The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-30

o,rs YOU going to let him think he is
eire2" he asked.
kln7' ,,aer smile wrinkled the kings
n'a axot ou,te," he said. when he
~ be is to be assured that he is
count of .Montcorbier and grand
Unstable of France. His antics may
.~,sa me, his lucky star may serve
n and his winning tongue may help
ny verge me on a certain froward
.ooid' kho disdained me. Send me
mere olivier"
hIs heel. In his heart he was in
on on IN a kind OF contempt for the
eHmnnrch's humors. When there was
oh.nce Of hanging a man, 1t seemed
a him a waste of time to play the fool
~ .his ashton. The cat and 1ouse
~ was never Tristan'e way. He
p.ns ever for the doris way with the
rat.
bic hands folded behind him and his
wa thrust forward as If he were
sconning the ground for some lost OBJ
soct His mind was busy revolving
yonv thoughts. He knew very well
bow precarious his position was, how
nnnonular he was with his people, how
strong we're the forces that the duke
nj burgundy had arrayed against him,
] how little he could count upon the al
/ legiauce of the people of Paris If once
/ the enemy were able to put a foot
within the walls Of the capital city. He
| was very ambitious, he was very con-
| fdent, he was very brave, and yet he
felt that ambition. confidence and
courage were not enough at that crisis
TO give his throne support. The super
stitious side OF his nature turned rest
lessly to the unknown and his spirit
diyed nto crystals or scared among
the spinning planets, struggling for
occult enlightenment. To the super
stitious, trifles are the giants Of des-
tiny, and the kings escapade Of the
previous evening had taken a firm hold
on his fancy. The picturesque black
guard who had mouthed so calamity
his desire to reign over France and
save her would in any Ia have tickled
the kings taste for the eccentric, but
when the encounter with the poet came
upon the heels of the kings strange
dream and was followed by the vague
demonstrations OF the star-gazer, the
business doomed majestic in his eyes.
He had always before his mind the
memory VI Lie IddldLllp SdIuIty MAIDEN
who had come like a messenger from
heaven to help his father when his
fathers fortunes seemed to be in the
very dust, and it was in all seriousness
that he permitted himself to hope and
almost to believe that some such succor
might be vouchsafed him from the fan
tastic rhymester who had so lately
hectored him In the Fircone tavern.
As the king lifted his eyes a faIrer form
that that of Villon's was impressed up
on his consciousness and yet the sight
only served to strengthen the current
Of the kings thoughts.
A very beautiful girl, tall, stately,
imperious, was coming down one of
the roseways with her arms full of the
great crimson blossoms. II the king
had been a scholar in the learning of
the Greeks he would have compared
the girl to some one of the glorious
goddesses of the Hellenic Pantheon.
AS it was, he was merely aware in a
fierce way that the girl was very beau
uful. that her beauty appealed to him
very keenly, and stirred In him a keen
sense of resentment at his sighted
homage. This girl, whom Thibaut
d'Aussigny wanted to marry, this girl
whom the king coveted, this girl whom
the mad poet worshipped, what part
would she play in the fantastic comedy
which was gradually shaping itself in
the distorted mind Of Louis? Rather
Inc de Vaucelles saw the king. and
dropped him a stately courtesy.
Where are you going, girl?" Louis
asked.
She answered quietly, ITO her ma
oesty. sire, who babe me gather roses"
Give me one," said the king, and
then as the girl handed him one of the
longest and reddest of her splendid
cargo, the king lightly swaying the
Hover, brushed the girls flower face
with it and surveyed hey mockingly.
YOU are a pretty child" he said.
You might have lar a kings love.
Wen, well, you We're a fool Does not
Thibaut d.Aussigny WOO you?"
de processes to love me, sire, and
l profess to hate him."
lie was sorely wounded last night
IN a tavern scufle."
The girl gave a little cry Of disap-
polntment.
only wounded, sire?"
The king laughed heartily.
Your solicitude is adorable. Be of
cheer. He may recover And we have
clapped hands on his assassin. He
snail pay the penalty"
Katherine drew a little nearer to the
KING. Her eye were very eager, and
mere was eagerness in the tones of
her voice.
Sire, I bear this mar no malice for
hurting Thibaut d'Aussigny."
You are clemency itself. 1t would
never do to have a woman on the
,hrone. But to hurt a great lord is to
nurt the whole body polite. He shall
swing for it,"
Inc girl frowned slightly.
IN man should not die, sire. Thi-
oaut was a traitor, a Villain
LOUIS mirth d~eepened, but he kept
'"e gravity of his speech.
rake care, sweeting, lest you vale
eut or your depth. But you women are
tuUu'ftdins of compassion. If this knave's
n.e interests you, plead for it to my
OH the grand constable"
me girl made a gesture Of despair.
Ih1baut is %pitiIess," she said. Her
mouth hardened as she thought Of the
.nan she hated and of her own failure
~ thrust him from her path, but it
Sol1ened on the next words of the king.
Ihlbaut Is no longer in office. Try
'our luck with his SUCCESSOR"
nne leaned forward beseechingly.
Ills name, sire?"
Louis looked at her thoughtfully.
he IS the CONT nf MOnfrorbier' he