The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-01-28

IY 1T was late In November. 1850
The snow fell over Paris with
Hill rigorous, relentless persistence
~ Sometimes the wind made d
sally and scattered IL In fiying worthless
sometimes there was lull. and faks
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 a lantern, beat
Ing their hands. and they saw nothing
suspicious about the cemetery Of st
John.
Yet there was a small house. backed
up against the cemetery wall. which
was stin awake. and awake TO evil
purpose. In that snoring district There
was not much 10 betray IL from with
out, only a stream Of warm vapor from
the chimney top, a 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 thieyish crew with
whom he consorted. were keeping the
night alive and passing round the bot.
tie.
A great pile Of living embers diffused
q 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 drinker's
On the right villon and Guy Tabary
were huddled together over a scrap of
parchment. vlllon making a ballad
which he was 20 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 aud
twenty years with feyerish animation.
Greed had made folds about his eyes
Evil smiles had puckered his mouth.
The wolf and pig struggled together In
his face. IL was an eloquent. sharp.
ugly. earthly countenance. His hands
were small and prehensile. with fingers
knoited like n cord. and they were con
tinually pickering In front Of him In
violent and expressive pantomlme
As for Tabary. broad, complacent.
admiring imbeciliiy breathed from his
squash nose and SOLDERING lips lie
had become a thief just as he might
have become the most decent " bur.
gesses by the imperious chance that
rules the lives Of human geese and hu.
man d0nkeys.
Al the monks other hand Montigny
and Thevenin Pensete played game
OF chance. About the first there chung
some favor Of good birth aud 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 81. Jacques. and all
night he had been gaining from Mon.
tigny.
Doubles or quitsT' said Theyenin.
Montigny nodded grimly
Some may prefer 20 dine In state"
wrote villon. ION bread and cheese on
silver plate. Or, or-help me out.
Guido"
Tabary giggled
"0r parsley ON a golden dish" scrib.
bled the poet.
The wind was freshening without
II drove the snow before H. The cold
was growing sharper
Cant you hear II rattle In the glib
bet" said Villon. They are all dane
Ing the devils jig on nothing mp there.
You may dance. my gallants You'll
be none the warmer. Whew, what a
gust. Down went somebody Just nOwl
A medlar the fewer ON the three leg
ged medlar tree. say. Dom Nicolas,
It'll be cold tonight ON the ST. Denis
roadj" he asked
Tabary laughed immoderately over
the medlars. lie had never heard any.
thing more llghthearted. and be held
his sides and crowed villon fetched
him u fllip ON the nose. which turned
his mirth into an attack Of coughing.
"0h. stop that row." said vlllon.
and think OF rimes 10 'fshr Look
" M0atigny!"
All three peered covertly at the
tamester He did not seem TO be en-.
Toying his luck. His mouth was "a lit.
lie TO a side. one nosiril nearly shut
and the other much Inflated. The
black dog was on his back. rs people
say. IN terrifying nursery metaphor.
md he breathed hard under the grew
some burden.
There was a brief and fatal move.
nent among the gamesters. The round
waa eomnlefad and Thavenin was tuef