The Washington herald., 1914-07-19
A CLASSIC
IN A PAGE

ranged that Laura and Eugene should
meet She took the prince into the apart
ments OF Laura as her page
The interview was short and filed with
rapture and pain alike. The marquis
removed his wife to a lonely castle OF
his in Piedmont and Eugene, after vain
ly trying to discover her whereabouts
and having several narrow escapes from
death at the hands Of the agents OF the
marquis, returned in, despair to Vienna
II War broke out afresh and he plunged
into the campaign. His fame was re-
sounded throughout Europe and the
world.
Belgrade fell and Prince Eugene, seri-
ously wounded. was taken TO Vienna
where he lay between life and death, not
seeming to care much which would be
His cousin. the Duke Of savoie, sent his
own physician TO attend the prince and
wl1n wbn ii tns physician came came a gentle nun.
acted as nurse, and Eugene would have
no one smooth his pillow or give him his
medicines but Sister Angelica
One day when he had become stronger
ne, Tor the first time, got a fair look at
tne face or the nurse. He sprang from
his bed and cried out as he grasped her
20 ms arms; Laura, my Laura
II was. indeed, Laura. She had escaped
! from the castle where she had been con-
fined and had fed. disguised as a peasant.
through the woods TO the nearest posting
I town.
There she had accidentally met the
duke doctor on his way to Vienna TO
attend Eugene. She knew him and he
recognized her. She told her story and,
| disguised as a nun, the doctor had taken
her TO Vienna to act as nurse for Eugene
! When he learned of the fight of Laura
the Marquis StroZZi became partially in
] sane and spent his time in preparing
poisons which he designed to xiii both
/ Laura and Eugene.
Time passed and Eugene still feeble
went to a little villa of his in Sayoie for
rest Laura was with him. Barbesieur
found 1t out and went TO sec the half
craZed marquis
With fendish ingenuity he worked upon
the marquis TO attempt the assassination
OF the Prince Of Savoie. And with this
result.
One day as Eugene and Laura were
sitting in the perrOn of the villa looking
/ out upon the blue Mediterranean a SER
! Ndnl announced that messenger had
| arrived with dispatches from the Duke Of
| Savoie.
Admit him" said Eugene; "and.
| Laura, remain here"
! He drew the hanging OF the bay vfndov,
ana IN It's deep embrasure she was en-
/ urely lost to view. Suddenly Laura heard
voice which, she knew not why, made
! These were the words she heard: Here,
/ your highness, are the dispatches
win trembling hands. Laura parted
/ the curtains and looked out The mes
/ senger stood in respectful attitude with
ms eyes cast down. He wore the Sar-
dinian uniform
Laura started at his swarthy face.
! 6ioodless lips. and sunken eyes. Surely
She nad seen him somewhere, and he
HiISd E her with strong repuCnance.
Eugene opened the paper handed to him
. and saw a blank. What am TO under
stand by this mystification?" said he.
your highness, the dispatch is writ
. ten in sympathetic ink II YOU will hold
. the paper over a light until A yapor arises
I the characters will appear"
| Eugene ordered lamp. Laura saw an
orGerIy place a wax light upon the table
| ana saw Eugene advance toward IL
| she glanced at the messenger His eyes
| were hNed upon Eugene with a frenzied
mahgnlty. She recognized the man. and,
out: Eugene, it is Strozzi"' tore the pa
per from the princes hands and threw II
al the feet Of the marquis
~ StFozki 70 r. sprang upon Laura and grasped
her IN MS arms. Eugene made one bound
| 10 the table and snatChed up his pistol
] bul al that same instant a dagger in
| the hand Of Strozzi cleaned aloft and
| was buried in the breast of Laura A
! pistol shot rang out and Strozzi fell dead
| shot through the brain. Laura lived but
an hour-aH medical help was vain.
| The agony Of Eugene may be iuaaxsned.
! Only the breaking out Of war hfS
! constant activities with the kIaI
armies saved his reason
| AT Paris the Duchess Of Orleans.
| dressed IN deep mourning. went TO the
hlns and told him OF Laura's aSsasstna-
! tlon. She also showed him an intercepted
! ietteT, sent her by her daughter-in-law.
! the Duchess of Savoie.
/ II was from Louvois 20 Barbesieur-and
| showed that the minister had planned the
! murder OF Prince Eugene. The paper
NhlCh thc prince was instructed to hold
| over the light until it gave of a vapor
| was charged with a subtle poison WHOSE
vapOrs were deadly
| Even the selfish heart Of Louis XIV
was touched. and he said to Louvois who
! was present at the audience OF the
! duchess. Go, sir. and until YOU can clear
| your fame consider yourself a prisoner in
your own palace"
I.OuyOlS diSrraNa1
! iicIy dIsgraced, and he sat a prisoner in
ms own house shuddering at a vision OF
the block and the ak. should all he had
ContrlVed and executed become known
\ Physician had just bled him and he
was sitting. pale and weak. when A vor7-
an who. by effrontery and bribery had oh
She threw back her hood
Olympia he cried
Then YOU recognize me-" II was, in
deed. the Countess de Scissors
What brings you here?'
Destiny" she replied: poor, fallen
Louvois. Your servants are already steal
ing away You are doomed
>. Never he cried. will I survive my
He tore the bandages from the place
Mhgre N,,HLe. - had been bled and the blood
1T was kindness 20 suffer YOU 10
die now said Olympia, but you SHAH
1--we to endure the contumely you have
forced upon me and mine"
She opened the door and called in the
1OHeSllCS, VINO replaced the handaEeS
Then she sought the room OF Barbes!eur
His Woes Avenged.
Announce me-" she said to a servant.
Ihe servant threw open the door and
cried: The Countess de Scissors" Bar
besieur turned around in surprise
1t is long since We met said the
countess. 1t was when you headed a
rabble which stormed my palace I had
not the pleasure OF being present at the
horSeWhlpplng my son gave you"
Barbesieur laughed. Il have had nv re-
venge," said he. The very grief that is
sapping his life at this time is Of my
Il know it" returned the countess,
but have avenged his woes"
You must have done Il very secretly,
then. for have felt no Inconvenience"
You Will before long. Did one Of your
servants bring you, about half an hour
ago tine peach on a salver?''
He did"
And you ate it?"
Then. Barbesieur. that peach avenEes
both Eugene and Laura. I sent it, You
have just four years longer to live. The
poison is slow but sure
Barbesieur dropped like a felled OK to
the floor while servants came running in
crying out. Monsieur. your father Is dy-
ing OF apopleXy."
Mysteriously as she had come the
countess disappeared again from Paris.
Empty HOnOrs.
It was the thIrtieth birthday Of Eugene
and he had received from the Emperor
the command Of all the imperial armies Of
Italy.
The drums rolled, the trumpets sound
ed and many thousands Of voices shout