Oxford Democrat., 1914-08-11

rigorous, relentless persistence.
Sometimes the wind made
sally and scattered 1t in flying vortices;
sometimes there was lull. and flake
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 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 q stream Of warm vapor from
the chimney top. patch where the
snow melted on the roof and few
half obliterated footprints at the door
But within. behind the shuttered 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
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 beery. bruised appearance
Of the continual drinkers.
On the right villon and Guy Tabary
were huddled together over a scrap OF
parchment. villon making n ballad
which he was to call the Ballad 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 wears 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. 1t was an eloquent. sharp.
ugly, earthly countenance. His hands
were small and prehensile. with fingers
knotted like cord, and they were con-
tinually flickering 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 thief just as he might
have become the most decent OF bur
gesses by the imperlous chance that
rules the lives Of human geese and hu-
| man donkeys.
At the monks other hand Montgny
and Thevenin Pensete played game
of chance About the first there clung
some flavor Of good birth and training.
as about fallen angel. Something
long, 1.-the and courtly in the person;
something aquiline and darkling In the
face. Thevenin, poor soul. was In
great feather. He had done good
stroke of knavery that afternoon in
the Faubourg st. Jacques. and oil
night he had been gaining from Mon
tigny.
Doubles or quits?" said Thevenin.
Montigny nodded grimly.
Some may prefer to dine in state"
wrote Villon, ION bread and cheese on
silver plate. Or, or-help me out
Guidow
Tabary giggled.
"Or parsley on q golden dish." scrib-
bled the poet.
The wind was freshening without.
It drove the snow before 1t. The cold
was growing sharper.
Cant you hear it rattle In the GLIB
bet3" said yillon. "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 a
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. Denis
road?" he asked.
Tabary laughed immoderately over
the medlars. He had never heard any
thing more lighthearted, and be held
his sides and crowed. villon fetched
him n fillip on the nose. which turned
his mirth into an attack Of coughing.
"Oh, stop that row." said Vill0n
"and think of rlmes to fish! LOOK
at Montigny!'
All three peered covertly at the
gamester. He did not seem to be en-
loving his luck. His mouth was lit
tie to a side. one nostril nearly shut
and the other much inflated. The
black dog was on his back. as people
say, In terrifying nursery metaphor
and he breathed hard under the grew
some burden.
There was a brief and fatal move
ment among the gamesters. The roune
WAS completed, and Thevenin was 1us'
opening his mouth to claim another
victory when Montigny leaped up swift
as an adder and stabbed him to the
heart. The blow took effect before ne
had time to utter cry. before he
had time to move. A tremor or two
convulsed his frame. His hands open
ed and shut, his heels ratified on the
floor, then his head rolled backward
over one shoulder. with eyes wide
open, and Thevenin Pensete's spirit
! had returned to him who made 1t.
Every one sprang to his feet. but the
business was over In two twos. MY
Godr' said Tabary. and he began to
pray in Latin.
villon broke out into hysterical
: laughter. He came q step FORWARD
and ducked a ridiculous bow at Theve
,, min and laughed still louder. Then he
sat down suddenly all Of heap upon
q stool and continued laughing bitterly
, as though he would shake himself te
pieces.
!, Montigny recovered his composurs
!. first
Lets zee what he has about him,
- remarked. and he picked the deaf