The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-15

From present scenes apart,
And CLEAN for memory's treasure house,
lesson for the heart!
The ~ PaFhtioc Of Josephine and Ma PoIeon.
Rmnors had for some time been reaching
Josephine of the doom which was impend-
ing over her. Agitated with the most terri
bic fears, and again clingng to trembling
hope, the unhappy empress passed several
weeks in the agony of suspense. Both were
under great restraint, and each hardly ven
tured TO look at the other. The contem-
plated divorce was noised abroad; and Jo-
sephine read in the averted looks of her for
mer fIiends, the indications OF her approach.
ing disgrace. Napoleon and Josephine had
been accustomed 10 live upon terms Of the
most affectionste intimacy, and in their pn-
vale hours, free from the restraints of a
court, she would loiter in his cabinet, and
he would steal in, an ever-welcome visitor,
upon the secresy of her boudoir. Now, re-
serve and restraint marked every word and
movement. The private access between
their apartments was closed. Napoleon no
longer entered her boudoir; but, when he
wished to speak to her, respectfully knock
ing at the door, would wait her approach.
Whenever Josephine heard the sound OF
bis approaching footsteps, the fear that he
was coming with the terrible announce
ment Of separation, Immediately caused
such violent pslpitations Of the heart, that it
was with the utmost difficulty she could tot
ter across the floor, even when supporting
49, he Is ar,d
the articles Of furniture. They had many
private interviews before Napoleon ventur-
ed 10 announce directly his determination,
in which he limited at the necessity Of the
measure. From all these interviews Jo-
sephine returned with her eyes so swollen
with weeping az to give her attendants the
erroneous impression that personal violence
was used to compel her to consent.
The fatal day for the announcement at
length arrived. Josephine appears to have
had some Presentiment that her doom was
sealed, for all the. day she had been in her
private apartment weeping bitterly. As
the dinner-hour approached, 10 conceal her
weeping and swollen eyes, she wore head
dress with a deep front, which shaded the
whole Of the upper part Of her face. They
dined alone. Napoleon entered the room
in the deepest embarrassment. lie uttered
not word, but mechanically struck the
edge Of his glass with his knife, as if TO d.
ven his thoughts. Josephine could not con-
ceal the convulsive agitations Of her frame.
They sat together during the whole meal in
silence. The various courses were brought
in, and removed untouched by either. Says
Josephine, ave dined together as usual. /
struggled with my tears, which, notwith-
standing every effort, overfowed my eyes.
uttered not a word during that solitary
meal; and be broke silence but once, to
ask an attendant about the weather. Ny
sunshine. saw, had passed away; the
storm burst quickly" Immediately after
this sonowful repast, Napoleon requested
the attendants TO leave the room. The En-
peror closing the door after them with his
own hand, approached Josephine who was
tremblingin every nerve. The struggle in
the soul Of Napoleon was fearful. His
whole frame Iembled. His countenance
assumed the expression Of the firm resolve
which nerved him to this objectionable
wrong. He took the hand of the empress,
pressed it to his heart gazed for moment,
speeches., upon those features which had
won bis youthful love, and then with voice
uemulous win the storm which shook both
soul and body, said; Josephine, my good
Josephine, you know how | have loved you;
it is to you alone, that owe the few mo-
ments Of happiness have known in the
world. Josephine, my destiny is more pow
erful than my will. My dearest affections
must yield 10 the interests Of France
"Ssy no more, exclaimed the empress in
mortal anguish; 81 expected this. | under.
stand end feel for you; but the stroke is not
the less MORTAL" And with a piercing
shrek, she fell lifeless upon the floor. Ma.
poleon hastily opened the door and called
for help. His physician, DIR. Corvisart,
was at hand, and, entering with other at
tendants, they raised the unconscious Jo-
sephine from the floor, who, in a delirium OF
agony, was exclaiming, "Oh no, you can.
not, you cannot do ia you would not kill
me" Napoleon supported the limbs of
Josephine, while another bore her body, and
thus they conveyed her to her bedroom
Placing the insensible empress upon the
bed, Napoleon again dismissed The attend
ants and rang for her women, who, on en-
teTing. found him bending over her hleless
form with an expression of the deepest anx-
iety and anguish. Napoleon slept not HAT
night, but paced his room in silence and
solitude, probably dashed by an avease5>1sl
conscience. He frequently, during fhel
night, returned to JosePhine's room to in. |
quire concerning her situation, but each
time the sound of his loOtstep and of his
voice almost threw the sgonised empress In.
to commissions. "Nol MOI" says Josephine,
81 cannot describe the horror Of my situa.
ton during that night Even the interest
which he affected to take in my sufferings,
seemed to me additional cruelty. o. how
Justly had 1 reason to dread becoming an
empress"
At length the day arrived for the public
drUOuUccn1pnf IF the Isoor~n IT,