The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-11-12

vailed upon him to retire to a room, adjoining that
in which she intended to receive her husband Eu- /
gene had hardly retired, when the emperor entered
hurriedly and tossed his hat upon the sofa, without
uttering word When the empress to receive
the accustomed kiss, she shuddered, and shrank
back as if under the influence of some supernatural
power. His feverish lips but slightly touched her
forehead and that with constraint. The emperor,
with his hands convulsvely clasped, walked rapidly
UP and down the apartment in silence while jose
phine stood terrified, leaning against the WALL and
anxiously watching every motion of her husband.
Suddenly the emperor paused and stood before his
wife for some time, with his eyes anxiously fixed
upon her. 'Napolean, tell me, what has your poor
Josephine done, that you should frighten her so 2
Let us not talk of that now,' said he in tone of
constrained harshness; business, madame, busi-
ness demands our attention to-day Madame
You used to call me Josephine = Well, well, don't
talk of that But what thenp asked Josephine,
frightened at his manner Business, | tell you,
business = exclaimed Napoleon, hastily. There
was a time replied Josephine, 'when you spoke to
me of your affairs, thaty might gather friend
y counseIs from feeble woman; your voice was
not then so harsh and your smiles, which were not
then so bitter they are now, encouraged me to
speak my thoughts In truth, madame, ] would
sooner be compelled to rc-conquer the whole Of It.
aly than to utter my present thoughts The en-
peror of the French who must atendto the welfare
of his people, has no time to make parade of SEN
timent.'
Josephine drew forth casket, in which were
preserved the letters of Napoleon, and opening it,
placed it before him. Sire said she, with digni-
IT, these were written by the first CONSUL the victor
of Marengo.' All love-letters y replied the
pcror glancing at them carelessly; love-letters
true but does 1t become you, madame to display
them thus? This, for instance, would you that
should read it to you-this which wrote TO you
the field OF battle, WORKOUT with fatigue, thinking
only Of you, telling all my glory to you alone who
would not return single answer, indulgng as you
did in all the pleasures of Milan, and perhaps en-
couragng the attentions of some cavalierP Sircn
exclaimed the empress, have some respect for me,
for yourselfr 'Or shall read this 2 continued
Napoleon, becoming more heated, as he remember
ed the jealousy to which he had formerly been
victim; would you wish me to do so Hold will
And he read the following - | came to Milan
has,cned TO your apartment; quilted every thing
70 see you TO embrace you You were not there
You were at n fete, you were away when arrived,
you thought not Of Napoleon Caprice made you
love him, aud INCONSISTENCY renders you now ndiiler
ent to him. The pain feel is it was
unexpected. Continue in your career of pleasure !;
happiness made for you the whole world is
too happy if it can hut please you, and your hus-
band is very, very miserable
'Oh, the thought ofthis draws blood on my cheek,
continued the emperor; remove these scrawls u
way with them, or | will tear them to pieces. Do
not remind me again, that ], the foremost man i'll
all the world, could have rival III the affections of
! a woman whom have raised to the dignity of my
wife. At this moment, the sounds of footsteps was
heard in all adjoining apartment, accompanied with
n ong-drawn and ill-supprcsscd sigh. Who over
hears us (! asked the emperor angnly : Who is
there 2'-aud he advanced TO the door of the cham
bcr whence the noise proceeded. Ii is my son who
is there, replied Josephine, in tone which mani
csed her indignation at his reproaches She her.
self opened the door for prince Eugene, who threw
himself into the of the empress, weeping, and
only able to say, My mother! my poor mothcrp
The emperor, who had greatly exaggerated the
suspicious which the APPARENT levy ofJoscphine had
formerly occasioncd, was surprised at the sudden
appearance of Eugene, and at the picture of grief
displayed before him, that he did not think OF
Questioning the viccroy TO his arrival. Josephine
now appeared to have dominion the emperor,
but by other means than before. MY son has
heard my accusation, said she, addressing Napoleon
let him, sire, also hear my defence. 1t shall be
brief. | have been young, and too desirous, per-
haps, to receive homage, that it might seem, i
were, the reflection of your glory. But the wife o
Napoleon B9Naparte has not, in her welded state
had thought or wish, which she would not ayow t'
her husband as freely as TO her God. Heaven gran
that Napoleon may have little to reproacl
himself as the Empress Josephine
The voice ofthc empress, usually so calm, was nov
decisive and energetic. As she pronounced the las
words, the emperor stood almost in the light ofone
cused; torbcsides that Josephine had ceased
be his dearest friend and the only person who pos
= scsscd constant influence over him. it was no longc
: doubtful, that her conjugal fidelity unimpeac
able and her justification to him, delivered in tn
: presence of third person like Eugene, hurt h
e pride.
y lie now made of gentlcr tone, Judging tn;
e he would by this means obtain easily the oil
'e iect of his visit. You are, right my Josephine
Il said he, and was i'll the wrong to give crcdcn,
'e 20 suspicious totally unworthy ofyou: you rg
. and may you always be my best friend. But
{ Eugene leave alone for few moments, that
J. may propose to you n sacrifice which will cost II
C - 80 LII I,--.l.....