon's
heart, but he bridled 1t as he turned
upon the interloper contemptuously.
Your pink and white lady-bird," he
said to Katherine, and then waving his
hand at Noel with a gesture of disdain
and dismissal, chanted at him:
"Lady-bird lady-bird, fly away
home"
Noel's pink face flushed a poppy red
and his white hand went to his sword
hilt. There was courage in the foppish
substance, and he would clearly nave
rejoiced to try his chance In a passage
alarms.
MY lord" he said, II will measure
word and sword with you at any sea-
son, but now I seek promised speech
with this lady"
Villon laughed at his menace.
while l have better business in
hand, you shall know only the smooth
ihJ NOi5"S ia Nv I" vi NY III |
chion. Compass your swelling heart
lest you play the lion before a lady"
The two men eyed each other like
angry dogs, eager to spring at each
threats. Katherine dropped her
restraining hand on Villon's arm.
My lord" she answered, "he has
me for audience. l will
speak with you again ere you ride"
Villon turned to her.
'NNn ride uf nina rnpoapn har he sofl
In a low voice; and then in n louder
tone, looking at Noel, he added mock
Till then l shall busy myself
In writing my last will and testament,
and bequeathing a thousand nothings
to a thousand nobodles to puzzle poster
Ity. You shall taste OF my bounty,
Noel" and he began to i'm
provise derisively:
ITO Messire Noel, named the neat
BY those who love him, l bequeath
A helmless ship, a houseless street,
a world'cSs book, a swordless sheath,
An hourless clock, a leatieSs wreath,
A bed sans sheet, q board sans meat,
A bell ans tongue, a saw sans teeth,
To make his nothingness complete"
Noel shrugged his shoulders and
.urned his back. He was very irate,
1ul iO tNooAN"N W oAAON iOllAlllS
but Indifference.
do you leave me nothlng?" Kath-
whispered, and Nillon answered:
Now and always the heart of my
He turned on his heel and glided into
liquid darkness OF the rose alley,
with exquisite thoughts.
Katherine turned to Noel h~aughtily.
"Well?" she said.
II have always to seek you WI
Noel protested.
Katherine tossed her head, and her
.resses trembled like leaves in the
moonlight.
1.-THE world is not yet so old that the
yooing must be done by women"
II am out of favor" Noel complained,
since a fellow from nowhere plays the
he fool in high places"
Katherine's eyes showered scorn upon
lin.
Il do not hate you for railing at him,
it does not help me to love you
Noel caught at the word.
You loved me once" he asserted.
She shook her head pityingly.
1--WE played with great words AS
hildren play with colored balls. 1t is
asy to say L love you and often very
weet; yet the colored balls roll into
he corner, and the child forgets them
vhen the moon of childhood wanes.'
A wistful irritation puckered Noels
countenance.
you have outgrown me?" he ques-
Toned.
Katherine drew away from him till
moonlight that shone between them
wide and white. She answered
uietly:
MY soul was in bud a week ago
'oday 1t is in blossom"
Noel threw up his arms impatiently.
God have mercy! What can this
elbow do that is denied me? Can he
a horse, or fly a hawk better?
how a brighter sword in quarrel, or
une a smoother Lutte in calm? Can he
ut-dance me, out-drink me ~out-cour-
Ter me. out-Soldier me2 No. no. MOI