Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-07-09

was in his power to inspire on sucn
occasions. No other monarch whom
| have ever met was capable OF such
extremes OF dignity and urhanlty-
When 1t pleased him he could be tne
most fascinating Of companions, az
other moments his frown struck IKE
death
Il advanced trembling, and kneit
respectfully before his holiness. who
was surrounded by gorgeous suite.
AS soon as he had received my formal
homage, and had inquired after the
health Of the French president, the
pope dismissed everybody except sat
vatierra. He then commaSded me 20
rise. and addressed me:
~ have sent for your Excellency,
he said. mot in your capacity as Am
basaador of France, but in that OF q
son of the Church. have been in
formed that you we're an acquaintance
OF a certain man called Count GuiieE
mo yescaro, and / have believed It
possible that you may be uneasy IN
your mind with regard to bis fate.
Am I right in this?'
Il bowed, and darted look at Sal
vatierra. But his Eminence remained
without any sign of consciousness.
The Holy Father proceeded:
II have, therefore. determined 10
give you certain information which,
as a loyal Catholic, you will know how
to respect. To begin with. have you
been told that the man Vescaro was
formerly an officer in my serviceg
Il bowed once more.
DO YOU know how he came to
quit my service, and to be in receipt
of a pension from the king OF Sardin-
ia, who styles himself king OF Italy?
Il do not, your Holiness
"Tt is that which desire to tell
you. You are familiar with the cir
cumstances under which the king OBJ
tanned possession of the city Of Rome,
which has belonged to the Holy See
for $500 years. The moment the gar
rison Of your brave countrymen was
withdrawn in consequence of the mis-
fortunes OF the year 1870 the brigands
employed by Victor Emmanuel
marched against my territories. In
the exercise OF my rights as SOW
ereign, resolved to resist them. and
| ordered my troops to defend the
gates Of Rome. Vescaro was that
one of my officers in whom / placed
| the greatest confidence, and assigned
to him the most important post, the
Porta del Popolo Under him was a
| lieutenant, by name Andrea Chigi, a
cadet OF one OF the most illustrious
Roman families.
These two officers. with their men,
were on duty when the advance guard
| of the enemy appeared in front OF the
gate. Chigi demanded the word to
fire. Vescaro refused to give it, and
at once proposed to hoist the white
flag in token of surrender. Enraged
at this cowardice, Chigi turned to the
men to invite them to FIRE, when Yes
caro-, drawing his sword, ran the brave
young man through the heart. The
next moment the white flag was
hoisted, the Sandman troops entered
i
and the dominions of the Holy See
were reduced to this palace.
Directly afterwards 1t was dis
covered that Vescaro's conduct was
premeditated. He had accepted a
bride from the Sandman government
to betray my capital into their hands.
Now. Signor. what is the correct
term TO apply to the conduct of this
Vescaro?
In making this demand. the pope
directed at me stern glance.
Without question his conduct
amounted to high treason. your Holt
ness. / answered. and OF the most
aggravated kind
And what is the penalty of high
treason In every state with which you
are acquainted?'
Tt ID death. your Holiness fal
tered.
You have answered well The
traitor Vescaro has been put to death!
There was solemn silence for few
moments. Then the pope spoke again:
I'VE have lost Rome, but within
these walls the pope is still q soy
ereign. Immediately after the events
have referred to. / constituted {
tribunal to judge Vescaro, and he was
summoned to take his trial. He re
fused to come, and from the nature
OF his offense could not require tbs
usuHping government to hand him ovei
to me The process was therefore ad
1ourned, till such time az Nescart
should place himself within the iuris
dfctton Of the court.
This occurred the other day. Hi
entered my territory of his own &C
cord, and was duly arrested, certain
precautions being taken to avoid pro
voking scandal. and to give the Sar
dinian government no excuse to inter
fere. Vescaro was at once brough
to trial. an advocate was assigned Il
him. such of the witnesses as are still
living were produced. and he was pro
nounced guilty of treason, murder. ant
desertion on the field. The crime wa!
secular one. and the sentence wal
executed, after Vescaro had made
full confession and admitted the jus
tice of his doom.
Is there anything In these pro
ceedIngs which you can complain o
as irregular?
Nothing. your Holiness
His manner all At once changed
He addressed Cardinal Salvatierra:
Cardinal. we have had enough o