The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-03-27

Something in the kings words strucI
upon Villon's fiery hopes X a stream
OF Ice cold water and seemed to quencl
them. He was like a man who, lonl
playing at blind-man's buff, suddenl,
mas the bandage plucked from his eye
and stands dazzled and blinking IL
the sunlight. After all, he was not thu
count of Montcorbier; after all, he wa,
not the grand constable of France; af
ter all, he was only a m~asqueradint
oeggar who had won the heart OF {
lady under false colors: who had tri
umphed by flying a false flag. In al
those seven splendid days his simple
thought had never to come to him. HI.
whole soul had been so taken captive
by he fascination of the part he hat
been permitted to play that he forgot
ne was playing a part, and allowed his
FANCY to believe that a week-lone
dream would endure forever. Now he
knew himself and what he had done
and what he must do. A divine farce
mad turned to sudden tragedy. He
turned to the king with a groan.
CHEAT, lie," he repeated. Sire, those
words fling me from my FOOLS paradise.
Kill me if l fail to win her, but 1 will
hood from my heart"
Louis grinned at him.
"Please yourself. Win her or swing.
Either way contents me-
AS ne spoke. he turned away. Kath-
crime had descended the steps
ana was moving across the
grass to greet her hero who
stood with clasped hands in the moon
Lght k a MAJ struck dumb. Kath-
erine was carrying in her hands a
crimson scarf fringed with gold, n
she lifted 1t to him as she spoke.
wear this with my prayers. With
II, ! give you my hand and heart. You
Sn1I On AIRY INV raItry1toI 4,~t~ IA -.-..
into the battle. Let me tell my love
to all the world"
swiftly and lightly she threw it
ABOUT his neck before he could find
words, but now he spoke:
Wait, wait! You must say no more
until you know me-"
The girls eyes widened with sur
prise.
DO l not know you?"
WHOM thrust his face forward very
close to hers.
Look into my face" he said. Look
ven: DO you see nothing there that
reminds you of other hours?"
catherine smiled divinely.
OF happy hours in this rose garden"
Nillon insisted fiercely:
40, no! OF a dark night. a tavern,
a cioaked woman, a sordid fellow
dreaming sottishly by the fire, a pray
err a love tale and a promise, a crowd
puiiieS ana WantonS, q quarrel, a
1ght with sword and lantern in the
dark. a breast knot Of ribbon flung
from a gallery
Katherine recoiled a little, with a
horror in her eyes.
she asked. me-
Vlllon dropped on his knees with a
groan.
Here is the knot of ribbon which
you hung to me in the FIrcone tavern.
on, pity me! l am Francois Villon"
katherine pressed her hands to her
forehead. ~
l. can hear what you say, but it
MAKES no mark on my brain"
rlilon's words ran fast from him:
L am Francois Villon and yet no
longer he, for my old vii self is dead,
am Francois Villon who served YOU
WIN MS sword, who praised you with |
hls pen, and who loves you with all his
SOUL" ~
The girls whole body shook with fear
as she answered:
1T isn't true! 1t isn't true. r don't
believe you"
Vllon sprang to his feet.
Whatever my fate is" he cried, you
shall know the truth"
turning to where the released con-
spirators stood apart, he called to them
peramptorily:
Guy! Rene! All of VOL, coma
here!" ~
Amazed to be thus mmone IN
their own names by so great q per-
sonage as h grand constable Of
france. the thieves crept forward tim
IDLY and, In obedience to Villon's COM
manalng gestures. gathered about him
as ne turned to them. pressing his face
near to their faces. and cried:
Look at me closer-closer, Don't
you know Francois Villon in spite of
this new spirit shining in his eyes?"
Rene de Montigny gave q cry of
recognition.
- should never AVE known you.
You are so strangely changed"
U Tabarie Endorsed him.
Still. it's his dear old cou]ntenance"
katherine watching the scene in sick
despair. turned ~piteously to the king.
Sire, sire, is this true?"
Louis, who had been watching all
with unnlitigated satisfaction, an
swered f1eeringly:
Most true, pretty mistress. You
dlsdaired me for this"
With blazing eyes and trembling
hands Katherine moved across the
grass to where Villon stood.
.Plttul traitor. why did you live this
Vlllon pleaded desperately;
II loved YOU"
dlSeT uaIneu INTO q great
fire.
DO not shame the sweet word.
hate you! To think the face that
nave learned to love should mask SO
base a heart!"
Then as Villon drew a little closer to
her, In a n agony of entreaty. she struck
out at him with both hands, beating
MIN on the breast In an
fury. Villon bowed beneath the blow
while she ragged at him:
You have stolen my love like a thief,
you nave cructhed my pride. I hate
you! Go back to the dregs and lees of
life. skulk in your tavern, forget what
l shall never forget, that so base q
thlng as you ever came near mel"
The king was by her side in an In
slant and whispering into her ear:
Is this the course of true love?"
She Wung upon him in scorn.
Sire, you have wreaked q royal re-
Venge upon a oma There are no
tears in my eyes yet, but I pray they
VIII come hat l may weep myself clean