The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-28

On the following day Gavin, to
whom royal credentials had been Civ.
en-, to the dismay of the Kings Minis
ter OF State, set out for Corsica. He
had large retinue of servants, and
acted in perfect keeping with the ex-
allied position to which his master had
so suddenly raised him.
In due course of time he arrived in
Ajaccio, and called with all his attend
ants upon the Warehouses Isolena Del.
la Ballo.
He had not exaggerated her charms.
She was, indeed, a most charming and
attractive woman.
Upon presenting the credentials to
her, he said:
''My royal master, your Excellency,
has intrusted me to bring about more
cordial relations between France and
the island of which you are mistress,
if not by Divine right, at least by the
right of your
SURPRISING BEAUTY,
as we'll as by virtue of the time.hon-
ored claims of your ancestors
The compliment was not lost upon
the handsome creature. She dismiss
ed the valet-envoy in the most gra-
ciOus manner.
81 will capture her easily thought
Gavin, as he took his departure. II
believed she was too intelligent to be
gulled by such transparent fattery.
Very Well-sO much the better for
me.''
But young admirer of the Mar
chioness, Signor Conae de Vrao, who
in years gone by had been at the gay
court of France, had recognized him.
The Condo solicited a private inter-
view with the Warehouses after Ga
vini had withdrawn.
At first she hesitated to grant the
request, because the Condo had often
urged her to give him her hand. But
he was so persistent this time that she
went with him to her boudoir.
''lsolena," he said to her, :'do you
know who that man is -
1.-THE Envoy of the King of France,
Conde," she replied. ellis credentials
show it,
''That may be, Isolena, he rejoined,
''but am sure that the King, in send
ing the fellow
1.-The fellow
''Yes, the fellow, Isolena. I am
sure that the King, in sending the fel-
low to you, has played contemplate
trick upon you?'
slow 50 -
because this pretended Envoy is no
other than King Francis body serv-
amt
ga menial!'' she cried, with flashing
eyes.
eyes, the lowest of the low; he who
dresses and undresses his Majesty of
France
sit is not yet all, Isolena. This Ga
VIM is a COrsican, a serf Of your IA
theirs, who fled the country twenty
years ago because he had committed
several disgraceful thefts.''
The beautiful Warehouses was by
this time so enraged she uttered the
following terrible oath:
Had I to-day King Francis in my
power, I Should cause him to perish as
miserably as the dog he has sent to me.
l swear it and I should lose my life and
ruin this whole island which I love so
well -
At midnight on the same day, Gavin
was dragged from his bed and thrust
into dungeon.
Six hours later he was confronted
by the executioner, and the indignant
Marchioness.
''You are about to de-" she said pit
eously to the Inflated man.
SHOW dare you treat the sacred per.
son OF an Envoy in this manner?' he
cried.
''The sacred person of an escaped
serf and thief - she exclaimed.
Gavin: know who you are.
''The Envoy of the King of France!'
''You mean his valet. Now listen to
me. I shall have your flesh torn from
your limbs with red-hot pincers if you
do not confess what induced King
Francis to commit so infamous an
outrage as to send you to me in the
| capacity of an envoy
Gavin referred once more to the
inviolability of his office.
| She ordered the executioner to tor.
ture him. -
HORRIBLE SCENE ENSCED..
The prisoner was placed on wood.
en- bench, and then the executioner,
after binding him, began to tear off
his flesh with red-hot pincers.
For ten minutes the victim, though
! uttering the most unearthly yells, re-
fused to confess.
At last, when the agony became too
great, he told the Warehouses what he
had come to Corsica for.
This still added to her fury.