Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-04-11

over the place. The five wantons on
the fringe OF the crowd caught at each
others fingers and gasped. was that
splendid gentleman their old frlend,
Francois Villon? AS for the nve rogues
who knew the secret, they had begun TO
laugh at Villon's first words, but the
laughter dried upon their lips as ne
ended.
From the church suddenly the exult-
ant music Of the TIE Deum ceased TO
swell and In its place crept rorth upon
the silent air the awful notes or a MIS-
erere. The king had been at the q OF
the %organist that morning ana nao
planned his effects well. The melan-
chody music stirred the people TO muir
murs Of surprise and protest.
Guy Tabarie, fiourishing his notched
and bloody sword, thrust his round
body forward.
What jest is this?" he asked
And villon answered him:
Such a lest as / would rather weep
over tomorrow than laugh at today. For
the pitcher breaks at the wells mouth
this very morning. Messlre Noel, 10
you / surrender my sword. l like TO De
lieve that It has scraped a little shame
from it's masters coat"
He drew his great war-sword and
handed 1t TO Noel lie Jolys, who, for one
OF the few times In his life, astonished
into forgetfulness of courtly etiquette
had been staring, open-mouthed, at the
astonishing revelation that had just
been made to him. The CLEAN of the
weapon recalled him to him
self and he took it from the hands or
the doomed man with a grave courtesy
which meant something more than the
fulnllment OF a formal duty. Noel lie
Jolys was a soldier and his eyes paid
homage to q brave man.
Vilon turned to Tristan.
Master Tristan, perform your office
upon his ~self-doomed felon."
With great alacrity, Tristan moved
towards Villon, but his motion was met
by such angry murmurs from the
crowd, and not from the GROVE alone,
but from the soldiers n had followed
Villon to victory, that even he shranK
back instinctively before Its menace.
There came cries from a
threats, calling on the king to pardon
the grand constable, calling upon those
who loved him to rescue him.
King, is this tustice?" Rene de Mon
tigny shouted, and his question evoked
q roar of approval from the multitude.
The kings keen glance surveyed the
scene with no sign of fear and no sign
OF Leaning easily upon the
railing, as a mar might lean who sur
veyed an amusing farce or interlude,
he addressed the crowd:
Good people Of Paris, you have heard
your grand constable pronounce SEN
tence upon a criminal. Has Master
Francois Villon any reason TO urge, any
plea to offer, why the sentence should
not be carried out?"
Villon waved his hand disdainfully.
II have nothing whatever to say, sire.
Francois Villon must die. It's bad luck
fnr hI~o h,,t ha hoo bod yynrGa llCk and
SOTO business"
AS he spoke he drew near to the line
Of Scottish archers and two of their
number laid hands on him, n at either
side. The sight Of their hero thus in
the very clutch of justice spurred the
multitude to renewed evaporation.
Angry demands for justice, for mercy,
for rescue, shook the summer air. I'm
armed citizens broke into an armorer's
shop hard by, and, sedzing whatever
weapons they could lay their hands
upon, flourished them aloft in signih-
cant assertion that their words were
but the prefaces to deeds. Again Ia
barie's bull voice beloved to those
about him!
Kings must listen to the voice of
the people. Shall the man who led us
to victory die a rogue's death?"
And again his thunder heralded q
storm. Soldiers and citizens alike
seemed prepared to rescue Villon by
force from the hands of his enemies.
The Scottish archers with levelled ar
~quebusses formed a line in front of the
dais and every courtier drew his sword.
Only the king seemed unmoved, only
the king seemed entertained by the
whirlwind he had reaped. He asked
quite quietly:
Docs Master Francois Villon ask his
life?"
Villon shook his head.
mo, sire. Master Francois Villon
played and Master Francois pays"
AS he spoke the angry people, swaying
like a sea, shouted new shouts. of res
cue, clamored new cries for pardon.
Olivier, green-pale, whispered eagerly
to the king:
Sire, the rogues are in a damnable
temper. Can you not gain time, post
pone, promise?"
Louis answered imperturbably:
Are the fools so fond Of the fellow?
I know a way to stop them shouting"
AS he spoke, for the first time he rose
from his seat, a frail, small, black fig
ure, to dominate those raging waves of
humanity, while Olivier, holding up his
hand to order silence, shouted:
peace, peace! The king would speak
with his good people of Paris"
The noisy voices dropped slowly into
silence to hear what the king said.
Good people of Paris, l am no tyrant.
But a king is the father OF his people,
and his ears can eve be shut against
the cries OF his children! This mans
life Is forfeit. Which Of you will re-
deem 1t? II there be one among you
ready to take Master Francois Villon's
place on yonder gibbet, let that one
speak now"
rHlarn u-oo n hriaf oilannn &c tha ~nn6
began to realize the meaning of the
kings words, a silence broken by angry
cries.
What does he mean? Take his place
on the gallows! A trick-a trick"
Louis grinned complacently.
mo trick, friends, but a simple bar
gain. Here is a man condemned tc
death, here Is an idle gibbet. If We
prize him SO highly, let one among you
die for him. 1t has been said by the
wise apostle: Greater love hath no mar
than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends On my word as a king
when such a splendid volunteer Is
swinging at the end Of yonder rope thai
moment Master Francois Villon shall
go free. Come, who will slip neck II
moose for the sake Of a hero?"
Villon protested h~aughtily:
mo man shall die for me-"
But, indeed, his protest was prema'
ture. The anger of the crowd dwindleC
into sullen clamors.
THE king laughs at US! IT'S tot
much to ask"
A faint, exultent smile fickered owe
the kings face as he asked:
Now, friends, where Is our idoli
supplement? Who will be his lieuten
ant, who will be heir to his heritag,
OF a cross bar and q rope? You are no
so brisk as you were. Does you de
votion falter? Were you hooking M
and him?"
Villon looked at the king with a kim
of disdai \ Iul admiration.
King OF foxes!" he ~applauded, an
the king heard him and smiled again.
Tristan" he said, Ego into yonde