The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-10

ant, who will be heir to his heritage
of a cross bar and a rope? You are not
so brisk as you were. Does your de-
votion falter? We're you knocking me
and him?"
Villon looked at the king with a kind
OF d~isdainful admiration.
king of foxes!" he applauded, and
the king heard him and smiled again.
Tristan" he said, 'go into yonder
church and bring me an inch OF candle,
tristan bowed n entered the
church. The king yer on:
Our royal mercy Is mild, our royal
mercy is patient. AS 1t Is our hope and
our belief to live in history as a good
and gracious sovereign, we would not
have 1t said Of us that we denied even a
felon all due and reasonable opportun-
ity."
Even while he spoke. Tristan came
out of the church carrying in his hand a
great gold candlestick in whose socket
a little piece of candle, scarce an inch
high, was burning. He gave 1t into the
hands of one Of the soldiers Of the Scot
fish Guard, who held 1t In his strong
grasp and stood as immovable as a
statue. while the thin faint flame
pointed spear-like towards heaven in
the warm and MINDLESS air.
Louis stopped and whispered to 1.
page behind him who bowed and en-
tered the church. Then the king spoke
again to h silent, wondering crowd:
s. long as this candle burns, SO
long Francois Viilon lives. If while It
burns, one Of you is moved to take
Master Villon's place on the gallows,
so much the better for Master Villon.
and SO much the worse for his sub
stitute. Herald. proclaim our pleas
ure."
At a sign from MontJoye. the royal
herald, two ~pursuivants stirred the air
with the blast of golden trumpets.
Then Montjoye spoke:
The kings grace and the kings
Justice is ready to grant life and liberty
to Francois Villon If anyone be found
willing to take his place on the gal
lows n die his death hat he may live
his life!''
AS Montjoye's words died away a
great silence fell upon the assembled
people, a silence SO still and cruel that
mems hearts grew cold and the warm
June air seemed to be signing over
fields Of ice. The king leaned over and
addressed his prisoner confidentially:
Master Villon. Master villon, you
see what human friendship means and
the sweet voices of the multitude"
Nillon answered boldly:
Sire, 1t IS no news to me that men
love the dear habit of living"
Louis signalled to Montjoye.
Proclaim again." he said; and once
more h pair of pu%rsuivants blew their
trumpets and once again Montjoye
made his singular proposition of par
don to the assemblage. F,
CHAPTER XVI.
1--WE SPEAK TO MEN"
1t fell this time upon fresh ears, the
ears of an old woman who was patient
~ pushing her way through the crowd
IN her effort to reach her humble lodg-
ing. She had succeeded in making her
to the open space as the last
words of the herald's offer were being
spoken, and suddenly her dulled brain
caught the full significance Of Mont
joye's speech. Looking wildly around
her, she saw where Villon stood, an
armored figure held captive, and with
out attempting to realize the meaning
Of what she beheld, she dropped her
stick and tottered forward to the dais,
she fell on her knees with
clasped, entreating hands.
"Sire. sire, I will die for him!'
Villon's heart leaped to his throat
when he saw her.
Nanny, nanny, &c awayl" he
cried. and he mad a vain attempt to
move towards his mother, q movement
instantly restrained by the crossed
weapons of his captors. At the same
monen Katherine de Vaucelles came
" VI liz Church uOOT III ODeQlGnCe TO
the summons of a royal page, who
had foundh her at her prayers, and who
told her that the king desired her pres
She paused at the head Of the
In amazed survey of the crowded
place and a scene that at first she
could not understand.
WHO Is this woman?" Louis asked,
looking down at the poor old DAME, who
before him and besought him,
Olivier answered In his ear:
THE fellows mother, sire"
A very little tenderness came into
Louis eyes. a very little tenderness
on his lips.
Woman, we cannot hear you" he
said. by Gods law you have given
him life cnce and by my law you may
not give MIN life again"
Sire, I beseech YOU" Mother villon
but the kings pity was not
to be purchased so.
Take her away and use her gently"
he said.
Noel lie Jolys stopped to obey the
command, but the old woman.
rising to her feet, repulsed him ferceIy.
mo-! MOI" she said. IT will not leave
my son." and she flung her old BODY
upon the prisoners neck
and clasped with her lean arms his
mailed shoulders.
Concluded Next Week.
.