The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-05


tm BY Hesris Dickson
being set in long rows, and among
them were white images of some sub
stance like unto the holy mother at the
shrine IN Montreal. Some Of these
craven stones were in semblance of
mel with horns and goats. !ess, a
some OF warrior women with plumed
helms upon their heads. Verify I mar
yeled much at these strange sights.
The pert little lads who tdled about
the hall began to make sport Of me
concerning my dress. and laughed
greatly at their own wit. i. paid no
heed to their foolish gibes, there being
no man among them. It irked me more
than good sense would admit and
left the hall, and after many vain en-
deavors made my way out into the
open air-being right glad to breathe
again without a roof above my head.
Twas i'll at ease among all these gay
gallants who minced and paced along
like SO many string-halted nags. It
was said he king walked much In that
way, and SO, forsooth, must all his lords
and ladies go. Perhaps it was the
IA VI "a So0ll, 3Uul3l +SsuEk TO the
only gait I knew, a good. honest,
swinging stride which could cover nf.
teen leagueS a day at a pinch.
Or to one side the water kept leap
ing up into the air as I am told the
spouting springs do in the Dacotah
country. l walked that way and was
soon lost In wonderment at the con-
temptation OF a vas. bronze basin filed
with curious brazen beasts, half men.
half fishes, the like Of which I had nyer
seen. Some had horns from which
they blew sparkling streams, others
astride Of strange sea monsters
plunged about and cast up tets OF wa
ter. It all made so much noise I
scarcely heard a voice behind me say.
I'll lay a golden Louis his coat is OF
as queer a u as his neither garment
whatever Its outlandish name may be-
Done" said another voice.
gave no heed, thinking they meant
pluned and belaced, stepped In front
of me with a most lordly air.
Hey, friend, who Is thy tailor 2" and
behind me8rang u the merry laugh at
such a famous Jest.
! turned and there being a party OF
fine young ladies at my back full glad
iysWould ! nave retired, had not the
young braggart staggered to my front
again and persisted: as
Friend. let us see the cut of thy
coat
We men Of the forest accustomed to
the rough ways Of a camp, and look
mi not for insult, are slow to anger,
SO l only asked as politely as might be,
because OF the ladies':
And wherefore?"
Because I say so, sir" he replied,
most arrogantly and stamping his foot.
cas- off thy cloak that we may see.''
! still stood undecided, scarce know
n what to think, and being ignorant
Of fashions at court. De Brienne-for
that was his name-mistaking nv hes
itatton, advanced n laying his hand
uponamy cloak would have torn it off,
had I not brushed him aside so vigor-
ously he stumbled and fell to the
ground.
!, ! had b no thought Of using strength
sprang up instantly, and, furious, drew
MS sword. I felt my own wrath rise at.
sight of cold steel-it was evr q way
OF mine beyond control-and asked
him hotly:
How is It affair of thine what man
lner of coat I wear?"
He no reply. but, raising his
arm, said. m~enacingly:
Now, clown. show thy coat, or TIL
spit thee like a dog"
glanced around the circle at the
Dlanched faces OF the ladies, seeing
such a serious turn to their Jest, and
Wou not even then have drawn, but
the men made no effort to interfere, 8 %
y only answered him, May, I'll wear
my cloak" when he made q quick
lunge at me. ! know not that he meant
me serious injury, but taking no risk
my blade came readily. n catching
his weapon broke 1t short off,
leaving him raging and defenceless-
q slmple trick, yet not learned in a day.
It was a dainty little jewel-hiIted toy,
n I hated to spoil 1t.
Now, sir, thank the kings uniform
for thy life" my blood was up, and I
ached to teach him a lesson, IT a not
turn the kings sword against n OF
his servants"
The ladies laughed now, and the hot
flush mounted to my cheeks, for I
feared g. 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,
lead such a throng Of jewellers into the
kings own gardens? Is not your own
house Of deb%auchery sufficient for your
grace? Have a care, young sir, I 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 I'M
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 ostenta-
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 by us 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 1t
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 sincs the
earliest days of my childhood.
THY name, sir2'
Kingly still, though a little bent, for
he was now well past sixty, Louis stood
in his high-feeled shoes tapping the
\ Ground I'm "a 4NE,Y,flx, MI N & % Il, r. M -,