Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-06-10

countess 10 my cnateau as my mOJneTS
guest. She is there now"
The next scene in this drama so i'm
portant TO the cause of united Italy
took place al Noailles chateau. lie mad
not returned his masters confidence
by telling him that in a few short
weeks the Italian countess had com
pletely subjuGated him. He had fallen
under the thrall OF woman OF very
dangerous age, too young 10 be old, yet
old enough 10 be mistress of herself.
Noailles was sufficiently prudent not
to give away state secrets. but the
countess seemed to love to talk about
the emperor. and at one of their con-
versauons Noailles told about the note
book and the secrets II contained. One
slip he made IN the matter. and only
one. She wOrmed out of him the fact
that he trusted 10 his own person rath.
er than TO lock as a safe place for the
depository of the emperors recorded
precious thoughts. "A lock may be
picked" he said with me. my prop
erty cannot be taken without my con-
sent"
The morning after receiving this in
formation the countess asked her host
if he would ride with her on horse
| back. He consented. and they were
soon cantering over the well paved
roads leading from Paris.
IL prefer cross country roads" said
the countess. and to Noailles astonlsh-
ment she jumped her horse over a
fence ana alighted on the other side.
/ Turning, she saw her escort gaping at
/ her
If You love me. follow mer'
NOailes took the fence and gathered
| himself for contest that was by no
means 10 his taste, which was intellec-
! tual. not athletic. The countess, who
! seemed to him female centaur, gave
her horse a cut with her whip that
sent him punging over powed field.
Noallles followed. now looking up at
the Diana figure before him. now down
at the clodS. expecting every moment
that one or the other of the horses
would tall and main or kill his rider.
From the field the countess entered
wood. now and again looking back
to see if NOailles was following. Mad.
ly in love, he realized that woman is
not likely to return the love of man
she can outdo in a mans field. Fences.
logs. bitches. none of them seemed too
high for her Spnrred on by his pas
sion. Noailles kept the pace. Finally
be encountered a ditch at which his
horse balkeI. The countess had gone
over 1t safely and refining, turned 70
watch him. Riding back short dis
tance. be turned his horses head TO
ward it.
Take 1t and am yoursr' cried the
countess.
plunging his spurs into his horses
6anks and giving him the whip at The
same time. be dashed at the ditch
His horse baked again. and the rider
turning a somersault in the air. came
down in heap on the other side
where be lay motionless.
In second his companion was of
her horse and kneeling at his side
but not to succor him. Pity may have
been there. but 1t was suppressed by
greater sympathy for her oppressed
countrymen. She felt in Noailles Goa
pockets. The notebook was not there
Throwing open his waistcoat, sht
found it in an inside pocket.
In one way. and one way only, she
showed the woman and that she was
not inSensible TO her devotion. She
kissed the white lips Then. rising. sn'
mounted her horse and dashed away.
The fourth and last scene in the
play is In Turin.Cavour's cabinet. Th'
Countess Riccioli enters. Cavour look
up anXiously and in his emiSsary''
! face reads triumph. She hands hin
Napoleon's notebook. MotiOning ne
to seat, he lays the book on his desl
and begins to read. his eyes opening
wider as he proceeds. soon glistenini
with the possession of such power
For an hour he reads without noticini
his visitor. then suddenly closes thu
book and turns to her.
ITO you" he said. Italy Is indebted
for what she covets. If | can only
muzzle the republican fanatic MazZin
) and hold that thunderboIt Garibaldi til
the time comes for them to strike W.
will be united people"
The morning after Noailles' fall h'
staggered pale as a ghost. into hl'
masters presence and confessed th'
loss of the notebook. The emperor
thunderstruck. took time to recover
from the shock. then said:
I'VE shall know soon who possesses
the power over me the book gives
him. Whoever he is, | must DO MI
bidding"
,, The emperor was right that n
, should soon know what would be re
Quired of him. Noailles received
communication from the countess stat
ing that the book was in her posses
sion and the secrets 1t contained
would be kept on condition that M
would secure from his master ful
! recognition of the representative .
the king of Sardinia. with the right t
enter upon discussion OF subjects con
, cerning the interests of the powers a
/ the coming conference.
Nooilles went ot once to the emDerO