Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

" GhIel IuC NoItSttu. VIC puoocu bhiouSu
amidst u blare of trumpets, each side of
the passage being lined with pikemen,
standing stiff and motionless as statues.
Our way led to the Tore Borgia, the por-
ton of the vatican occupied by Alexander,
and the distant strains Of music caught our
Hlrs as we went on, and shortly entered
the noble reception rooms, which were
crowded with people.
The pope himself stood at the extreme
end of the apartment, surrounded by bril-
liant group of ladies and gentlemen, and
as we came up to make our duty Ihad good
opportunity of observing him. Alexander
was fully 20 years of age, but 70 hale,
hearty and strengthening that he might
easily have passed for a man of middle age.
He was dressed as private gentleman, in
Spanish costume, with high bsots, Jew.
eled dagger at his side and smart velvet
capon his head. But the face itself struck me
as remarkable to degree. He was clean
shaven, so that all the features were clearly
discernible, the heavy, sensual chin, the
wide, cruel mouth, surmounted by nose
almost Jewish in its curve, the retreatins
forehead bullying over the eyes, and the
eyes themselves, in which there seemed to
burn the fires of Unsuitable appetite and pas
sion without end; all these combined TO-
gether to make up countenance which was
fitting mask for the evil soul within. ]
made my obeisance with all the others,
sitting with difficulty a sudden desire to
fling aside the hand I touched and walk
out of the room.
1 moved slightly aside, and watched the
various groups as they wandered to and
fro, or stood together converting; and the
hum of voices, the gay strain of music and
no. hvsIl o~k lrac do %Nro khAn .
scene well worth the looking at.
! The Florentine ambassador was talking
to the cardinal of Santa Susanna, few
feet from me. caught the tones of his
voice, and as he turned round our eyes met.
Machiavelli, for it was he, glanced at me
as at a perfect stranger, and then, slightly
adjusting his purple-lined robe, moved allow.
ly EDWARDS with his companion.
eve mount yet. higher, signore-excel.
sior!"
The words were breathed rather than
whispered into my ear, and Corte stood b.
side me-
"Excelsior!" I repeated, with smils,
"but are you not putting your head in the
lions mouths"
He smiled back upon me, more Of snarl
than smile. "The beast is gorged now.
He will not think of me-see, there 10 some
one coming your way-adieu!"
He turned and passed into the groups,
and St. Armande touched my arm.
"You are to be presented to the Lady
Lucrezia," he said, and the next moment
found myself bowling over the hand Of
one of the most beautiful, and certainly the
most infamous woman of her age. She was
barely %; had already welded three
husbands, and was to become . wife
again, and marry Alfonso Of Farrara. She
was seated in a low lounge, and ~ I cana
up she extended her hand to me with q
Z charming smile. Standing before her, look.
ing at her large limpid eyes, at the small
red bow Of the lips, and the clear-cut fea.
lures set in a mass of red gold hair, could
not imagine that the stories had heard
| young woman who stood before me had
smilingly committed crimes of nameless hos.
Tor. would not believe it.
$50, cavaliere, you have come to the court
at last! I thought You were never going
T, to do us that honor"
His eminence of Strigonia said You meant
! to take the VOWS" and lady, who wa
leaning over Lucrezia's seat, laughed a. sha
| put in these words. recognized the ne.
culiar unmusical laugh had heard at the
gate of st. Paul, and glanced at her with
some interest.
my sister-in.law, Giulia Farnese- Giulis
Bella, is it not?" and Lucrezia touched hen
lightly on the arm.
ooh, yes, Giulia Bella-and are you real
| ly going to become hermit"
II might have had such thoughts until
came here" said, but must now put
them aside"
Neatly turned, cavaliere-St. Armand,
himself could not have put it better-ii
here, chevalier," and Lucrezia made roon
for St. Armande on her lounge.
at this moment commotion at the en-
trance attracted our attention, and man
ROBBED in black, followed by two others
walked up towards the pope.
"Heavens!" said Lucrezia, at il Cesare!s
and lock that was not sisterly came oves
her face as she glanced at her brother, who
moved slowly up the room, men falling
away from each side of him, and greetins
no one. He kept himself covered, and be.
low his square velvet cap l saw q resolut<
face, the mouth and chin covered by {
mustache and short beard, not 30 hidden,
however, but that one could distinctly set
against the dark hair on his face the full
red line Of the lips, set in habitual aneer
Bad ~ the whole brood of the Borgia were
i tiA&o Woo sAC WOAbt "a tNCA 61s I0 WA9 u
far beyond them in infamy as they wer>
beyond the rest of mankind in evil doing
The very room was hushed into silence q
he entered, aud watched with more in
terest than can tell the stately figure Of
this wicked man as he went up to meet hi
oAly less wicked father. 1t was their first
meeting since the murder Of Pierrot, and
Alexander, who stood in dread of his son
began to tremble violently as be ap
preached, looking this way and that, a. Il
he would avoid him. At last they came to
gether face to face, Cesare speaking no word
but lifting his cap with low bow. Alex
ander almost made a motion ~ II he wal
wringing his hands, but recovered himself
With an effort, and kissed his SON on tn,
cheek.
so do the devils kiss" Lucrezia spols,
these words under her breath, and turned
sharply round and looked at her. Her eye,
fell beneath my glance of inquiry, and 4
raise some conversation addressed Giulil
Bella.
$50 that is the duke of valentinoisY
"Yes-and the man Immediately behind
him is Don Michelotto."
'The stranger"
s'You use strong terms, sir" the eyes O.
the Farnese flashed fire, and Lucrezia add
ed, hurriedly:
eyes, yes-you are right-the stranger
flush, fool" aud Giulia Bella laid hel
nand on her iriend's shoulder. "See, the,
come this way-be coolp'
In fact. Cesare had turned from his IL
Their without either of them exchanging
word. and was coming directly toward
US. On the way he passed group consist
ing Of p'Amboise, Bayard and the cardina
Of Strigonia, Valentinois stopped, and, Il
his speechless way, held out his hand Il
Hayard, who merely bowed stifly. Cesare'
dark face whitened with rage, and drop
ping his hand to his side he walked straigh
on, and 1 could see that D'Amboise va
eApostulating with Bayard. and Strigonil
openly laughing. This insult, however, hat
not added TO Cesare's good temper; in fact
he came up to US angry as man could be
and after greeting his sister eoldly, turnet
; to st. Armande and looked at him in q
| s1rno