Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-02-06
ODE Black wAg
VOLTS Breed
e.,,.,.n. ls.. M D,H.... Dickson

I was Ill at ease among all these gay
gallants who minced and paced along
like so many string-halted nags. IT
was said the king walked much In that
way, and so. forsooth. must all his lords
and ladies g Perhaps 1t was the
fashion of the court, but stuck TO the
gait I knew, a good. honest.
swinging stride which could cover If
teer leagues a day at a pinch.
O.. to one side the water kept cap
ing up into the air as / am told the
spouting springs do In he Dacotah
country. ! walked that way and was
soon lost in wonderment at the con-
temptation Of a vast bronze basin filled
with curious brazen beasts, half men,
half fishes, the like Of which l 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:
"Ill lay a golden Louis his coat Is OF
whatever It's outlandish name may be-.
Done said another voice.
l gave no heed, thinking they meant
not me, until a dapper little chap, all
plumed and belaced, stepped In front
OF me with a most lordly air.
Hey, friend, who is thy tailor?" 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 I 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 o
ing not for insult, are slow TO anger,
so l only asked as politely as might be,
because OF the ladies':
And wherefore?
Because / say so, sir" ne replied,
most arrogantly and stamping his foot,
east of thy cloak that we may see.
l still stood undecided, scarce know
Ing what to think, and being ignorant
OF fashions at court. De Brienne-for
that was his demonstrating my hes
.itation, advanced and laying his hand
upon my cloak would have torn 1t OFF,
had / not brushed him aside so vigor-
ously he stumbled and fell 10 the
ground.
1 had no thought OF using strength
sufficient to throw him down. He
sprang up instantly, and, furious, drew
his sword. i 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 1t affair OF thine what man
ner Of coat ] wear?"
He made no reply, but, raising his
arm, said, menacingly:
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 then have drawn, but
the men made no effort to interfere, 40
/ only answered him, Nay, I'll wear
my cloak" when he made u quick
lunge at me. l know not that he mean
me serious injury, but taking no risk
my blade came readily, and catching
his slenderer weapon broke IT short Off,
leaving him raging and defenceless--
a simple trick, yet not learned in a day.
1t was a dainty little jewel-hilted toy,
and | hated to spoil 1t.
Now, sir, thank the kings uniform
for thy life," my blood vas UP, and /
ached to teach him a lesson, Il a not
turn the kings sword against one CT
his servants"
The ladies laughed now, and h hot
flush mounted to my cheeks, for !
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,
lead such a throng of jewellers into the
kings own 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-
greet, 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 ostenta-
tiously held their handkerchiefs 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.
marvelled at this, for the name VI
Louis had been held in almost Godlikt
reverence by us in the colonies. Mean
while he had turned to me.
We'll said, young man; thou hast :
loyal tongue" .
And q loyal master, SIRE" for i
needed not the mention OF his name t.
tell me / faced the king. That face
stampe on his every golden name
sake, had been familiar to me since tn
earliest days OF my childhood.
Thy name, sirY
Kingly still, though a little bent. 70
he was now we'll past sixty, Louis stooC
in his high-heeled shoes tapping tn,
ground impatiently with a long cane
his flowing coat futtering in the wind
For a period / completely lost m,
tongue, could see nothing bu
the blazing cross OF the holy ghost
the red order of st. Louis, upon tn
Monarch's breast, could hear nothint
but the grating Of his cane against tn
gravel. Yet / was not ashamed, for
brave soldier can proudly fear his GOO
his conscience and his king.
THY name" he sharply demanded
"dost hear?"
"Placide de Mouret. captain Of Bi
enyille's Guards, Province Of L~ouisana
may it please you, SIRE" / stammere'
out.
Attend me at the morning hour to
morrow" and he strutted away from
the giggling crowd.
/ too would have turned Off. had no
my late antagonist proven himself
man at heart. He quickly moved tow
ard me holding out his hand in recon
Citation.
1T ask thy pardon, comrade; ] too
am a solder, though but an ind1neren
one in these peaceful times. We mis-
took thee, and i humbly ask thy pal
DON"
or course, I could bear no malic
against the fellow, and he seeming sir
cere, ! suffered him to present me I
his friends. First among these, d
Brienne presented me to His Roys
Highness, the Duke Of Orleans. "Firs
Prince of the Blood, and h comm
Regent of France"
The latter speech was given with dc
cided emphasis, and a malicious glanc
toward a pale face, studious lookin
man, a cripple, who, the center of
more sedate group, was well with
hearing. The deformed duke OF Main
I thought, rival OF Orleans for the Rs
gency. The ladies l YOU nave WI
iineIv escaped. but they would not hes
of IL and soon / was surrounded by