Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-29


C0pyriRht: 1888: ~ RAFAEz. sAEATnu
IN TWO PARTs-PART ONE
A large, fair man IA russell velvet
Jeweled ike q c0urtier, booted and
spurred like q soldier, his right hand
ON the hilt OF his long rapier, his LETT
on a mullion Of the window, the Duke
Of Guise, Lieutenant General Of the
Kingdom and Grand Master of the
Kings Household. stood 8 little IN the
background, ike a symbol Of the force
IN reserve should the persuasions Of
his priegkly brother fail. His acuufline
face, disfigured by the scar Of the ter
rtble wound taken at the seige Of Calais
was proudly impassive.
The Cardinal Of Lorraine, nobIy
handsome, subtly insinuating, was mel
hfluously yelling threats in terms Of
deepest solicitude.
we implore you, madame, with no
interest but your own before our eyes
out Of the love we bear you, to give
no heed to any proposals that may
reach you from these unhappy men Of
the new religion"
Catherine de Medici stifled q yawn,
to answer him in a tone as phlegmatic
as her aspect.
you preach, sir, TO the converted.
Sometimes think you forget am
Pope's niece. Be sure that do not"
The Cardinals glance sharpened. Was
she thus abiding to powers which she
might invoke, emulating his own sub
tlety; giving him back covert threat for
covert threat? Her prominent, low
lidded brown eyes met his own with a
battling candor. He inclined his head a
little.
Your Majesty treasures me. I am
OF my fears for you"
Fears for me2"
He spread his elegant hands. Your
own piety win show you where you
might stand If even suspicion should
touch you of trafficking with these
hereticS." His tone deepened in sly
ness. $50 as TO remove you from the
danger Of public execration we should
be constrained to advise. your return
10 Florence calamity even greater
for us who esteem you so highly than
Tor Your Maiestv's own self"
ImmobiIe, bolt upright in her tail
,hair, this woman, the depth of whose |
raft stood to his as the depth Of q 4
veil to that Of goblet, gave no sign
hat she was conscious of the steel un-
Ter the velvet in which he muffled it.
rom one to the other Of those despotic
Drothers. The Sleepiness OF her glance
vas pierced by no CLEAN OF the anger
within her. She even cOntrived to
mile little, whilst her voice droned
azily.
1T is calamity you have no cause to
pprehend." And upon that she dis
missed them, to go ask each other II
here might be a hidden meaning In
Ter words as there had certainly been
n theirs.
Alone in her cabinet, her figure lost
Is stiff uprightness. Her body, which
iow In her fortieth year, as a result
ontinuous collaborating and Of glut-
onous habits, had reached, as Bran
pine tells us, rich embonpoint, sagged
ogether. Her high courage threaten
d to succumb. It became difficult TO
Maintain that terrible patience with
hitch for quarter of century in the
1adow, neglected and almost deSpiSed,
he had awaited opportunity.
She had thought that 1t had come
ear ago, in July Of 1859, when King
.enry III had been cut Off by death
ound accidentally taken in the tilt
ard. 1t is not easy to believe In the
ncerity Of the Overwhelming grief
? which the event Frustrated her, or
the mourning she wore to the end Of
or days. For even in that fatal jour
sy, the King rode his courses In the
ack and white that were the colorS
Diane de Poitiers, the mistress who
Id been the real queen, the woman
no swayed policy and to whom court I
as paid by all, whilst In the back !
'ound Catherine de Medici discharged I
} more than the function Of bearing I
ing Henry's children.
She had borne him ten IN all, % Z
nom seven survived; and If as q wife 2
e e., was without authority, at least
q mother her empire had been abb {
Lutte. It was upon this that she had 6
united in the hour Of Henry's death. y
sr son Francis, who was then is, had .
( a year been married to Mary Stuart. =
nee the kings Of France attained their 8
ajority at the age of IA, he was no &
niger q minor, and therefore there
IS no question Of q regency. But OF
T power to rule and ability to guide =
N, and through him the kingdom, y
e had no doubt. At last the world Z
ould be made conscious Of her worth. u
Her eagerness cut short the period a
seclusion prescribed In France for a =
dowed queen. But not short enough. q
hen she reached her sons side, the v
sble-minded, sickly boy, almost NOR 81
ily under the spell Of the adorable
AIRY Stuart, had at bis wife's bidding U
ready given himself into the posses 9
n Of her uncles, the masterful Guises. a
Their power was firmly planted IN the Y
tile soil of the religious strife which .
E Reformation had produced. BY g
summing the leadership of the Catholic =
rty. the CEises assured for them o.
YES a following of a majority which, 81
operly handled should steadily In "
.ase. The Duke by his military tall g
IS had won the worship Of the sol- y
ny; the Cardinal educated public =
Inion through the monastic orders !; =
,ead over the face of France He y