Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-02-01
.~N
pa ROSE OF a
NORMANDY
WILLIAM z. A. WILSON
So
CHAPTER XVI-CoNTINUEp.

The governor came daily, and strove
with real distress to encourage the
sufferer. Madame BLIZZARD appeared fire.
quently too, telling her of the outside
world and urging her to a quick con-
valescence. But somehow the desire
to recover was lacking in the patient.
1t was as though a spring had snapped
within her leaving inertia instead of
energy, and a desire to slumber on in
sweet forgetfulness rather than the
determination to resume the weary
load of life again. But her release
was not to be, and as she slowly be-
gan to regain ground she found relief
and her chiefest pleasure in the COM
panionship of the nuns who nursed
her. Their life in its seclusion and
usefulness appealed to her heart, and
gradually the fancy for a religious life
became strengthened to a determine
ton. Her own existence would always
be a blank. and could she do better
than to fill out her remaining years in
the service of God? He had evidently
had a purpose in permitting her to
live, almost against her will.
When she first told Frontenac of her
decision he stormed and swore he
would ship her back to France; then,
as he saw that she remained mistaken
in her resolution, he finally suggested
a compromise to which she agreed.
This was that she was to remain with
xha p,,pc fDr fuvn xynorc &c n Inrnaa nr
religious helper who has taken NO
VOWS. If, after this novitiate she still
persisted in her purpose, he would
offer no objection to her entering the
sisterhood. He hoped that in so long
q period events would alter conditions
in France SO that she could be sent
home in safety.
1t was indeed the Comte de Miron
whom Renee had seen as she looked
out of the window. Tonti's sword
point inentering his breast had touched
a rib and, glancing upwards, had
wounded the lung tissue severely,
barely missing the heart. The copious
hemorrhage that followed well-nigh
strangled him. His faithful coachman
finding that he still breathed had taken
him to q house on the outskirts of
Paris, called a leech and summoned
one of the Comics friends, whose
name he had given him before the
duel for use in any such emergency.
Together they combated the enormous
loss of blood and weakness that fol-
lowed. On con~valescing, his friend,
learning of the kings expression Of
satisfaction in the supposed death of
the Comte, hurried him away to an
estate in Brittany. There they abode
together for many months, riding and
hunting.
AS spring came his faithful conf
dant went to Paris to see if it were safe
for him to come to life again. He re-
turned in a month with bad news.
One of the Comte's numerous pecula-
lions in the state funds, which he had
committed while secretary to Colbert,
had come to light, rendering it hazard
Gus for him to appear again in Paris or
even remain in France, for if by any
chance he were apprehended it would
raean the loss of his head. According
ly, they laid their plans and he was
hurried aboard the next ship that
sailed for New France. This happened
to be the one on which Renee travelled.
Both of them seeking to escape OBJ
servation seldom left their cabins.
Hence It was that each was ignorant
of the others presence.
Bearing a letter to Duchesneau from
a friend, the Comte presented himself
at the palace Immediately upon his ar
rival. Staying at the palace he soon
became acquainted with all of Duchess
neau's friends and agents. It was
there that he met Madame Bizard, who
had come to make her regular report
to the intendant, Of all she had learned.
He had refrained from going about the
city to any great extent, hence had
v seen Renee; and it was while on
an errand for Duchesneau that he had
caught a glimpse of Madame Bizard's
face at the window, and, remember
ing her invitation to call, had stopped.
Well supplied with money, which he
spent carelessly, he soon made many
friends. Seeing the impression the
young man had made upon the suscep-
tible Madame BLIZZARD, Duchesneau
urged him to continue in his atten>
tons, hoping that the young Comic
might be thus thrown with Lieut.. BIZ
card in a friendly way and ultimately
win him over to the side of the in
tendant.
Frontenac before long became con-
scious of a new force that was aiding
his enemy, %insidiously undermining his
influence among many of his adher-
ents. He was at a loss to account for
this, and 1t was some time ere he sus-
pected the stranger. Finally, several
discoveries confirmed his suspicious,
and he realized that in the person of
the young man there lay a useful ally
for the intendant and a dangerous
enemy to himself. He was powerless
to do anything, however, as the Comte,
although an acknowledged friend of
Duchesneau, raj still louder in his !
professions of friendship and respect
for the governor and the colony, SO
Frontenac was obliged to bide his time
until by some overt act or word he
would lay himself liable to legal in
reference.
The mischief that he made became
so great that the governor was des-
perate. At length an audacious speech
made by the Comte de Miron one even
ing was reported to him. He saw his
opportunity. The Comte was brought
before the council, and several wit
nesses testified to having heard him
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