The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-11-23

VI
! Napoleon had become very strongly attached
TO his lttl. grandchid the son Of Ilortense. and
Of his brother Louis the King of Holland The
boy was extremely beautiful and developed all
those spirited traits Of character which delighted
the Emperor. Napoleon had apparently deter
mined To make this young prince hi. heir. This
was so generally the understanding, both in
France and Holland that Josephene was quite at
ease and serene days again dawned upon her
heart.
Early in the spring Of 1907, this child. upon
whom such destlnies were depending. then five
years Of age, was siezcd suddenly aud violently
with the Group, and in few hours died The
blow fell upou the heart Of Josephine with most
appalling power Deep as was her grief at the
loss the child she was overwhelmed with I'm
controabe anguish. in view Of those fearful con.
sequences. which she shuddered to contemplate
She knew that Napoleon loved her fondy But
sho also knew the strength of his ambition and
that he would make any sacrifice Of his affections,
which in his view, would subserye the interests of
his power and his glory. For three DAYS slle shut
herself up IN her room, and was continually bath
cd in tears.
The sad intelligence was conveyed TO Napoleon,
when he was far from home, in the mids, Of the
Prusslan campaign. lie had been victorious
almost miraculously Nictorious--oyer his enemies
lie had gained accessions of power, such as tie
widest dreams OF youth he had hardly imagined
All opposition 10 his sway WAS now apparently
crushed Napoleon had become the Creator Of
Kings, and the proudest rnonarchs OF ofEurupewere
constrained to do his bidding 1t was N an hour
Of exhul'ation that the mournful tilings reached
him. He sat down in silence buried his face in his
tor na Loaf "a Ia,
most painful musings. lie was heard .mourniul.
ly and anxiousy to repeat TO himself again and
again, TO whom shall leave all tli.f The
struggle in his mind between his love for jose
phnic, and bis ambitious desire to found a new
dynasty, and to transmit his name and fame to
to all posterI;y, was fearful 1t was manifest in
his paid cheek, in his restless eve in the loss Of
appetite and ef sleep. But the stern will Of Bo-
naparte was unrecntlng in its purposes, With
all energy, which the world has never seen sur
passed, lac had chosen his part II was the pur
pose OF hls soul-the lofty purpose before which
everything bad to bend--to acquire the glory of
making France the most ilustr.ous, powerful
mad happy nation earth had ever seen. For this
he was ready to sacrifice comfort, ease, and his
sense of right For this he was ready ~ suuder
the strongest ties of affection.
Josephine knew Napoleon She knew the
power of his ambition. With almost nsupporia.
be anguish, she wept over the death Of this child
upon whose dcstlnies her own seemed to be SO
ieariully blended and with trembling heart she
waited her husbands return. Mysteriou, hints
began to fill the Journals of the contemplated iii.
vorco, and Of the alliance Of Napoleon with vari.
Gus prlncesses Of foreign courts. In October,
1909, Napoleon returned from Vienna. He greet
ed Josephine with the greatest kindness, but she
soon perceived that his mind was i'll at ease, and
that he was pondcrng tho dreadful question. llo
appeared sad and embarrassed. lie had frequent
private interviews with his ministers. a general
feeling of constrant porvaded the court Napo-
leon scarcely vontured to look upon his wife, as
il apprehension that the very sight Of one he low
cd So well, might cause him TO waver in his firm
purpose. Josephine was in state Of most fever.
ish solicitude aud yet WAS compelled to appear
calm aud unconstransd. AS yet she had only
some iorebodings of her impending doom. She
watched, with most excited apprehension. ev.
cry movement Of the Emperors eye, every into.
nation OF his voice, every sentiment he uttered.
Each day some new and trivial indication confirm.
cd her fears. Her husband became more reserv.
ed Abssnted himself from her society the pri.
vats access between their apartments was closed /;
lie now seldom entered her rools and whenever
lie did 90 he invariably knocked. And yet not
one word had passed between hin, and Josephine
upon the fearful subject Whenever Josephine
heard tho sound Of his approaching iootsteps, the
foar that hc was coming withthe terrible announce.
meut Of separation immediately caused such VIC.
lent palptation Of the heart, that il was with the
utmost difficulty thatsho could tottcr across the
floor. even when supporting herself by leaning
against the walls and catching at tho articles Of
furniture
The months Of October and November passed