Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-27
nli5rcllancoll5,
30 s E HINE.

The story of Napoleon's reputation OF
his gentle Empress has been told Il hun
dred times, but never with more grace
and pathos than by Mr. Abbott in the Iol-
lowing, which we copy from his recently
published life of Josephine.
vt length the fatal day arrived for the
announcement TO Josephine. 1t was the
last day of November, 1909 The Fin.
pcror and Empress dincd at Fontainblcau
alone She seemed to have had pre-.
sentiment that her doom was sealed, for
that day she had been in her retired apart
ment weeping bitterly. As the dinner
hour approached, she bathed her swollen
eyes and tried to regain her composure.
They sat down at the table in silence.
Napoleon did not speak. Josephine could
not trust her voice to utter word
Neither ate a mouthful. Course after
course was brought in and removed un-
touched. A mortal paleness revealed the
anguish of each heart. Napoleon, LIN his
emDaFrassmeHt;- NecTfHrltasiii ..-zandr ann:l-.-
reully unconsciou>ly, struck the edge of
his glass with his knife, willie lost in
thought. A more melancholy meal pro-
badly was never witnessed. The attend
ants around the table seemed to catch the
infection, and moved sOfll Y and silently in
the discharge of their duties as if they
were in the chamber of the dead. At
last the ceremony of dinner was over, the
attendants were dismissed, aud Napoleon,
rising and closing the door with his own
hand, was left alone with Josephine. An
other moment of most painful silence en-
sued, when the Emperor, pale us death,
and trembling in every nerve, approached
the Empress. He took her hand, placed
it upon his heart, and in hattering accents,
said "Josephine! my own good Jose
phine! you know how have loved you,
IL is to you alone that | owe the only few
moments of happiness have known in
the world. Josephine, my destiny is
stronger than my will. My dearest :Atc.
tions must yield to the interests OF France"
Josephine's brain rceled; her blood
ceased to circulate; she tainted, and fell
lifeless upon the floor. Napoleon, alarm
cd, threw open the door, of the saloon,
and called for help. Attendants from the
ante.room Immediately entered. Napo.
leon took taper from the mautel, and
uttering not a word, but pale and trem-
bling, motioncd to the Count dc Beaumont
to take the Empress in his arms She
was still unconscious Of everything, but
began to murmur, in tones of anguish,
ooh, no /! you cannot surely do it. You
would not kill me-" The Emperor led
the way, through a dark passage, to the
private staircase, which conducted to the
apartment of the Empress. The agita-
ton Of Napoleon seemed now to increase.
He uttered some incoherent sentences
about violent nervous attack k !; and find
ing the stairs too steep and narrow for
the Count de Beaumont to bear the body
of the helpless Josephine unassisted, he
gave the light to an attendant, and, sup.
porting her limbs himself, they reached
the door of her bedroom. Napoleon then
dismissing his male attendants, aud 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 himself 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
bedsided of the Empress. Every hour
the restless, yet unrelenting Emperor
called at her door to inquire concerning
her situation. Con recovering from my
swoon," says Josephine, "Ipcrceived thai
Corvisart was in attendance, and my poor
daughter Hortense, weeping over me-
No! no! cannot describe the horror oil
my situation during that night! Even the
interest he affected to take in my suffer
inss seemed to me additional cruelty
oh how much reason had to dread be-
coming an Empress"
A fortnight now passed away, during
which Napoleon and Josephine saw bu