The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-11

The snow fell over Paris with
rigorous, relentless persistence
IL Sometimes the wind made
sally and scattered it in flying vortices;
sometimes there was lull, and fake
after fake descended out Of the black
night air. silent, circuitous. intermina-
BILE.
The cemetery of st. John had taken
its own share of the snow. The clock
was hard on 10 when the patrol went
by with halberds and lantern, beat
ing their hands, and they saw nothing
suspicious about the cemetery Of St
John.
Yet there was q small house, backed
up against the cemetery wall, which
was still awake, and awake to evil
purpose. in that snoring district. There
was not much to betray it from with
out. only a stream of warm vapor from
the chimney top, patch where the
snow melted on the roof and a few
half obliterated footprints at the door.
But within. behind the shattered win
dows, Master Francis Villon, the poet,
and some Of the thievish crew with
whom he consorted, were keeping the
night alive and passing round the bot
tie.
a great pile of living embers diffused
a strong and ruddy glow from the
arched chimney. Before this straddled
Dom Nicolas, the Picardy monk, with
his skirts picked up and his fat legs
barred to the comfortable warmth. His
face had the berry, bruised appearance
Of the continual drinkers.
On the right Villon and Guy Tabary
were huddled together over a scrap of
parchment, Yillon making g ballad
which be was to call the HBallad Of
Roast Fish," and Tabary spluttering
admiration at his shoulder. The poet
was a rag of man, dark. little and
lean, with hollow cheeks and thin.
black locks. He carried his four and
twenty years with feverish animation.
Greed had made folds about his eyes
Evil smiles had puckered his mouth.
The wolf and pig struggled together In
his face. It was an eloquent, sharp,
ugly, earthly countenance. His hands
were small and prehensile, with fingers
knotted like cord. and they were con-
tinually Pickering in front Of him in
violent and expressive pantomime.
As for Tabary, broad, complacent
admiring imbecility breathed from his
squash nose and SOLDERING lips. He
had become a thief just as he might
have become the most decent Of bur
gesses by the imperious chance that
rules the lives Of human geese and hu-
man donkeys.
At the monks other hand Montigny
and Thevenin Pensete played a game
Of chance. About the first there chung
some flavor Of good birth and training.
as about fallen angel. Something
long, 1.-THE and courtly in the person;
something aquilin1 and darkling in the
face. Thevenin, poor soul. was In
great feather. He had done a good
stroke of knavery that afternoon in
the Faubourg st. Jacques, and all
night he had been gaining from Mon
tigny. 80, E7lszz:sz-.,--
r"QeGbles or quits?" said Thevenin.
Montigny nodded grimly.
Some may prefer to dine in state y
wrote Villon, ION bread and cheese Oh
silver plate. Or, or-help me out
Guidow
Tabary giggled.
"Or parsley on golden DISH" scrib
bled the poet.
The wind was freshening without
It drove the snow before it. The colo
was growing sharper.
Cant you hear it rattle in the glib
bet?' said Villon. 'They are all dane
ing the devils jig on nothing up there
You may dance, my gallants. You'll
be none the warmer. Whew, what {
gust! Down went somebody just now
A medlar the fewer on the three leg
ged medlar tree. say, Dom Nicolas
it'll be cold tonight on the st. Deni
road?' he asked.
Tabary laughed immoderately owe
the medlars. He had never heard any
thing more hghthearted, and he hell
his sides and crowed Villon fetchet
him a FLIP on the nose. which turnet
his mirth into an attack of coughing
"Oh. stop that row." said VilloI
''and think of rimes to fish, Loo
at Montignyr'
All three peered covertly at tn
gamester He did not seem to be er
joying his luck His mouth was Ii
tie to a side. one nostril nearly shu
and the other much inflated. Th
black dog was on his back. as peopl
say. in terrifying nursery metaphor
and he breathed hard under the grew
n some burden.
There was a brief and fatal move
ment among the gamesters. The roun
was completed. and Thevenin was jus
opening his mouth to claim anothe
victory when Montigny ieaped up swift
as an adder and stabbed him to tn
heart. The blow took effect before b
had time to utter a cry, before b
had time to move. A tremor or tw
convulsed his frame. His hands open
ed and shut, his heels ratified on tn
floor. then his head rolled backwar
over one shoulder. with eyes wild
open. and Thevenin Pensete's spiri
had returned to him who made 1t.
Every one sprang to his feet, but th
business was over In two twos. an
Godg' said Tabary. and he began {
pray In Latin.
Villon broke out into Mysteries
laughter. He came a steD forwar