Morris tribune., 1914-09-04

made preliminary Inspection
in search of the handiest point
of attack little twinkle Of light
caught bis eye from behind a curtained
window
1.-THE devilg he thought. People
awake! Some student or some saint,
confound the crew! Can't they get
drunk and lie in bed snoring like their
neighbors? What's the good of cur.
few and poor devils of bell ringers
jumping at a ropes end in bell towers?
What's the use Of day if people sit up
all night? The gripes to themP' He
agrinned as be saw where his logic was
him. Every man to his bust.
ness after all" added he, ''and If
they're awake, by the Lord, may
come by a supper honestly for once
and cheat the devil" s1js...s
He went boldly to the door and
knocked The sound of his blows
echoed through the house with thin,
sphantasmal reverberations, as though
it were quite empty. but these had
scarcely died away before a measured
tread drew near, a couple OF bolts
..~Were withdrawn, and one wing was
= opened broadly, as though no guile or
fear Of guile were known to those
within. A tall figure Of man muscu-
So. Jar and spare, but little bent, con
fronted Villon. The head was massive,
but finely sculptured; the nose blunt
at the bottom, but refining upward to
where it Joined pair of strong and
honest eyebrows; the mouth and eyes
surrounded with delicate markings.
and the whole face based upon a thick
white beard. boldly and squarely trim
med.
"You knock late, SIR" said the old
man In resonant, courteous tones.
Villon cringed and brought up many
servile words of apology. At crisis
OF this sort the beggar was uppermost
in him, and the man of genius hid his
head with confusion.
8N"You are cold" repeated the old
man, land hungry? Well. step in"
And he ordered him into the house
with a noble enough gesture.
'SOme great seigneur," thought Villon.
as his host, setting down the lamp ON
the tagged pavement OF the entry, shot
the bolts once more into their places.
"You will pardon me if go in 'front.'"
he said when this was done, and he
preceded the poet upstairs into large
apartment, warmed with q pan of
charcoal and lit by great lamp hang
ing from the roof 1t was very bare
of furniture; only some gold plate on
a sideboard. some f0lios and a stand
Of armOr between the windows. Some
smart tapestry hung upon the walls
representing the crucifixion of our
Lord In one piece and in another a
scene Of shepherds and shepherdesses
by running stream. Over the chin
ney was d shield Of arms.
"Will you seat YOURSELF said the old
nan, land forgive me. If l leave you?
am alone in my house tonight, and
If you are to eat must forage for
you myself
No sooner was his host gone than
Vfllon leaped from the chair on which
he had just seated himself and began
examining the room with the stealth
and passion of cat. Then he stood
in the middle Of the room, drew a long
breath, and. retaining it with pulled
cheeks. looked round and round him
turning on his heels. as if to impress
every feature of the apartment on his
memory.
Seven pieces of plate" he said "I1
there had been ten would have risked
it. A fine house and fine old master
so help me ali the saints
And just then, hearing the old mans
tread returning along the corridor, be
stole back to his chair and began hum
bly, toasting his wet legs before the
charcoal pan.
His entertainer had a plate of meat
in one hand and jug of wine in the
other. He set down the plate upoI
the table, motiOning villon to draw il
his chair and going to the sideboard
brought back two goblets. which b,
filed.
ST drink your better fortune he saiC
gravely, touching Villon's cup with BIZ
own.
ITO our better acquaintance" saiC
the poet, growing bold. A mere mai
VI Guo PCOptC WOulQ nave Uccu awe
by the courtesy of the old signor. blu
Villon was hardened in that MATES
he had made mirth for great lords b,
fore now and found them as black "a!
Gals as himself And so be devote
himself to the viands with ravenoU
guStO. while the old man. leaning bacI
ward. watched him with steady, cur
Gus eyes.
''You have blood on your shoulde
my man." he said.
Montigny must have laid his w
right hand upon him as he left II
house. He cursed Montigny in b
heart.
1T was none of my shedding"
stammered.
Il had not supposed So" returnC
his host quietly. "A brawl?"
''Well, something of that Sort" V
lon admitted with quaver