Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-06-10
Ole
EniSSary
A Historical Story
Of Italian Unity
By F. A. Mitchell

These were the crowned heads in the
play then going on: but. as in the play
of Hamlet" in which the king takes
an inferior part. these royal person
ages were second TO the star. Count
CavOur, prime minister of Italy. IL
was he who held the diplomatic strings
that worked the puppet kings and who
worked them to effect the unity OF
Italy.
One morning when the prime minis
ter was hard at work in his cabinet
card bearing the name of the Countess
Lita Riccioli was handed him. Sus-
pending the matter on which he was al
work. ne directed that the lady be ad-
mtted. She entered. Cavour rose def
erentially and handed her chair She
was an Italian about twenty eight
years of age and of rare beauty, hav-
ing the jet black hair and eyes of the
Italian people. complexion OF min
Gled dark and red and. unlike many
women of that country, melodiOus
voice. The count. following a habit
that had become part of his nature.
cast glances all over the room TO as
sure himself that they were alone, then
said:
II have received your offer. countess.
! to work for united Italy in the field of
secret service DO 1 understand that
you propose to do this for pay or TOR
patriotism"
For patriotism alone"
You speak French
"As well as my native tongue"
81 have examined your credentials
and have found them satisfactory. !
shall therefore trust you. and if you
succeed in work / have for you to do
all Italy will bless you. Your field will
be the imperial court at Paris. OF all
the sovereigns in Europe the emperor
of France is the most important TO me
in my efforts to establish Italian unity.
With him | may win; without him |
shall surely fail. | stand alone before
the powers without even an admission
to their conferences. There is 10 be
one of these conferences at Paris with
in short time to take action Oh GER
tain matters involving the interests OF
Europe and involving Italian unity. II
Is a matter of success or failure with
us that 1 become a representative OF
Italy IN that conference. My only
chance Is with Napoleon. Our arch
enemy of Austria will endeavor to keep
me out. II he succeeds l see no hope
for u.s."
The count paused, then proceeded in
a lower tone. almost in q whisper:
Go to Paris and watch tor an op,
portunity to possess some diplomatic
secret that I can hold over the EN-
peror Napoleon to force him to use his
influence or II possible to compel hin
to secure my admission as representa-
tive of the king of Sardinia at the com
Ing conference of the powers"
Il will do my best"
II am told that no man to whose
heart you lay siege can stand against
you"
That is flattery."
81 will detain you no longer. Though
| have placed my most important move
in your hands. l can say no more
20. and heaven help you"
few weeks after this brief inter
view the Emperor Napoleon in the
pa.ace of the Tuileries was debating
10 his confidential secretary, Jules
Nonilles. The emperor was making
notes, through his secretary. in little
blank book in which he was accus
toned TO jot down memoranda of those
things which pertained to the events
occurring in the diplomatic game play
ed by the European powers. After d
pause, during which he was lost II
deep thought his majesty proceeded:
Russia. as in the time of my uncle, must
today remain the enemy of France.
shall thwart him If possible, though
shall in comparatively unimportant mat
ters accede TO his wishes. In my plans
of coalition l shall ally myself with Other
powers, hoping for an opportunity &c
strike him. l am obliged to favor Sar'
dnia since the Italian cause is popular
and l came into power by the votes OF
the French people. But as the eldest soT
OF the church ! must stand by the TEN
poral power of the pope. Austria. too. re-
mains my enemy, as he was the enemy ol
France in my uncles time. and hope &c
strike him for joining the allies against
France in 1914.
There were many other notes jotteC
down during the sitting. but they are
unimportant to the story. Indeed, what
has been given was not continuous
but mingled with matter the gist o.
the whole having been extracted
When the emperor had finished he said
by the bye. Noallles, who Is this
Countess Riccioli. who has recently
come TO Paris and whom | saw hang
ing on your arm last evening at The
state ballT'
"She brought credentials from the
hing of Naples. whose views she Is sup
posed to represent"
Napoleon thought for moment, ther
said:
''ln that case her presence may b'
serviceable as a blind to our real lean
ings. 1t may be well to have it appeal
that representative of Il bourbon soy
ereign is not unwelcome at our court
Favor her socially. but in nowise CON
nit me-"
IL shall endeavor to carry out you
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