Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-01-06


his iron will to swerve from its purpose. The
grandeur Of his fame, and the magnitude of his
power was now such, that there was not royal
family in Europe which would not have felt hon
orsd in conferring upon him a bride. It was at
first contemplated that be should marry some
princess Of the Bourbon family, and thus add to
the stability of his throne, BY conciliating the
Iroyalist of France. A princess of Saxony was
proposed. Some weighty considerations urged
an alliance with the majestic empire Of Russia,
and some advances were made to the Court ofSt.
Petersburg, having in view sister Of the En-
iperos Alexander. II was at length decided that
proposals should be made to the Court Of Vien-
na, for Marie Louise, daughter of the Emperor
Of Austria.
At last the fatal day arrived for the announce
ment to Josephine. II was the last day Of No
|vember, 1909. The Emperor and Empress
dined at Fontainbieau alone. She seems to have
had presentIment that her doom was sealed
and for all that day she had been in her retired
apartment weeping bitterly. As the dinner hour
approached she balhed her swollen eyes, and
tried 10 regain eomposure. They sat down at
the table in silence. Napoleon did not speak
Josephine could not trust her voice to utter q
word. Neither Of them even feigned to eat
Course after course was brought in, and remov-
ed untouched. A mortal paleness revealed the
anguish ofeach heart. Napoleon, in his embar-
rassment, mechanically, and apparently uncon-
sciousy, kept striking the edge Of his glass with
his knife, while lost in thought. A more mel
ancholy meal was probably never Witnessed
The attendants around the table caught the infec-
tion, and gazed in motionless silence. At last
the ceremony of dinner was over, the attendants
were dismissed, and Napoleon and Josephine
were alone. Another moment of most painful
silence ensued, when the emperor, pale as death,
and trembling in every nerve, arose, and ap-
preached Josephine. He took her hand, and
placing II upon his heart, said:
"Josephine! my own good Josephine! you
know how have loved you. 1t is to you alone
that owe the few moments of happiness have
known in this world. Josephine! my destiny is
stronger than my own will. My dearest aflec-
tions must yield 10 the interests Of France"
Josephine's brain reeled; her blood ceased to
circulate; she tainted, and fell lfsless upon the
floor. Napoleon alarmed, threw open the door
of the saloon. and called for help. Attendants
from the ante-room Immediately entered. Napo-
leon took taper from the mantel, and uttering
not word bnt pale and trembling, motioned 10
the Count de Beaumont to take the Empress into
his arms. She was still unconscious Of every
thing, but began to murmur, in tones Of angui>h,
"Oh, no! you cannot surely do it. You would
moi kill me-"
The Emperor led the way through the dark
passage Of the private staircase which conducted
Ito the apartment of The Empress. The agitation
of Napoleon seemed now TO increase. He ut
tered some incolierent sentences about a violent
nervous attack; and finding the stairs too steep
and narrow fer the Count de Beaumont 10 bear
the body Of the live Josephine unassisted, he
gave the light TO an attendant, and supporting
her limbs himself, they reached the door Of the
bedroom. Napoleon, then dismissing his male
attendants, and laying Josephine upon her bed,
rang for her waiting woman. He hung over her
with an expression Of the most intense affection
and anxiety, until she began to revive. But the
moment consciousness seemed returning he left
the room. Napoleon did not even throw him
self upon his bed that night. He paced the floor
until The dawn of the morning. The royal sur
geon, Corvisart, passed the night at the bedside
Of the Empress. Every hour the restless, yet
unreIenting Emperor, called at her door to in
|quire concerning her situation.
"On recovering from my swoon," says Jose
phine, 81 perceived that Corvisart was in attend
ance, and my poor daughter, Hortense. weeping
over me. No! no! cannot describe the horror
OF my situation during that night. Even the in
terest he affected to take in my sufferings, seem
ed to me additional cruelty. How much reason
had to dread becoming an Empress!''
A fortnight now passed swsy. during
which Napoleon and Josephine saw bu, lit
tie of each other. During this time, there
occurred the anniversary of the coronation,
and Of the victory Of Austerlitz. Paris
was filed with rejoicing. The bells rang
their merriest peels. The metropolis was
refulgent with Examinations. In these fes-
tivities Josephine was compelled to appaar
She knew that the sovereigns and princes
then assembled in Pari, were informed Of
her approaching disgrace. In all these
sounds of triumph she heard but the knell
Of her own doom. And though careful
observer, in her moistened eye and her pal
lid cheek, would have observed indications
of the secret woe which was consuming
her heart, her babitual sffsbility and grace
never in public for one moment forsook
her. Hortense, langsid and sorrow stFick-
en-, was with her mother. Eugene was al
so summoned from Italy by the melancholy
duty attending the divorce. From the sa-
leon ha went dire ctiv IN the cahinet of Ma.