The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-27


as she had assembled it, in willing obedi-
ence, On her arrival in Holland her sub
jects had greeted her with cries of s'God
bless our iOUeLy Queen" On her depar-
ture those CT es were changed to '.God bless
our good Queen!' To heart like that
of Hortense, this last greeting was consol-
atory, even at a moment when a throne
was lost. On retiring into private life, she
devoted herself TO the education of her
children, and to rendering filial attentions
to her mother, who, like herself, was, the
aoidOac Of a throne.
The cannon of Waterloo had ceased TO
roar, and Napoleon was obliged to quit the
Elysees, and TO take refuge in Malmaison.
the last abode of the Empress Josephine.
One evening when he was alone in the
salon, seated before table on which lay
scattered the notes from which his second
act of abdication was TO be drawn up,
lady entered. 1t was Hortense.
''Sire," said she In a voice trembling
with emotion, ''does your Majesty remem-
Der the present you made me at St. Cloud
about nine years ago!"
Napoleon gazed at the daughter of Jose
phine, with mingled expression of grief
and affection, then taken her hand, he said.
"Well, Hortense, what have You to sayGto
me?''
'sSire, when | was a queen you gave
me this necklace. 1t was of great value.
But now am no longer a queen, and
you are unfortunate: :. :. therefore |
entreat that you will permit me TO return
it,
"That necklace Hortense!'' replied Ma
poleon, coldly. "Why deprive yourself
of it! Ii is now, probably, the half of. your
fortune. And your children!"
.Sire, it is all possess in the world
But as to my children they will never re-
proach their mother for having shared with
her benefactor the bounty which he was
pleased to confer on her,
She burst into tears, and Napoleon
struggled to conceal his emotion.
s'No Hortense," said ne, averting his
head, and gently repelling the hand
which was stretched out to him; s'no | can
not
"Take it; Sire; implore you. There
is no time to be lost They are comingr'
With these words she thrust the Jewell
case into his hand. few hours after
wards, the necklace was stitched into sill
ken cei,ature, which Napoleon wore un-
der his Wais;Coat.
Six weeks after this incident, Napoleon
was on the deck of the Bellerophon, pre-
pairing to embark on borad the Northum
berland. The arms of the persons of his
suite were taken from them, their baggage
was inspected, and they were not permit
ted TO take with them either money Or
Jewels. The trunks of the illustrious pris-
oner being searched, box was found con-
taing four thousand Napoleon dor. He
was informed that the money must be Civ
en- up. This sum, together with some
funds which Napoleon had lodged in the
hands of Lafitte prior TO his departure from
Paris, was all his fortune.
Whilst the ispection was going on Ma
poleon was gently pacing up and down
the quarterback with NJ. Las Cases.
Casting a furtive look around him and
finding that he was not observed, he drew
from beneath his waistcoat the silken
ceint,re, and gave 1t to his companion
saying
"My dear Las Cases, certain Greek
Philosopher used TO say that he carried all
his fortune about with him, though certain
ly had not shirt to his back. don't
know how he managed; but this | know.
that ever since our departure from Paris,
| have been carrying all my treasure under
my waistcoat. | now begin to weary of
the burden. Will you relieve me of it?''
He unlastened his ceinture, and Las
Gases, without making any reply, took it
from him, and fastened it round his own
waist.
1t was not until after his arrival at st.
Helena. that Napoleon informed M. de
Las Cases tina. the siiken band which he
had confded to his care on board the Bel
lerophon contained necklace worth eight
hundred thousand francs. Subsequently
Las Cases expressed desire to restore it
to Napoleon. "Does it not incommode
you?" inquired the Emperor dryly. No
SIRE Then retain it, rejoined Napole-
on; 'fancy it is chain or an amulet, it
will not trouble you
Fifteen months afterwards Las Cases
was by order of the English Government
unexpectedly separated from Napoleon.
He aud his son were removed from Long
wood, and conveyed 10 Plantation House
where they were kept under strict SUR
veillance until they embarked for the
Cape of Good Hope.
Meanwhile, Las Cases still held pos
session of the diamond necklace. Time
ran on, aud he was informed that hc bad