The Meeker herald., 1913-02-01
countess to my chateau as my mo,h.r's

" kN9 away oA1tS HNNsNsF, O'st ses-
countess seemed to Iove to tax about
the emperor. and ut one OF their con-
verxxti0ns NOa!iies told about the nOie-
book and The secrets II contained. One
slip be made In the matter. aud only
one. sbs wOrmed out of him the fact
that be trusted ~ his own ls'r*Ou rhth'
er than to lock n. safe plnce for the
depository Of the emperOr's recorded
precious thoughts. "A lock may tie
picked" he said. with me. my pro-.
erty cannot be- taken without my con
sent
The morning after receiving this In
forum tion the countess asked her host
II he would ride with her on borre-
back. he consented. and they were
soon caotertng over the well paved
roads leading from Paris.
II prefer cross country roads," said
the countess. and to S0ailles' astonish'
ment she jumped Der horse over .
fence and ailghted on the other side.
Turning, she saw her escort gaping at
her.
IF you love me. follow msr'
Noailles took the fence and gathered
himself for Q contest that was by no
means to bis taste. which was inteliet.-
tuai. not athletic. The countess. who
seemed to him a female centaur. gave
her horse q cut with her whip that
sent him plunging over i,lowed Held.
NoaIlles followed. now looking up ut
the Diana figure before him. now down
at the clods. expecting every moment
that one or the other of the horxeH
would fall aud main or kin bis rider.
From the Held the countess entered
q wood. now and again looking back
to see n Noailles was following. Mad,
iy In love. be realized that woman n
not likely to return the love Of man
she can outdo In mans field. Fences.
logs. dltches. none of them seemed tho
high for bee. Spurred on by bis pas
sion. Noaiiles kept the pace. Finally
he encountered a ditch at which his
horse baked. The countess had gone
over 1t safely and. refining. turned TO
watch him. Riding back q short dis
lance. be turned his horses head to
ward 1t.
Take It and I am yours.' cried the
countess.
plunging bis spurs Into his bOrse's
banks and giving him the whip at the
same dime. be dashed at the ditch.
His horne baked again. and the Rider.
turning q somevsault In the air. came
down in a heap on the other side.
whers b. lay motiouieas-
ln . second bis COMPANION was OF
her horse and kneeling At bis side.
but not to succor him. Fifty may have
been there. but It was suppressed by
4 greater sympathy for her oppressed
countrymen. Sbe felt In Noailies coat
pockets. The notebook was not there
Throwing open his walstcoat. she
found It In nm 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. she
mounted her horse and dashed away.
The fourth and last scene In the
play Ia in Turin .Cavour's cabinet. The
Countess Rlccioii enters. CavOur looks
up anxlously and in bis emissary's
face reads triumph She hands him
Nap0leOn's notebook. Motioning her
to seat. hs lays the book on his desk
and begins to read. bis eyes opening
wider m he proceeda. sOon gliatening
with the possession Of such power.
For an hour he reads without noticing
bis visitor. then suddenly closes the
book and turns to her.
ITO you" be said. "ltaiy IL indebted
for what she covets. II l can only
muzxie the republican fanatic Maxzini
and hold that thunderbolt Gariba Id till
the time comes for them to strike We
will be united people"
The morning after Noailles' fall he
staggered. Iiaie az ghost. Into bis
masters presence and confessed rbs
loss Of the notebook. The emperor.
thunderxtruck. took time to recover
from the shock. then said:
I'VE shall know SOON who possessea
the power over me the book gives
him. Whoever he is, must do mis-
bidding"
The emperor was right that be
should soon know what would be re-
Quired Of him. Noailies received q
communication from the countess stat
ing that the book was In her posses
sion and the secrets II contained
wonld be kept on condition that be
would secure from his master full
recognition Of the representative Ut
the king Of sardlLIa. With the right to
enter upon discussion OF subjects con
corning the Interests Of the powers at
the coming conference.
Noallles went at once to the emperor
with the communication and secured
bis agreement to the conditions which
be returned BY the messenger.
How Cavour was permitted to work
for italian interests tn the conference
and the events that followed by which
Italian unity was secured are mat
tern Of history. As to the Countess