The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-11-16

dismay Of the kings Minister Of State
set out for Corsica. He had large re
tinue of servants, and acted in perleC
keeping with the exalted position b
which his master had so suddenly raiseC
MIN.
In the due coerse of time he arrived a
Ajaccio, and called, with all attendants
upon the MarChioness Della Ballo.
He had not exaggerated her charms
She was, indeed, most charming ant
attractive woman.
Upon presenting the credentials to her
he said:
my royal master, your excellency, ha
entrusted me to bring about more cordia
relations between France and theisl nd O
which you are mistress, if not by Divin,
right, at least by the right of your sur
passing beauty as by virtue Of the time
henored claims of your ancestors"
The compliment was not lost upon thu
handsome creature. She dismissed thu
valet'envoy in the most gracious man
ner.
81 will capture her easily" thought
Gavini, as he took his departure. II be-
lieved she was too intelligent to be gulled
by such transparent hattery. Very vel
so much the better for me"
But young admirer Of the marChion'
ess, Signor Conde Vrao, who in years
gone by, had been at the gay court Of
France, had recognized him.
The Conde solicited q private interview
with the maiChioness after Gavini had
Withdrawn.
At first she hesitated to grant the re.
quest, because Conde had 80 often urged
her to give him her hand. But he was
30 persistent this time that she went with
him to her boudoir.
"Isolena," he said to her, "do you know
who that man is?"
THE Envoy of the King of France"
she answered. "Hs credentials show
it,"
THAT may be, Isolena," he rejoined,
but l am sure that the king, in sending
the fellow"
"The fellowN
Eyes, the fellow, Isolsna. am sure
that the king in sending the fellow to
you has played very coutemptible trick
upon you"
How so?"
Because this pretended envoy is no
other than King Francis's body servant" !"
"a menial |" she cried, with flashing
eyes.
Yes, the lowest of the low; he who
dresses and undresses His Majesty of
France"
And the king could put the affront on
me by sending such a rascal to meP"
1T is not yet all, lsolena. This Gavin
is CorsicIn, serf Of your fathers who
fled the country twenty years ago, be-
cause he had committed several disgrace
ful thefts."
The beautiful marchioness was by this
time so enraged she uttered the follow
ing terrible oath:
Had l to-day King Francis in my
power | should cause him to perish as
miserably as the dog whom he has sent
to me. | swear it, and should / lose my
own life and ruin this whole island which
l love so wellp
At midnight, on the same day, Gavin
was dragged from his bed and thrust in
to dungeon.
blk hours later he was confronted by
the exeCutioner and the indignant mar
Chioness.
"You are about to die," she said pite-
ously, to the Inflated man.
"How dare you treat the sacred person
of an envoy in this manner ?" he cried |
"The sacred person of an escaped con-
vict and thief" che exclaimed. Gavin,
| know who you are"
THE envoy of the King of France"
"You mean his valet. Now listen to
me. shall have your flesh torn from
your limbs with red hot pincers if you
do not confess what induced King Fran.
els to commit SO infamous an outrage as
TO send you to me in the capacity of an
envoy"
Gavin referred once more to the invi-
of his office.
She ordered the executioner to torture
him.
A horrible scene ensued.
The prisoner was placed on a wooden
bench, and then the executioner, after
binding him, began to tear of his flesh
With red hot pinCers.
For ten minutes the victim, though
lttering the most unearthly yells, refused
o confess. '..
At last WI en- the agony became too
reat, he told the marchiOness what he
lad come to Corsica fer.
This still added TO her fury.
"WhatW she cried, King Francis has
believed me TO be so low as become his
mistress Me, who has more ancient
,lood in my veins than Valois ever had
)h, he shall rue it! He shall rue It'll"
She then ordered Gavin to be behead-
ID, and sent his head in a glass jar filled
With white COrsiCan wine to the King of
rance. Francis the First was beside
imself with rage upon receiving this
hastily present.
He organized a secret naval expedition
} Corsica, and caused Isolena to be kid
tapped.
She landed at Marseilles in February,
52l.. The King was there at the time.
lie refused to see her.
Have her hair cropped" lie ordered.
ave her clad in hempen garments and
len whipped through the streets of the {
ity." ..t
This was done on the following day.
The beautiful marchioness suffered the
'rture with astounding fortitude.
Not cry of pain escaped her tightly
lips, as the exeCutioner's lash
upon her naked back.
AT last she opened her mouth; stream
blood issued from it.
"Who will aveDge me ?" she gasped
She was avenged few months later
hen Francis the First wasoverpowered
Pavia, taken prisoner and 30 badly
eaten that he exclaimed: "All is lost
I'VE honorW