Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-07-13
The Merchants Daughter By Ratas, SABBATH"


Published By Special Arrangements with The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate
Incorporated
Copyright; 1884: By RAFAEL sABATnu
PART THREE
That shook him up. His good
hImored, plebeian face showed q
deepening agitation. For If unlike his
brother, he was straight and tan, also
unlike his brother, his features, framed
in a sparse untidy beard, had none Of
the high-bred beauty Of Condos.
"If the King should die, as they say,
madame" he began impetuously
and then broke off, suddenly remem-
ber1ng that he spoke to the King
mother.
Her calm seemed to him unnatural.
''The King viii die. Very soon. Per-
hapS tomorrow or the next day. But
that viii not profit either you or your
brother If the Duke Of Guise remains
where he is"
HE win not, madame" His Majesty
of Navarro was confident. THE Estates
must uphold my right to the regency
during the minority of King Charles.
They cannot help themselves. II is the
law"
She smiled slowly, sadly. She spoke
in the same dull, level tones.
Don't you see what would happen to
the regency Of q declared Huguenot in
these days of religious bitterness? Your
appointment would supply the Guises
with the very opportunity they'll need
They would raise the country against
you That Is If they did not take the
shorter road Of having you assasstnat-
ed"
His eyes betrayed his quaking spirit.
He stammered as he spoke.
'sBut If not IL or COnde-who then2
There is no other Prince Of the Blood.
Certainly not this Lorrainer"
There is myself" she answered
graveiy. yours may be the legal right.
But mother possesses a natural right
to guide her son during his minority.
The Estates could be brought to recog-
nize it,
@But could the Duke Of GuiseP" He
was derisive.
aHe would be glad to do so since
he cannot hold the office himself and
rather than see you In it.
That turned him thoughtful He
fingered his struggling beard.
Il see" he said at last. Il see. You
are asking me to forgo my rights IN
your favOr2"
~And to your own advantage, sire,
and that Of Monsieur de Condo. It Is
the one sure way to save your brother"
He wrung his hands in his agitation.
"But are we not reckoning without the
host. madame? Decision rests with the
Estates. Would they agree to my re-
nunicatiOn IA your fav0r2"
could they oppose it when It Is the
certain way to avoid civil WARP For
what / have IN mind amounts to an
alliance between the two hostile parties
in the State. This win make II clear
to you She took up folded paper
from the table at her elbow. In my
conviction that good sense viii guide
you / have prepared document which,
If you see fit TO sign it, the Chancellor
de lHopita1 win present 70 the Estates
as soon as it may have pleased God
to end the gufferings OF my son Fran
CHS"
Taken aback, he hesitated moment,
froWning, before accepting the paper
that she proffered. But when he had
read 1t hts expression changed and It
required little persuasion from her
thereafter to bring him TO cal Tor
pen.
Francis II died three days later. on
The 18th OF December, IN the forenoon.
By then the uncle OF the Bourbon
Princes, the old Constable de Mont /
morency, secretly summoned By Cath |
crime was IN Orleans with 800 men, |
and Immediately, ia the exercise OF his |
office, had appointed the guards ct /
The Baillfage and elsewhere
On the morrow Of the Kings oeacn /
The Estates met 10 take order for the /
government Of the realm curing the