Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-08-28
THE EMPRESS OF FRANCE.
BY I. n, PERKINS.
She is the working of whose destiny
The man of blood and victory obtained
His moro than kniphtly heirht.
ny I. n, PERKINS.

Napoleon, and gwen to every thing about
him the tinge Of romance, the story Of his
first wife will seem to the student rather a
fable than fact; he will look upon her as
we look upon Mary of Scotland, but with
deeper interest; for she, far more truly than
her lord, was from first to last, "the child of
destiny"
Told, while yet unmarried, that she would
be wife, a widow, and then Queen Of
France, the entire fulfilment Of the first part
of the prophecy gave her courage 10 believe
in the last part also when under sentence of
death. When her bed was taken from under
her because she was to die the next morning,
she told her weeping friends that it was not
so, that she would sit on the throne, on the
ruins of which Robespierre stood triumphant;
and when asked in mockery to choose her
maids of honor, since she was to be Queen,
she did choose them, and they we're her
maids Of honor when half of Europe looked
upon her. On that night which was to have
been her last on earth, Robespierre fell.
Had he fallen few days earlier, her hus.
band would have lived; and had he fell one
day later, Josephine herself would have been
among the ten thousand victims whose names
we nave never heard. But he fell that night,
and her destiny was accomplished.
She married Napoleon, and through her
and her husband, he was appointed to the
army in Italy; step by step they rose, till at
last the crown rested upon her head; the Sc
cond part of the prophecy was proved true !;
and she began to look forward to that loss Of
power and rank which had also been foretold,
and which was TO close the strange drama Of
her life. And he that had welded the child
of destiny grew every day more strong and
grasping. In vain did Josephine attempt to
rule his ambition, and chasten his arms; he
was an emperor, he wished to find an empire,
and by slow degrees he made himself familiar
with the thought of putting her away.
When the campaign of 1909 was at an
end, hardened and narrowed, the General
came back to his wife his former kindness
was gone; his playfulness was checked, he
consulted her but seldom, and seldom stole
upon her private hours with that familiar
love that had made her heart leap. She saw
her hour drew nigh.
1t was on the evening Of the Goth Novem-
Der, the court was at Paris in honor of the
King of Saxony, Josephine sat at the window
looking down upon the river, and musine
upon the dark fate before her, when she
heard Napoleon's step at the door. She
sprang to open it, using her usual exclama.
ton, "mon ami !" He embraced her so af-
fectonately that for the instant all her fears
and woes seemed vain. She led him to a
chair, placed herself at his feet and looking
up into his face, smiled through her tears.
"You are unhappy, Josephine" said the
Emperor.
"Not with you, SIRE"
"Bah!" said he, quickly, "why call me
sire? These shows of state steal all true
joys from me-"
"Then why seek them :" answered 10.
sephine.
The Emperor made no reply. "You are
now the first of men," she confined, why
not quit war, turn ambition out of your coun.
ellis, bend your thoughts on the good o
= France, and live at home amongst those wht
love you?'
Josephine" said he, turning his heat
from her, >" it is not it is France who de-
mands it,"
care you sure of that, my lord!" said hi
wife; shave you probed your heart to TIT
bottom? Is it not ambition which prompt
you to seek reasons for repudiating me. 70
think not, Napoleon, l misunderstood you
are you sure it is the love of France?"
Every word that she spoke touched hin
to the quick; and rising hastily, he replied
madam l have my reasons: good even
ing"
"Stay, SIRE" said she, taking hold of hi
arm, we must not part in anger. submit
cheerfully. 1t is not my nature to oppos
= your will love you too deeply. Nor sha
=, | cease to love you, Napoleon, because ar
, to leave your throne and your side. If sti
. you 60 OH victorious, shall rejoice with 20,
= II reverse comes will lay down my life t
comfort you. will pray for you mornin
= and night, and IN the hope that sometime
!, you will think of me-"
@ Hardened as he was, Napoleon had love
!. his wife dearly and long; and her submit.
IS sion to his stern resolve; her calm b.
n mournful dignity her mistaken love move
If even him, and for moment his aflectio
struggled with ambition. He turned to en-
brace her again. But in that moment III
: face and form had changed. Her eyes wei
,, lit with fire like that of insanity, and HI
}, whole person seemed inspired. lie felt hin
n self in the presence Of a superior ben
'c She led him to the window and threw it ope
g, A thin mist hung upon the Seine, and ov'
n the gardens of the palace, all around W;
N silent, among the stars before them, the
le was one far brighter than the rest; she poin
n, ed to it.
m "Bonapartc," she said, "that star is min
% to that and not to yours, was promised /
y empire; through me and my destinies VI
IN have risen; part from me and you fall. III
*' spirit of her that foresaw my rise to royalt
s. even now tells me that your fate hangs
mine. Believe me or not, if we hencefor
US US walk asunder, you will leave no empire b
!, hind you, and will die yourself in shame al
81, sorrow, with broken spirit"
10 lie turned away sick at heart, and owe
' y. awed by the words of one whose destiny h
80 been so strangely accomplished. Ten da
were passed away in resolves and coun,
N. resolves; and then the link that bound h