The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-06-06

family. Of all my brothers, only yourself
and Joseph can efficiently serve me: Louis
is an obstinate fool, and Jerome mere
child without capacity. My hopes then rest
chiefly in you: will you realize them2"
"Before this explanation is carried further,
ought to advertise you," said Lucen, 'that
| am not changed: my principles are still
the same as in 1899 and 1903. What /
was on my curule chair on the 18th Bru-
MARE, am at this moment beside the Em-
peror Napoleon. Now, brother, it is for you
TO consider how you will proceed"
You talk absurdly," said Napoleon,
struggling his shoulders; " new times should
give a new direction to the ideas. You
have chosen proper opportunity, truly, to
come here and rave of your Utopian repub-
lie. You must embrace my system, tell
you: follow my path, and tomorrow make
you the chief of great people. ac-
knowledge your wife asemy sister; crown
her as well as you. | make you the greatest
man in Europe next to myself, and restore
you my entire friendship, my BROTHER" added
as tS, lowering tic emphatic tone in which he
had just uttered the preceding sen.oacSS &c &c
that soft and carsssing accent have never
heard but from his lips, and which makes
the heart vbrate to its mellow and powerful
chords This man was altogether seducing.
Lucien loved him: he started as he listened,
and grew pale.
I" do not sell myself" said he, in agita-
ted voice. Hear me, my brother, listen to
me, for this is an important hour to both of
us. will never be prefect: if you give
me kingdom l must rule it according to my
own notions, and above all in conformity with
its wants. The people whose chief may
be shall have no cause to execrate my name
they shall be happy and respected; not
slaves; as the Tuscans and all the Italians
are. You yourself cannot desire to find in
your brother a plant sycophant, who for
few soft words would sell YOU the blood .. e.
his children; for people, after all, is but
one large family, whose head will be held
responsible by the King of kings for the
welfare of all its members"
The emperor frowned, and his whole as
pect proclaimed extreme dissatisfaction.
" Why then come 10 me?" said he at last,
angrily; " for if you are obstinate, so am |,
and you know it-at least as obstinate as
you can be. Humph republic! You are
ne more thinking of that than am; and be-
sides, what should you desire it for? You
are like Joseph, who bethought himself the
other day of writing me an inconceivable
letter, coelly desiring would allow. him to
enter upon kingly duties. Truely nothing
more would by wanting than the re-establsh-
ment of the papal tribute"
AND Struggling his shoulders, he smiled
eontemtuously.
"And why not" said Lucien, g If it con-
duced TO the national interests? It is an ab-
surdity, grant; but if it was beneficial to
Naples, Joseph would be quite right in in
sisting upon it,"
A variety of emotions rapidly succeeded
each other ON Napoleon's countenance. He
paced the gallery with hurled step, re-
peating in an accent that evinced strong in
ternal perturbation, "Always the same!
always the same!" Then turning suddenly
to his brother, and stamping on the marble
floor, he exclaimed with laundering voice
" But once more, sir, why then did you
come to meet me? Why these endless con-
tentions? You ought to obey me as your
father, the head of your family; and by hea-
vens, you shall do as Iplease."
Lucien was now growing warm, and all
the discretion he had summoned to his aid
was beginning to evaporate.
81 am no subject of yours" cried he in
his turn; "and if you think to impose your
iron yoke upon me, you are mistaken; never
will bow my head to it: and remember
hearken to my words, remember what once
told you at Malmaison."
A long alarming, almost sinister silence,
succeeded this burst of generous indignation.
The two brothers faced each other and were
separated only by the table on which lay
that Europe, the sport of Napoleon's infatua-
ted ambition. He was very pale, his lips COM
pressed, the almost livid complexion of his
cheek revealing the tempest within, and his
eyes darting glances of fury at Lucisn,
whose noble countenance must have shown
to great advantage in this stormy interview,
which was to decide his future fate; nor his
alone, but perhaps that of Europe, for who
shall conjecture what might have happened
had this really superior man been king of
Spain, of Prussia, OF of Poland. The en-
peror was the first TO break silence; he had
mastered his passion, and addressed his bro
ther with calmness:
/" You will reflect on what have told you,
Lucien; night brings counsel. Tomorrow
hope to find you more reasonable as to the
interests of Europe at least, if not your
own. Good by, and good night to you, my
brother"
He held out his hand. Lucien, whose
heart was susceptible to every kindly i'm
preston, and whose reflections at that mo-
ment were of nature powerfully to awaken
Al ...Jr L. k.oti,nr1, <f,aroJ bopJ ~, 4