The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-10

49, 80 hish l'iONSS'Cii w ms
and the Empress followed.
They seated themselves when they
had entered, and remained for some time
silent. The Emperor at length spoke.
"There is no use in dcierring the truth,
Josephine" said he in i tremulous voice,
at must sooner or later be made known
to you, aud suspense is more cruel thar
certainty. The interests of France dc.
mand that We separate"
what" she exclaimed, placing both
hands on his shoulders, and gazing with
an eager and enquiring look i'll his face
"what. separate ~
EYES," he answered, 'Francc demands
the sacrifice"
Her hands dropped heayily--her bosom
heavcd, and hot, burning tears, such only
as flow from surcharged heart, gushcd
forth in torrents from her eyes.
"And l-oh God :" she exclaimed, IL
who have shared your joys and sorrows
who have been your companion for
years, who have loved you through veal
and woe--but | will not upbraid you. Ma
poIcon. Yet she who suppants me, Ma
ria Louisa, the daughter of the Emperor
f., can never love you as have dome
Oh no :"
She buried her face in her hands the
Emperor remained silent.
But" she continued, starting sudden
ly, and throwing her arms around his
neck, you do not mean-Oh! no! say
you do not !-speak-you cannot mean
1t. Tell me quick; say ii is not so--that
it cannot, must not be. Speak, Napole-
on, and the blessing of God rest upon
you ~
"AIas it is too true" he said, his eyes
sutluscd with tears. Oh how keen was
the pang of conscience that shot through
his gully heart.
"Trucw she exclaimed, land you con-
firm it! Then Fouchc was right. But
| will never survive tho! | will never
survive it. Mon Dicu Mon Dieu "
She uttered piercing scream, and reel
ed backward, for she had risen from her
seat in excitement. Napoleon caught
her in his arms and laid her gently upon
the carpet, Her agony was too deep for
words, and she could onl Y weep and groan
in bitterness of spirit. lie stepped to the
door and called for Bausct. They raised
her in their arms, and bore her to her
chamber, Her women were immediate
" summoned, and she was resigned to
their care Napoleon retired, greatly agl-
tated. De Bausclt followed; tears were
also in his eyes for Josephine, by her
goodness, won all hearts. Napoleon stop
ped a moment outside to listen to her
groaus of anguish. lie related what had
occurred.
"rhc interests of France" he coniin-
ucd, addressing De Bausctt, "and as my
dynasty docs violence to my heart, the
divorce becomes rigorous duty. | am
more afflicted by what has happened 10
Josephine, because three days ago she
must have heard it from lloucnsia. The
unhappy obligation which condemns me
to separate myself from her, dcplorc
with all my heart. But thought she
possessed more strength of character, and
| was not prepared for these bursts Of
grief
They hurried away. Conscience, over
faithful conscience, was already perform
ing its duty he felt its just upbraidings.
He cssaycd to stIlle it, 1t was this that
led him to utter such language to De Bau-
sett--to assert that she had not strength
of character enough to receive the an
nounccmcnt without those bursts ol gricl.
What vlrtuOus and allccllonatc woman
could receive with calmncss 4 sentence OF
reputation and that, too, by the tongue
Of a beloved husband Her heart must
have become a stone.
On the 10th Of December, 1909, the
law authorizing the divorce was enacted
by the conservative senate. In the fol-
lowing March the nuptas between Ma
poleon and Maria Louisa were performed
III ltIlld anu on NllC lllSN NhN VI a pa
they were joined in wcdIock in the city
OF Paris, by his uncle Cardinal Fesch.
Thus was consummatcd that act which
cast shade upon the character Of 1.-the
great Napoleon" which time cannot ei
lacc-A blot deep and indelib!c. 1t wa:
an act contrary to the laws of God an(
| humanity.
One wrong action will often tarnish I
whole life. We may admire his brayer!
and courage, his vast conception of mind
his gigantic intellect, his unparalleled
5 energy, his perseverance, and his deter
\ mination of character but when we tur
, to this dark page in his history, admire
ton vanishcs, and contempt and disgu:
r usurp its place. 1t was indeed an act NJ
C worthy Of the man and one that admits
c no palliatlon. 1t was not to France tn
Y sacrifice, as he termed ii, was made
}, was to ambition. And may we not 81
" mise that the lowering fortunes, whc