The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-02-05
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Copyright 1899 NN BY Harris Dickson

SIIiIc III montreal. oOHlG OI lneSt
craven stones were in semblance q
men with horns and goats legs, ant
some of warrior women with plume(
helms upon their heads. Verify 1 mar.
veled much at these strange sights.
The pert little lads who idled abouI
the hall began to make sport of mr.
concerning my dress, and laughed
heed to their foolish gibes, there being
no man among them. 1t irked me more
than good sense would admit, and
left the hall, and after many vain en-
beavers made my IA out into the
open air-being right glad to breathe
again without a roof above my head
| was Ill at ease among all these gay
gallants who minced and paced along
like so many string-halted nags. 1t
was said the king walked much in that
way, and so, forsooth, must all his lords
and ladies go. Perhaps it was the
fashion Of the court, but | stuck to the
only gait ] knew, a good, honest,
swinging stride which could cover tif-
teen leagues q day at a pinch.
Off to one side the water kept leap
ing up into the air as I am told the
spouting springs do in the Dacotah
country. 1 walked that way and was
soon lost in wonderment at the con
temptation of a vast bronz basin filled
with curious brazen beasts, half men,
half fishes, the like of which 1 had nver
seen. Some had horns from which
they blew sparkling streams, Others
astride of strange sea monsters
plunged about and cast up Jets of wa
ter. 1t all made so much noise l
scarcely heard a voice behind me say:
I'll lay Il golden Louis his coat is of
as queer a cut as his neither garment
Whatever it's ~outlandish name may be-"
Done" said another voice.
I I pnvn no hno1 tlirlyirm tho,, d, -
not me, until a dapper little chap, all
plulned and belaced, stepped in front
of me with a most lordly air.
Hey, friend, who is thy t~ailor?" and
behind me rang out the merry laugh at
such a famous jest.
| turned and there being a party Of
fine young ladies at my back full glad
ly would l have retired, had not the
young braggart staggered to my front
again and persisted:
Friend, let us see the cut of thy
coat"
We men of the forest accustomed to
the rough ways of a camp, and look
ing not for insult, are slow to anger,
so | only asked as politely as might be,
because of the ladies':
And wherefore?"
Because I say so, sir ne replied,
most arrogantly and stamping his foot,
cast off thy cloak that we may see.'
| still stood undecided, scarce know
ing what to think, and being ignorant
or fashions at court. De Brienne-for
that was his Misunderstanding my hes
1tat1on, advanced and laying his hand
Upon my cloak woul have torn it off,
had not brushed him aside so vigor-
ously he stumbled and fell to the
ground.
l had no thought of using strength
sufilcient to throw him down. He
sprang up instantly, and, furious, drew
his sword. l felt my w wrath rise at
sight of cold steel-it was evr a way
of mine beyond control-and asked
him hotly:
How is it affair of thine what man
ner of coat 1 wear?"
He made no reply, but, raising his
arm, said, m~enacingly:
Now, clown, show thy coat, or I'll
spit thee like a dog"
l glanced around the circle at the
blanched faces Of the LADIES, seeing
such a serious turn to their jest, and
Would not even hen nave drawn, but
the men made no effort to interfere, so
l only answered him, NAY, I'll wear
my cloak" when he made a quick
lunge at me. l know not that he meant
me serious injury, but taking no risk
my blade came readily, and catching
his slenderer weapon broke it short off,
AS"' no AAAli ldSll dllu uSlSIlC6lGSS-
a simple trick, yet not learned in a day.
1t was a dainty little jewel-hilted toy,
and l hated to spoil it.
Now, sir, thank the kings uniform
for thy life" my blood was up, and +
ached to teach him a lesson, II can not
turn the kings sword against one CT
his servants"
The ladies laughed now, and the hot
flush mounted to my cheeks, for 1
feared a woman, but their merriment
quickly died away at the sound Of an
imperious voice saying:
For shame de Brienne, brawler!"
And thou, my young coxcomb Of Or
leans" he continued, addressing that
dissolute prince: How dare you, sir,
kings w gardens? Is not your own
house of debauchery sufficient for your
grace? Have a care, young sir. l am
yet the king. and thou mayest never be
the regent"
The duke simulated his profound re-
gret, but when Louis back was turned
made a most unprincely and most un-
courtly grimace at his royal uncle,
which set them all a-laughing. Where
at all these noble lords and ladies made
great pretense of gravity, and o%stenta-
tiously held their handkerchief before
their mouths to hide their mirth.
Already these satellites began to de-
Sert the SINKING TO attach their for
tunes to those Of the rising sun. I
marvelled at this, for the name Of
Louis had been held in almost Godlike
reverence byyus in the colonies. Mean
while he had turned to me.
Well said, young man; thou hast a
loyal tongue
"And a loyal master, sire" for it
needed not the mention Of his name to
tell me I faced the king. That face,
stamped on his every golden name
sake, had been familiar to me since the
earliest days of my childhood.
Thy name, sir?"
Kingly still, though a little bent, for
he was now well past sixty, Louis stood
In his ~high-heeled shoes tapping the
ground impat ently with a long cane,
his flowing a fluttering in the wind.
For a period l completely lost my
tongue, could see nothing but
the blazing cross Of the holy ghost,
the red order of St. Louis, upon the
Monarch's breast, could hear nothing
but the grating of his cane against the
gravel. Yet / was not ashamed, for a
brave soldier can proudly fear his God,
his conscience and his king.
Thy name" he sharply demanded,
"dost hear?"
"Placide de Mouret. captain Of BIZ
enyille's Guards, Province of Louisiana,
may 1t please you, SIRE" I stammered
out.
Attend me at the morning hour to-
Il ~ ~~~ -,b III - -1 ~