The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-04-10

supplement? Who will be his lieuten-
ant, Who will be heir to his heritage
Of a cross bar and a rope? You are not
so brisk as you were. Does our de-
votion falter? Were o hooking me
and him?'
Villon looked at the king with a kind
OF d%isdainful admiration.
king of foxes!" he app1auded. and
the king heard him and smiled again.
Tristan" he said, "go into yonder
church and bring me an inch Of CANDLE,
Tristan bowed and entered tho
church. The king went on:
Our royal mercy Is mild, our royal
mercy Is patient. AS 1t is u hope and,
our belief to live In history as a good
and gracious sovereign, we would not
have it said Of us that we denied sven 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 Scott,
fish Guard, who held It 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.
AootS SSoPpGu dltOa whispered 10 a.
page behind him who bowed and ems
tered the church. Then the king spoke
again to the silent, wondering crowd:
SO long as this candle burns, So
long Francois Villon lives. If while ii
burns, n Of you is moved to take
Master V1llon's place on the ga1lows.
50 much the better for Master Villon,
n SO much the worse for his SUBJ
stitute. Herald, proclaim our pleas-ts
ure."
At a sign from Montjoye, the royal
herald, two pursuivants stirred the air
with the blast of golden trumpets.l
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 gals
lows and die his death that he may live
his lfe!"
AS Montjoye's words died away a
great silence fell upon the assembled
people. q 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 h human friendship means and
the sweet voices of the multitude"
Villon answered boldly:
Sire, it is no news to me that men
love the dear habit of living"
Louis signalled to Montjoye.
Proclaim again." he said; and once
more the pair Of pursuivants blew their
trumpets and aonce again Montjoye
made his singular proposition Of a
don to the assemblage.
CHAPTER XVI.
WE SPEAK TO MEN,
1t fell this time upon fresh ears, the
ears of an old woman who was patient-3S
ly pushing her way through the crowd
| in GhhY~E nffort 10 aoob 1o,> ", - III Ja7.SiS
ing. She had succeeded in making her
way to the open space. as the last
words of the hera1d's offer were being
spoken, n 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 n tottered forward to h &dais.
where she fell on her knees with
clasped, entreating hands.
Sire, sire, / will die Sfor him!''
Villon's heart leaped to his throat
when he saw her.
Nanny, nanny, go away!"Ehe
cried, and he made a vain attemptStoa
move towards his mother, a movement
instantly restrained by the crossed
weapons of his captors. AT the same
moment Katherine de Vaucelles came
jNAS l = oCOI5 III ODtu1G11EGE 10
the summons of a royal page, who
had found her at her prayers, and III
told her tina the king desired her pres
ence. She paused at the head Of the
steps 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
knelt 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
trembled on his lips.
Woman, we cannot hear you" he
said. by Gods law you have given
hin life once and by my law you may
not give him life again."
Sire, I beseech you," Mother Villon
entreated; 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
kings command, but the old woman,
rising to her feet, repulsed him Hereby
MOI! mol" h said. Il will not leave
my son. n she flung her old body
p~assionately upon the prisoners neck
and clasped with her lean arms his
mailed shoulders.
Concluded Next Week.
spelIit, Not Writeit.
New York Times: When a young
man named Edward Barton was ar