The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-08-10

gush she wept over the death of this child, upon
whose desiuies her own seemed to be so fearfuly
blended. and, with trembIig heart, she awaited
her husbands return. Mysterious hints began to
fill the journals, of the contemplated divorce, and
of the alliance of Napoleon with various plincesses
of foreign courts. In October 1909, Napoleon re-
turned from Vienna. He greeted Josephine with
the greatest kindness, but she soon perceived that
his mind was i'll at ease, and that he was ponder
ing the dreadful question. He appeared sad and
embarrassed He had frequent private interviews
with his minis. s.ers. general feeling of constraint
pervaded the court. Napoleon scarcely ventured
to look upon his wife, if apprehensive that the
very sight of one he had loved so WELL might cause
him to waver 10 his firm purpose. Josephine was
In state of feverish solictude, and yet was COM
PEELED to appear calm and unconstrained. AS yet
she had only some forebodings of her impending
doom. She watched with most excited apprehen-
sion. every movement of the emperor's eye, every
into natonaton of his voice, every sentiment he ut
tered. Each day some new and trivial Indicators
confirmed her fears. Her husband became more
reserved absented himself from her society; the
private access between their apartments was closed;
he now seldom entered her room, and whenever
he did so he invariably knocked. And yet not one
word had passed between him and Josephine upon
the fearful subject. Whenever Josephine heard
the sound of his approaching footsteps the fear that
he was coming with the terrible announcement of
separation Immediately caused such violent palpi-
taon of the heart that it with the utmost diff
fculty that she could fotter across the floor, even
when supporting herself by leaning against the
wallis and catching at the articles of furniture.
The months of October and November passed
away, and while the emperor was discussing with
his cabinet the alliance into which he should enter,
he had not summoned courage to break the subject
to Josephine. The evidence is induteble that he
experienced intense anguish in view of the sepa-
ration; but this did not influence his iron will TO
swerve from its purpose. The grandeur Of his
fame aud the magnitude of his power were now
such that there was not royal family in Europe
which would not have felt honored in comforting
upon him bride. 1t was at first contemplated
that he should marry some princess of the Bour-
bon family, and thus add to the stability of his throne
by concilating the royalists of France. prin-
cess of Saxony was proposed. Some weighty con-
sdel atoms urged an alliance with the majestic enl-
pire of Russia, and some advances were made to
the court of St. Petersburg, having in view sister
of the Emperor Alexander. 1t was at length de-
cided that proposals should be made to the of
| Vienna, for Maria Louisa, daughter of the emper-
or of Austria.
At last the fatal day arrived for the announce
ment to Josephine. 1t was the last of November
1909. The emperor and empress dined at Fon-
tainbleu alone. She seems to have had presen-
| - A. L
she had been 10 her retired apartment weeping
bitterly. AS the dinner hour approached, she
baihed her swollen eyes, and tried to regain COM
posure. They sat down at the table in silence
| Napoleon did not speak. Josephine could not trust
her voice to utter word. Neither of them even
feigned to eat. Course after course was brought
in, and removed untouched. A mortal paleness
| revealed the anguish of each heart. Napoleon
in his embarrassment, mechanically and apparent
ly unconscousy kept striking the edge of his glass
with knife, while lost in thought. A more mel
ancholy meal was probably never witnessed. The
attendants around the table caught the infection
and gazed in motonless silence. At last the Ger.
emony of dinner over, the attendants were
alone. Another moment of painful silence ensued
when the emperor, pale as death trembling in ev-
cry nerve, arose and approached Josephine. He
took her hand, and placing it upon his heart said
Josephine! my own good Josephine! !! you
know how I have loved YOU 1t is to you alooe
that owe the few moments of happiness have
known in this world. Josephine! my destiny is
stronger than my WILL My dearest affections
must yield to the interests of France !"
Josephine's brain reeled her blood ceased to
circulate; she tainted, and fell feless upon the
floor. Napoleon, alarmed, threw open the door
ofthe saloon, and called for help. Attendants from
The ante-room Immediately entered. Napoleon
took taper from the mantel, and, uttering not q
word, but pale and trempling. motioned to the
Count de Beaumont to take the empress in his
arms. She was still unconscious of every thing
but began to murmur in tones of anguish. 81. o, no.
you cannot surely do it. \ GU would not kill me-
The emperor led the way through a dark pas
sage 10 the private staircase which conducted 20
the apartment of the empress. The agitation Of
Napoleon seemed now to increase. He uttered
some iucoherent sentences about a violent nervous
attack; and finding the stairs too steep and narrow
for the Count de Beaumont to bear the body ofthe
helpless Josephine unassisted he gave the light to
an attendant, and, supporting her limbs himself
they reached the door of her bedroom. Napole
on, then d. missing bis male attendants, and laying
Josephine upon her bed, rang for her waiting WON
en-. He hung over her with an expression of th'
intense affection and anxiety, until she begar
to revive. But the moment consciousness seemed
returning he left the Napoleon did not ever
throw himself upon his bed that night. HI pacet
the floor until the dawn of the morning. The roy
al suroeon Corvsart Dassed the nig Int at the bed
side of the empress. Every hour the restless, ye
unrelenting emperor, called at her door to inquire
concerning her situation
"On recovering from my swoon," says Jose
phine, L" perceived that Corvisart was in utten
t dance, and and my poor daugher, Hortense, weep
ing me. No! no! l cannot describe the hor
8 ror of my situation during that night Even thu
interest he affected to take iu my suferngs seem
a ed to me additional cruelty. How much reasei
had / to dread becoming an empress