Oxford Democrat., 1914-08-11

away in his childish passion. But he
could only find one white; the other
had probably struck sideways and
sunk deeply in. With a single white in
his pocket all his projects for rous-
Ing night in some wild tavern vanish
ed utterly away. And 1t was not only
pleasure that fed laughing from his
grasp; positive discomfort. positive
pain, attacked him as he stood ruefully
before the porch. His perspiration had
dried upon him, and although the wind
had now fallen. a binding frost was
setting In stronger with every hour.
and he felt benumbed and sick at
heart. What was to be done? Late as
was the hour. improbable as was sue
cess, he wow,d try the house Of his
adopted father. the chaplain Of St Be-
mott.
He ran there all the way and knock
ed timidly. There was no answer. He
knocked again and again. taking heart
with every stroke. and at last steps
were heard approaching from within.
A barred wicket fell open in the iron
studded door and emitted gush OF
yellow light.
"Hold up your face to the wicket"
said the chaplain from within.
"It's only me-" whimpered Villon.
"Oh, it's only you. is it," returned
the chaplain. and he cursed him with
foul, unpriestly oaths for disturbing
him at such an hour and bade him be
of to hell where he came from.
"My hands are blue to the wrist" !"
pleaded Villon: my feet are dead and
full Of twings: my nose aches with the
sharp air: the cold lies ut my heart l
may be dead before morning. Only
this once. father, and. before God. l
will never ask aguin!
"You should have come earlier" said
the ecclesiastic cOOlly. Young men
require lesson now and then" He
shut the wicket and retired deliberate
" into the interior Of the house.
Villon was beside himself. He beat
upon the door with his hands and feet
and shouted hoarsely after the chap
lain.
A door shut In the interior, family
audible to the poet down long pas
sages. He passed his hand over his
mouth with an oath. And then the
humor Of the situation struck him. and
he laughed and looked lightly up to
heaven, where the stars seemed to be
winking over his discontinue.
What was to be done! II looked
very like night in the frosty streets.
The idea Of the dead woman popped
into his imagination and gave him a
hearty fright; what had happened to
her in the curly night might very well
happen to him before morning.
He passed all his chances under re-
view. turning the white between bis
thumb and forefuger. Unfortunately
he was on bal terms with some old
friends who would once have taken
pity on him In such plight He had
lampOoned them In verses: he had
beaten and cheated them. and yet now,
when he was In 80 close a pinch, ne
thought there was at least one who
might perhaps relent. 1t was chance
1t was worth trying at least. and he
would 60 and see.
He passed a corner where not 80
long before woman and her child had
been devoured by wolves. He remem'
bered his mother telling him the story
and pointing out the spot while he was
yet child. His mother! II he only
knew where she lived he might make
sure at least Of shelter. He deter
mined he would inquire upon the NOR
row-nay. he would go and see her
too, poor old girl! So thinking. he ar
rived ut his desunatipn-his last hope
for the night.
The house was quite dark. like itf
neighbors, and yet after a few taps
he heard movement overhead, door
opening and cautious voice asking
who was there. The poet named him
self in a loud whisper and waited. moi
without some trepidation. the result.
Nor had he to wait long. A window
was suddenly opened and pailful OF
slops splashed down upon the doorstep
Villon had not been unprepared for
something Of the sort and had put him,
self as much In shelter as the nature
Of the porch admitted. but for all that
he was deplorably drenched below the
waist. His hose began to freeze al
most ut once. Death from cold and
exposure stared him In the face. dc
remembered he was Of phthisical tend
ency. and began coughing tentatively
But the gravity of the danger steadied
his nerves. He stopped few hundred
wards from the door where he had been
so rudrly used and reflected with his
| finger to his nose. He could see only
one way of getting lodging and thai
| was to take II. He had noticed
house not far away which looked as II
| It might be easily broken into. ant
| thither he betook himself promptly
entertaining himself Oh the way will
the idea of room still hot. with tn
BILE still loaded with the remains o
supper. where he might pass the res
of the black hours and whence h'
should issue on the morrow with al
armful Of valuable plate. He ever
considered on what viands and wha
wines he should prefer. and US he wa'
calling the roll Of bis favorite daintie'
roast fish presented itself to his mint
with an odd mixture Of Amusement
and horror.
81 shall never finish that ballad h'
thought to himself. and then. with IN
other shudder at the recollection, ION
d his fat head!" he repeated fer
vently and spat upon the snow.
PART IL.
If|1 HE house In question looke'
/ dark nt first sight, but as Vill0