Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-11-18

pontitf, can realize the awe which It
was in his power to inspire on such
occasions. No other monarch whom
have ever met was capable of such
extremes of dignity and urbanity.
When it pleased him he could be the
most fascinating of companions, at
other moments his frown struck like
death.
Il advanced trembling, and knelt
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 Sal
vaterra. He then commanded me to
rise, and addressed me:
81 have sent for your Excellency,'
he said, not in your capacity as Am
bassador of France, but in that of a
son of the Church. | have been in
formed that you were an acquaintance
of certain man called Count Guliel-
mo Vescaro, and l have believed it
possible that you may be uneasy in
your mind with regard to his fate.
Am right in this?
81 bowed, and darted a look at Sal.
vatierra. But his Eminence remained
without any sign of consciousness.
The Holy Father proceeded.
81 have, therefore, determined to
give you certain information which,
as 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 service"
II 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"
so do not, your Holiness.
1T 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 1900 years The moment the gar
risen of your brave countrymen was
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
lieutenant, by name Andrea Chigi,
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 Ves-
caro- drawing his sword ran the brave
young man through the heart. The
next IlOIilSul lut WullS ud5 "sbo
hoisted, the Sandman troops entered
Rome without shot having been fired.
and the dominions of the Holy See
were reduced to this palace.
"'Directly afterwards 1t was dis
covered that Vescaro's conduct was
premedtated. He had accepted a
bribe from the Sardinian government
to betray my capital into their hands.
There was solemn silence for a few
moments Then the pope spoke again:
I've have lost Rome, but within
these walls-1he pope is still SOY.
ereign. Immediately after the events
| have referred to, l 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 the
usurping government to hand him over
to me. The process was therefore ad.
journed, till such time as Vescaro
should place himself within the juris-
diction of the court.
"'This occurred the other day. He
entered my territory of his own ac'
cord, and was duly arrested, certain
precautions being taken to avoid pro-
voking scandal and to give the Sar-
dnian COVE rnment no excuse to inter-
fere. VesCaro was at once brought
to trial, an advocate was assigned to
him, such of the witnesses as are still
living were produced, and he was pro-
nounced guilty of treason, murder, and
desertion OF the field. The crime was
a. secular one, and the sentence was
executed, after Vescaro had made a
full confession and admitted the JUS
tice of his doom.
els there anything in these pro-
ceedings which you can complain OF
as irregular?
Nothing, your Holiness
His manner all at once changed.
He addressed Cardinal Salvatierra:
"Cardinal, We have had enough OF
punishments now let us speak of re-
wards. What does a man deserve
who, when he finds himself in pos
session Of the most dreadful proofs
against prince of the Church, instead
Of bruiting his suspicious abroad, goes
to the man he is obliged to suspect
and candidly confesses everything?
"'Your Holiness, ne deserves to be
honored by the Church.
THAT is my opinion, said the good
pope with kind smile. Give our son
what we have designed for him.
'T looked round, bewildered The
cardinal advanced towards me and
in his Holiness's name invested me
n,lo ~ KaVl