Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-31

from the face of a lantern. He was as
sumptuously attired as IL he were q
prince of the blod royal: the monday
sur seemed to take fresh luster from
his suit of gold, the air to be enriched
by his perfume, the world to be vastly
the better for his furs and Jewels.
Though IL was plain that the tricked-
out poet was in q desperate tlemm ne
managed to bear himself with dignity
that consorted royalty with his pomp.
Olivier bowed low to the inquire IN
cloth of gold.
Twill your dignity deign to linger
awhile in this rose arbour?" he asked.
The gentleman in cloth of gold looked
at him in wonder. In truth, the gen.
tleman in cloth of gold was in a very
bewildered frame of mind. He had seen
| hut now a clean and smooth-shaven
face in the mirror, with elegantly
trimmed hair, and he tried TO associate
the image in the mirror with his own
familiar face, unwashed, unkempt un-
shaver. He eyed the splendid clothes
that covered him and his memory
fumbled in perplexity over the horrors
Of a dingy, filthy wardrobe, ragged,
wine-stained and ancient. He looked
at the solemn pages who stood about
him with golden cups and golden nag
ons In their hands, and he tried to re-
member how he had escaped from the
society OF Master Robin Turgis into
this gilded environment. His head
ached with the endeavor and he aban-
doned 1t. Olivier repeated his question,
and at last Villon found words, though
his voice sounded strange and hollow
on his ears, and hard to command.
my dignity will deign to do any
thing you suggest, good master Blacka-
moor" he answered, but to his heart
he whispered that 1t was better to hui
NOR these strange satellites whose per-
--- - ez.-aI "a snaDnoCfh1n m raRnnHilp
with any memories Of the real world
as he knew 1t. The barber bowed defer
entially.
II shall have to trouble you presently
with certain small cares of state" he
said.
Villon beamed on him b~enignly. He
was wondering what his ,interlocutor
was talking about, but he felt that 1t
was the course of the wise mar to be-
tray no wonder. The conditions were,
indeed, ~bewildering. but also they were
not disagreeable, and 1T was as well 10
take them cheerfully.
mo trouble, excellent myrmidon," he
answered. These duties are pleasures
to your true man,
Olivier bowed anew.
His majesty will probably homo you
with his company later
Villon beamed again, and again mis-
wonder found words which seemed to
him to make the most and the best OF
the situation. Perhaps In his singular
region Of he was the kings maid
and the kings friend. At least 1t could
do no harm to assume such friendship
when his solemn companion seemed to
take 1t for granted.
always delighted to see dear Louis,
He and l are very good friends. Peo-
pie say hard things Of him, but believe
mo thew don't know him.
He was trying his best to piece TO-
gether the disordered fragments OF MS
memory and to explain to himself how
it came to pass hat he was dizzy ano
heavy and he felt like a man In a darF
room who was cropping to find the door
handle. The voice Of the barber inter
rupted these mental struggles.
May we take our leaVe' monsels
neur?" i,
Villon's face lighted. He felt that i
would be pleasanter for him to be alone
while he was attempting to regain con
troll of his faculties, more especially a.
he noted that the pages had place.
their golden cups and fiagons on tn'
marble table n that his tnstinct as
sured him that these precious Vessel
sheltered no less precious wine.
you may, you may" he assented
and then as the barber made to depart
Villon's mood changed and he caugh
him by the sleeve and drew him con
idently toward him.
Stay one moment" he murmured
you know this plaguy memory o
mine-what a forgetful fellow an
Would mind telling me again WIN
l happen to be?'
No look Of surprise stirred the bar
ber's face; there came no change IN III
extreme complaisance.
You are the count Of Montcrobie1
monseigneur," he answered, graVely
You have just arrived in Paris fror
the court of Province, where you stoo
:. i'm high favor with the king of tina
: country, but your favor is, l belleve
> greater with the king Of France, for n
has been pleased to make you gran
: constable. 1t is his majesty's wish tina
! you contrive to remember this
Villon laughed a laugh which he trie
hard to make hearty and natural, ou
with Indifferent success.
"Of course, It was most foolish or m
! to forget. Now, l suppose, good maste
: Long-toes, that n person in my eXalte
rank has a good deal of power, lhhu
ence, authority, and what notY'
with the kings favor, you are IN
! first man in the realm"
"Quite so. And does my exalted p'
sition carry with it any agreeable pc
quisite in the way OF pocket money!
. IF you will dip your finger In yol
pouch" oliver suggested, pointing
Q thin forefinger at Villon's jeWelle
4 belt.
Villon thrust his fingers into II
pocket hat hung from it and brougl
e them out again loaded with great &c
e den coins, bright and clear from II
mint, that cleaned joyously in the SUI
light. He gave a little cry of deligl
- -. - 1oE +hnp, ~ In a shining StrGAl
e from followed hand to followed han
& and contemplated their jingle and gil
& ter with the delight Of a new Mida
s But the first thought that welled up
his heart to welcome this strani
# wealth was bravely unselish.
J. Gold counters, on my honor. De-
d drops from the divine stream of Pact
y lus. Good sir, will you straightwS
X dispatch some n you can trust wi
/ a handful of these broad pieces to t
Church of the Celestins n inqui
of the beadle there for the dwelling
Mother Villon, a poor old woman, sore
plagued with a scapegrace son? l.
him seek her out-she dwells in {
seventh story and therefore the near
to the heaven she deserves-and 81
her these coins that h buy herst
food, clothes and firing"
He was too confused to reason clea
~ with MS SlludllOI, Out ne lett 81
tina whoever he was and whatever
was in this amazing dream of his, t
poor old woman whom he loved so w
must needs be in it and might bene
by this gift of fairy gold.
Olivier bowed d~eferentially.
1T shall be DONE" he said, tran
ferring the great gold discs to his oy
pocket. Then pointing to a small &c
den bell which one of the pages h
placed upon the table, he added, :
there be anything your dignity shou
desire, he has only to strike upon II
bell"
"You are very good" Villon respon
ed solemnly, and on the phrase DIV