The Red Cloud chief., 1878-02-28
THE LOVE STORY OF THE POPE,

"eIc It's outii1ts ConilHcu 10 HiafteTs ~
church and state, politics and religion
Like the rest of humanity. however
the Sovereign Pontif experienced, wher
a young man, the tender emotion, ano
cherished an affection of which his mos,
intimate friends were aware. In fact,
and. although he lived to devote hi.
/ time and effort to the church, this cpl
] code was never forgotten. From the
manuscript of a forthcoming volume,
the work Of a Catholic lady, this tale OF
Giovanni Mastai-Ferrctti is told, as re.
lated by the Baroness de Kinsky. the
intimate friend of the late prelate. The
young Count Giovanni Mastai- Ferret
met and loved. at Rome, Camilla Devo-
ii, the beautiful and accomplished
daughter of a widow lady, and to whom
he had been attracted by her marvellous
singing. In common with young peO-
pie before and since, they read the pO-
ets together, and enjoyed all those little
pleasant seasons of social converse
which youths and maidens seem to have
by right of ancient usage and in all we'll
ordered society. Ii came to lass that
the young nobleman, like the knights of
the olden time, desired to enter the ar
my in order to win his spurs and his
bride, to show that he was worthy of
the beautiful girl to whom he had
plighted his troth. He made applica-
ton to Prince Barberini, then COM
mander of the Papal Body Guard. but
was rudely repealed, with the remark
that his slender frame was better suited
for the habiliments of a priest than the
uniform Of a dragoOn. Application
was, however, made to Pope Plus VII,
who promised him a commission.
count Giovanni was eager to inform
Iamilla of the uccess of his mission,
aud to acquaint her with the prospect
IF the favor of the Holy Father. He
'urried away to her home and spent a
Happy evening by her side. The next
day did not find him with her, nor the
next, and rs the days grew into weeks
there came no news of the slender, gal
liant young count to the lonely Camilla.
No trace of him could be discovered i'm
the city; he seemed to have disappeared
from among those with whom it had
been his custom to associate. The
gentle girl fell sick of a fever at last.
on that day the Count knelt before the
Pope and told his story. His ONLY NAL
ady. epilepsy, had assailed him on the
street, and he feared the worst; he dared
not marry with disease hanging over
him, and he knew not what to do. The
Zone said to him that he should view
the affllction as 4 sign of Gods will,
directing him to turn his thoughts
heavenward, and TO devote his life to
the church. The young count was sent
a pilgrim to the shrine of LOrettO, to
learn the divine pleasure, but no tidings
came to Camilla. After a time, feel
ing mat an unknown, yet good and suf-
hclent reason existed for his absence and
apparent desertiOn, she yielded to the
ear nest persuasion of her mother, and
60 nsented to listen to the Baron Camu-
cini. who sought her hand in MAJ riage.
Ii happened on that same evening,
when Camilla and her mother were sit
ting together i'm their comfortable home,
conversing about the past and the flu
ture, that a young man clad in black
suddenly entered and stood before them.
h mother of Camilla ut once recOg-
nized young Ferretti, and gave a cry of
JOY, but he stood silent and m~otiOnless.
Camilla's heart sank at once, for she
recognized the garb as that of a priest.
Her quick thought discerned that all
was ended between them. The SignOra
Devoti, not perceiving in the dusk the
priestly robes, asked quickly:
Where have you been and why have
YOU deserted us ?"
81 have been on a pilgrimage to Lo-
retto. and subsequently, to the Convent
of st. Agnes, where | was anOinted a
priest" he replied very quietly.
The signora almost tainted when she
heard these words. but Camilla re-
manned perfectly calm, and, forcing a
smile, said in her gentle voice:
ut is well that you have come to me;
Heaven has sent you in my hour of
need TO give me counsel and support.
My brother is absent, and l have none
other; will you take his place. as his
old friend and companion and advise
me? The Baron Camucini seeks my |
hand in marriage; my mother earnest
ly wishes it; what shall l do? Will you
now counsel me how to act?"
Il would strongly advise that you
accept him as your husband" said the
young priest, ..for l know him well as
being the most amiable and honorable, |
having every quality to insure your
future happiness. l will unite you in
holy wedlOck to the man you will love, |
and who will prove q true and tender
husband to you; but let it be soon, for l
cannot tarry long; l have my mission
to accomplish, and have come to say
farewell. In a few days l leave for the
convent of Sinigaglia, the city of my
early childhood. there to prepare my
self before leaving Italy on a long jour
ney. intend to prepare and devote
myself to a mOnastic life"
A few days later Camilla DevOti knelt
before the altar by the side of the Bar
on Camucini, and the holy rites were
performed by the young priest. Mastai-
Ferretti.
Count Mastai became Pope Plus IX.,
and years after. at one of the usual
Tuesday receptions, when ladies of rank
were presented to his Holiness, the
Baroness de Kinsky, an old friend of
Cardinal Antonelli'S. presented a plain,
venerable-loOking matron, whose fea-
lures still bore traces of great beauty.
She happened to be among the last pre-
ented, and, on her name being men,
soned, an emotion was visible in the
oppressive face of the Pope. The lady
vent her knee for the benediction, and,
ooking quietly into his face, said. with
l voice full of the sweetness and melo-
iy of other days, that she had a favor