Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-03

crossed, holding his long sword agalns
his knees with both hands. The mel
and women gathered about him, III
bees about a rose bush. Huguett'
placed herself on a stool at his feet
Jehanneton flung herself full length OIL
the ground and stared up INTO his face
Robin Turgis straddled q bench a
some distance and grinned. Louis
seized the opportunity to whisper be-
hind his hand to Tristan that he found
the fellow, diverting, TO which Tristan
replied grufny that he for his par
found him n duh ape. Louis Nigh
have argued the point but his Interest
was claimed by the voice Of Villon
who, being comfortably installed on his
wine caslS, was beginning his promised
narrative. A philosopher would have
discerned something pathetic in the
picture of the ragged rascal thus CIR
died about with blackguards of a baser
sort, his lean body quivering, his eager
face alive with emotions, mockery on
his lips end sorrow in his eyes: to the
sardonic king it afforded nothing more
and nothing less than amusement.
You must know dear devils and
| eve~r-beautiful Blowens, that three
days ago, when l was lying in the ken
mel, which is my humor, and staring at
the sky, which is my recreation-l
speak, honest citizen, but in parable OIL
allegory, a lear device With the school
men-l saw between me n heaven the
face of q lady, the loveliest face / ever
saw"
Here the poor Abbess, indignation
overcrowding her borrowed mannish-
ness, began to sniffle M to assert that
the speaker was a faithless pig, but
Villon, unheeding her whimpers, went
on with his tale.
"She was going to church-God
| shield her-but she looked my way as
1 she passed, and though she saw me no
more h h saw the cobble-stone
stood on, l saw her once and forever,
We song-chandlers babble a deal of love,
out for the most part we know little or
1othing about it, and when It comes 1t
Knocks us silly. / was knocked so silly
that-well, what do o think was the
silly thing | did?"
Villon turned his alert face to each
member Of his audience, and his de-
risive mouth belied the sadness of his
eyes.
"Emptied a can for oblivion" Mon
| :igny suggested. Blanche was no less
practical.
Kissed a wench for the same pur-
pose," she cried. THE times that I've
oeen wooed out of my name!"
picked the woman's pocket" Casin
Cholet limited, wagging his shock head
wisely, while Jehan lie Loup, with a
lideous leer, staggered; Got neal her
n the crowd and pinched her." and
suited the action to the word with fin
ger and thumb OF Blanche's plump
shoulder.
Master Francois dissipated all this
'ouguish philosophy with a contemptu-
GUS gesture.
La, la, la" he chirruped. "Silier
han all these. l followed her into the
church."
The silence of lustunIshment reu up
on the audience Only Colin de Cay
.ulx had sufficient presence of mind to
formulate his amazement in q pro-
onged whistle. Louis crossed himself
'epeatedly under his gown. You are
lot a church goer, sir?" he questioned
'ourly. Villon answered him sweetly.
mo. old Q~ueernabs, unless there's an
alms-boX to open or a matter of gold
plate to pilfer." Guy Tabarie hurriedIy
Interrupted him with a warning cry of
'Cavei" and a significant glance at the
strangers, but VillOn derided his fears.
Nonsense" he cried, leaning for
ward and playfully Shaping Louis on
he back with his sword. This good
Cufin has a friendly face and can take
l joke. Can't you, old rabbit"
Louis WINGED and then grinned as
Tristan gasped in anger. Il thank
heaven L have a sense of humor," he
said, with a sly glance at his compan-
on. Villon went on with his story.
"Well, / sprawled there in the dark,
with my knees on the cold ground, and
all the while the sound Of her beauty
a sweet in my ears, and the taste of
ler beauty was salt on my lips, and the
pain of her beauty vas gnawing at my
leart, and l prayed that might see her
again"
At this point Huguette, who had
oeen following the narrative with n fe-
inc %feroCity, caught up Il wine-jUg and
made to throw it at the poets head, but
was de~Xterously disarmed by Guy Ia
barrie before the vessel had time to quit
ler fingers. Sulkily she pumped her
self down on her stool again, while VII
on, quite unconscious of the averted
peril, rambled on dreamily.
And the incense tiCkled my nostrils
and the painted saints sneered at me,
and bits of rhymes and bits Of prayers
legged in my brain and l felt as II /
were drunk with some new and delec-
table liquor. And then she Slipped out
and | after her. She took the holy wa
ter from my fingers
Vilon's voice sank r~everently and
Huguette took advantage of the pause.
Il wish it had burned you TO the
bone" she interrupted s~pitefully. Mas
ter Villon shook his head.
ut burned deeper than that, believe
me. Outside, on Gods steps, stood a
yellow haired. pink faced puppet who
greeted her and they ambled away to-
gether, | on their heels. Presently they
came to a gateway and in slips my
quarry, and as she did so she turned
to her squire and saw her face again
and lost it, for the tears came into my
eyes" With q heavy sigh he turned to
Louis. II suppose you wonder why l
talk like this, but when my hearts in
my mouth l must spit it out or 1t
chokes me-"
II have learned to wonder at Moth
Louis answered sagely. Villon
picked up the dropped thread of his
tale.
II saluted the gallant and begged to
know the lady's name. He took me for
a mailman, but he told me-"
In "a second Huguette was on her legs
again and nesting her eager face close
to hat of Villon as she whispered coax
ingly:
what was the lady's name. dear
Francois?'
Master Francois looked into her
watchful eyes with a wise smile.
BE secret, sweet" he mummured. 1T
was her majesty, the queen" 4 wild
roar of laughter ron Villon's friends
greeted this sally, and the fury 1t
brought to Huguette's. face. Louis, roy
ally angered, made as if to rise in pro-
test, but the heavy hand of Tristan fell
his shoulder and restrained him, and
Villon, noticing his irritation, waved
him down with a pacifying gesture.
Now, now, my rum duke" he cried,
your loyalty need not take fire. 1t was
her majesty, but her name | shall
keep to myself, though ii is written "a
my shoulders in fair large blue anu
black bruises"
This statement stirred a murmur of
surprise In the gathering. Did the
pink and gold popinjay beat you?" Mon
tigny asked, interpreting he general
curiosity.
mo, no." Villon answered. 1T came
about thus. We tinkers of verses set a
price on u wares that few find them
worth, yet with the love-fever in my