Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-07

"Sire, 1 have blown II abroad that
your majesty feasts tonight. While the
duke of Burgundy believes US to be
~carousing, we shall make a sortie from
st. A%nthony's gate. Our horses hooves
will be mufied. no spur shall Jingle
and no bride clink. We will steal
through the night like shadows. AT
the cross road some few of US will make
an attack upon the enemy's left and
beat a retreat. This will tempt him
into our ambuscade and as / believe end
In his rout. At nine, my lords. Fare
WELL"
He raised his hand in dismissal: the
three captains saluted the king and his
minister and passed out of the pres
ence. AS they descended the wlndin
stairs, du Lau said to his companions:
II do not know your hearts, my lords,
but I love this soldier of fortune
Nantoillet answered cordially:
God knows where he came from and
| God knows where he will go to, but /
would ride with him to the worlds
end"
my father" said Poncet de Riviere,
told me often Of the Maid Of Orleans
and her power with bearded men. He
must be of her kindred, for he wins me
against my will"
AS the sound of their feet died. away
In the depths Of the tower, Villon
turned to the king.
IF the duke Of Burgundy falls into
my trap. said; men Will call me
a great captain. Yet 1t is no than
remembering the shape Of a meadow
where I played in childhood. Strange
that an urchin's playground should be-
----- 4. rAIrrlfAn - 1t.aN vas md UlnrtnG "
The king clapped him playfully on
the shoulder.
Where did you learn wisdom?"
"In the school Of hope deferred. When
I was-what / was, l still believed that
this dingy carcass swaddled a roman
spirit. In the pomp of my pallet l
dreamed Olympian dreams. And the
creams have come true
You are an amazing fellow. Here In
O. week, you have made me more popu-
lar thar / made myself since my Access
sion. In court, in camp, in council, men
are pleased to call you paragon"
II am a man Of the people and l
know what the people need. A week
ago the good people of Paris were dis
loyal enough. l repeal the al on wine
and today they clap their hands and
cry God save King Louis Justify. A
week ago your soldiers were mutinous
because they were Ill fed, worse cloth
ed, and never paid at all. l feed them
full, clothe them warm, pay them well,
and today your majesty has an army
that would follow me to the devil If
whistled a marching une."
But in the meantime, your sands
are running out. Is your heart falling?
Is your pulse fagging?"
Not a whit. 1 AVE been translated
without disCredit from the tavern TO
the palace, and if the worse comes to
the worst, l may say with the dying
Caesar, Applaud me-"
The king grinned s~ardonically.
"Will the worse come to the worst?"
he piped. How is your suit with the
Lady Katherine?"
Villon's smile fingered still on his
lips as he answered.:
sire, no wise man boasts that he
knows the heart Of a woman, and yet,
I hope for the best"
but If you fail" the king persisted.
Villon's smile grew more philosoph-
zeal. In his heart he felt fairly on
hdent, but spoke cautiously.
why, then, when the housewife
moon kindles her pale fire on the
hearth Of heaven tomorrow, 1 shall be
quiet enough. But either way you nave
given me n royal week, and / nave
made the most Of 1t, lived a thousand
lives, eaten my cake to the last sweet
crumb, and have known the meaning
of kingship."
Louis laughed.
You speak as If you had reigned for
a century"
Villon's contentious mood deepened.
"a man might live a thousand years
and yet be no more account ut the last
than as Il great eater Of dinners.
Whereas to suck all the sweet and
snuff all the perfume but of n single
hour, to push all its possibilities to the
edge of the c~hessboard, is to live great
ly though IT be not 70 live long, and
an end is an end II it come on the
winged heels OF q week or h dull
crutch OF a century"
Louis leaned back and looked at his
companion In establishment.
Pray HEAVIER his philosophy may
sound as fine when your neck is in the
halter
Your majcsty's wit and my wish
run nose and nose in q leash"
Louis changed the subject as If there
were more important matters in the
world than the life, loves and death
ever of a grand constable.
"Messire Noel brings me a new as
trologer tonight. The heavens seem in
a conspiracy of confusion, the stars are
all n tangle! My dream of q star fall
ing from HEAVIER defies divination."
Villon looked at him pityingly.
dc you never tire of these sky doc
tors" he questioned.
Louis frowned, as he always frowned
at any hint of disbelief In the science
of the stars.
Don't jest, master poet, but ply
your suit with proud Kate, for l swear
If you fail, o shall hang tomorrow.
Now leave me, for ! must work while
you play" and he bent over a chart