The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-11-06

Nv hlle the Queen was thus wav-
ering between love and ambition,
the war for the unifcatlon of Itay
broke out. She told Count beside
rio that the opportunity, long look
ed for, had come at last. She bade
him 60 and fight for the cause of
Italian freedom, promising that,
should be come back crowned with
the laurel wreath Of victory, she
would give him her hand as he al
ready had her heart.
"The young Count went to the
war, fought gallantly, was rapidly
promoted, and a glorious future
seemed opening before him, when, at
the Battle of Placentia he fell NOR
tally wounded while leading a charge.
When the surgeon told him he had
only al few hours TO live, he sent for
his orderly, In whom he had great
confidence, and placing in his hands
sealed packet, told him to deliver
it to the Queen-Mother, say to her
that, in dying, her name was the
last on his lips and her image the
last in his heart.
"Instead of carrying out the dv-
ing commands of the Count. the
soldier opened the packet, read the
letters and discovering that they
were Of such character as to COM
promise the Queen, he resolved to
use them for his own benefit. With
this object in view, he had the let
ters copied, and taking them to
Geneva, he there addressed a conf
muaication to the King of Etruria,
informing him of the nature of the
correspondence that had fallen into
his hands, AMI threatening to pub
lish the whole if he was not at once
paid twenty-five millions of francs,
OF gwen the hand of the Queen
Mother. The hing saw his mother
and showed her the letter he had re-
ceived. She told her son that she
had written letters to Count beside
rio which the world must not see,
and she begged the King to save her
from such a disgrace. He told her
to pay the immense sum demanded
was impossible, and the only way to
prevent exposure was to consent to
marry the man who had her repu-
tatioa in his keeping
"Who is he!" asked the unfor-
tunate Queen.
'"He is a common saldier, a man
of low tastes, loo morals and
brutal lnstincts-a man you would
be sorry to see marry the least Of
your servant-maids."
'"And must | marry such a mon-
ster-l who did not think the gentle
and the gallant. the brilliant and
accomplished Desiderio worthy oi
nv hand! Oh! thisis maddening."'
Zone Of two things has to be
done, said the King. Either to lei
the letters be published, or to marry
the villain who hasthem. To mar.
ry such a man would be an intoler.
able afiliction; to allow the letter.
10 be published"
'"Would be an everlasting dis.
grace" added the Queen. '"Car
you not buy the man off,
TWENTY-FIVE millions Of francs
Nv exchequer could not stand it
The thing is absolutely impossible
Ii cannot be thought Of for a mo-
ment."'
'"Can nothing be done TO save M,
from this terrible degradation ?"
Asked the Queen in despair at he
impending fate.
'"Can not a King save his moth
er from disgraceS'F
'"kings cannot doimpossibilities
ANYTHING that | can do for you ha
only to be asked and it will be done
But to pay twenty-five millions o
francs for any purpose-even I,
save the honor Of my. mother i
simply impossible. Willingly woul,
| sell the crown jewels of Etruria-
cheerfully would | strip my palac,
} Of its works Of art, and sell them [,
the highest bidder, 10 order to salts
fy the demands Of this ranaciou
scoundrel but these things telon,
. 10 the state, not TO me-I am thei
custodian, not their owner
"0h! Whydid Desiderio trus
|, such a man with so perilous a sc
, cret!" exclaimed the poor Queen
/ who saw before her the dreadful
/, alternative OF disgrace or degrade
tion.
"Most persons are honest unit
d they are tempted. This man, BeI
nardo. proved himself faithful unit
: q great temptation put his honest
E TO the proof, when he fell as so man
4 have fallen from Adam down all th
3 centuriessince.
o 1.-THE letters must not bepublisl