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


crly, "somc one has been poisoning you
mind with idle tales. Who has
been 2"
She then related to him her interview
, with Fouchc, and asked him to dismis.
: that minister As penalty for his audacity
in playing with her feelings. He strenu
ously denied the communication bat re
fused to dismiss him.
"No," said he, circumstances compc
me to retain him though he well deserve.
my displcasurc. But why give credit Il
such silly assertions, Josephine Have
ever treated you but with affection
Have you discovered aught in my be
hayior to warrant suspicion! No; be
lievc me, you are still dear to me. Ban
ish those foolish fears from your breast
then, and weep no more" SO saying
he imprinted a kiss upon her lips, ant
then left the chamber to attend to the
affairs of State.
1t was touching to hear such express.
sions of tenderness issue from the greatest
monarch Of his time, and to witness that
act of devotion, to see that proud spirit
unbcnt but it was those tears of anguish,
and the whispering of that "sill small
voice. of conscience, that humbled him
whose mighty mind aspircd to the con-
quest of the world.
The setting sun threw lis parting ray 5
over the earth, and pierced the windows
of the imperial palace, The golden
flood, sol,cncd By the crimson curtains,
fell upon the charming features of the
Empress Josephine, as she sat in thought
full attitude, with her head resting on her
hand on sofa of royal purple, near the
centre of her chamber. A page stood
near the door, careIessIy humming a little
ditty his heart as sunny as his own ma
tive France. WHAT contrast with that
which beat within the bosom Of the En-
press Care weighed heavily upon her
breast. Long before her interview with
Fouchc, she bad, from the cause limited
at by the minister, dreaded a withdrawal
of her husbands affections but since
that event her anXictics had doubly in.
creased, and suspicion would take pos
session Of her mind, amounting at times,
even TO jealousy. Not that she appre-
hcnded his proceeding to that extremity
at which the willy minister had limited =
no no person on earth could have per
suaded her that he, whose Joys and woes
she had chceriu!Iy shared, wished Cor 4
separations bat that some Syrcn would
ensnarc him with her charms and usurp
that place in his heart which she only
should hold. All the powers she pos
sesscd were eNccrtcd by Josephine, in
order TO retain his love, and sometimes
she iancicd she had succeeded for, of
late, in proportion as the sense of injus-
tce he was about to do her, presented
itself to his mind, he became more than
usually kind and tender but there were
moments when a gloomy melancholy
would settle upon her, an indchnablc
something that seemed to warn her of
approaching affection.
1t was in one of these fits of abstrac-
tons, so foreign to her naturally cheerful
nature, that she sat as we have said seem,
ingly unconscious of all around, when the
door opened, and Napoleon entered. He
seemed disturbed, and trouble was wildly
depicted in his expressive counlcnance.-
He motioncd for the page to retire, and
seated himself beside her.
"Josephine ~ he said.
She started from her rcycrc, as he pro-
nounced her nalnc-lor buried in thought,
! she had not observed his cntrancc--and
bent upon him such a look, full of sweet.
ness and affection, that it dsarmcd him
he could not proceed. He folded his arm,
upon his breast and paced to and fro, his
brow was contracted, his lips compress
cd; and the unqulct rcstlessness of hi-
piercing eye betokened tn. agitation he
could scarce control. lie thus continued
for some moments. Atlength he stepped