The Van Buren press., 1876-09-26
MISCELLANY
ROMANCE OF HISTORY
Isolana of Corsica A Wiley Va!et's
Mission

Mission
| II the early part OF the Fourteenth cen.
tury the island OF Corsica was bone of
contention between the maritime Repub-
lies of Italy, the Duchy of Savoy and the
Kingdom of France
| The latter, at that time, was ruled by
the ehipalrous Francis the First, one of
the most remarkable characters in histo
! ry.
His ambition was only equalIed 10y his
reckless audacity, and he alone of all
| Princes of his time ventnred to break Il
lance with the powerful Emperor Charles
the Fifth, who so disastrously defeated
him at Pavia, in 1921
In the proceeding year King Francis
had quarrel with his wife, who had re-
preached him with his infdelities, One
day, maddened by her taunts, he said to
his valet, Gavin, Corsiean:
"Ah. | must get rid Of her Majesty.
Her temper is too bad l am sure that the
Holy Father will grant me a divorce
from her But where shall find new
wife 2
Your Majesty has only to choose
among
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PRlNCEssEs
Of Europe said Gavini
But there is not a single beautiful
princess in Europe reioined the King
almost angrily. "Ameha of Savoy is the
only one that is not absolutely homely,
and hate her father 40 bitterly that
should be reluctant to eater into a union
With any member Of his family"
If your Majesty will permit me, y
said the willy Corsican, :. / could tell you
OF lady with royal blood in her veins,
who is young aud handsome enough to
grace the throne of France by your side u
And who is she p asked the King,
eagerly.
She is the Marchoness Isoena Della
Ballo.'
i never heard Of her"
She is the richest woman in Corsica,
where her ancestors, since time immemo-
rial, have owned most Of the real estate
and where they have been more power
full than the real rulers of the island ever
were. Her grandmother was niece OF
the Emperor Maximilian and she is the
last of her race, your Majesty"
"The last Of her race, Gavin, and still
unmarried p
Your Majesty, there is a strange tale
to this replied Gavini, "Ao out seven
years ago the Marchioness, with her aged
f.ther, was having boat ride off Ajac.
clio. A thunder. storm sprang up, and
the frail bark was in danger of capsizing
The old Marquis was frightened to death
"' Pray, my child he cried in his ter.
ror, pray to Her alone who can save us
Pray TO Her, and promise to remain 9
virgin, unless king should come to so
licit your hand ~
Isolena took that pledge, and now she
is mistress of immense estates, and one
of the most beautiful women in the world
THE AMoRous KING,
who acted as if he had already got rid o
his legitimate wife, had by this time be
come deeply interested in the subject
"Gavini," he said, 81 how does thi:
Marchioness look p
Your Majesty, l have truly never
seen lady worthier to adorn a throne
than she. She is the fairest daughter
whom Italy, the land of pretty women
ever gave birth to. Tall, slender, majes
tic with a complexion of marble, and fea
lures which Phidias would have gladly
chiseled In stone, she has on her ripe lip,
the tempting smile of Cupid. and in hel
black eyes all the fire of the goddess oil
love"
In this manner the artful valet stimula
ted the desires of his royal master unit
the latter said to him;
after hemming and having for a Ions
while, Gavin suggested that he himsel
might 80 to Corsica, and make overture:
to the beautiful Marchioness
The King eagerly embraced this offer.
"You shall go, Gavini," he cried
"Go to Montpas, my treasurer, and
draw as many livres in gold as you need. ,
/" But, your Majesty" said the valet
money is not sufficient for such mis-
sion ought to have to that end also
What!'
"A position!'
"What position ?"
81 ought to be clothed with the ranE
of minister, your Majesty"
The king looked at his valet for min
ute without saying anything. Then h'
burst into laughter
"Gavini,' he exclaimed, "you are
THE MOST IHpUDENr RASCAL
| ever saw. But your idea is good one
Yes, you, low.born william. shall for
once go as my envoy to Corsica. Pre-
vail upon the Marchioness. whose charms
YOU extol so enthusiastically, TO come tt
Paris. and | shall reward you right roy
ally"
Ga the following day Gavin, to whom
rnral credentials had been given, TO thI