The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-03-24
NAPoLEoN's MERCY.

and announced a young woman ron
Lyons. "What 10 her business will
-me.n lams5i ,r oa usil .iA
0Some pelition,' answered De Mer'
vile, the officer p G 4ag1af
"Show her into cur presence," said
Napoleon. aa s q R a7
~ The officer soon re-appeared with q
lady leaning on his arm, whose face, AZ
much as could be scanned through the
thick folds Of ayeil, was very beautiful.
She trembled as she approached The
door. vl 'Jisss a.3 .5j, r., 'yi'
"Mademoiselle,r whispered her guide
kindly pressing her hand, stake courage
but answer promptly every question The
emperor proposes; he deiests hesitaiion.' =
The trembling girl, perceiving Napo-
leon on whom her fondest hopes depend.
ed, forgot herself and her ,imidity; she
thought only of another. Throwing her.
self al the feet Of Napoleon, she excldim.
ed. in voice choked with emotion,
"Mercy, sire: sue for mercy and put.
don" She could ariiculaie no more.
Joseph'n, stepped from her partial
concealmen', and then approaching the
girl, contributed more by her sympathi-
xing words Of encouragement 10 restore
the courage of the young petitioner, than
even the emperor by his gracious man,
ners. as he badr her arise.
"Your petition, Mademoiselle," said
he. ~ &
EIehtieiie Almond (Eor that was her
name looked implodngly at the empe>
tor and exclaimed: "Ah, sire, | ask par
don for Louis Delamarre, who is cons
deinned to die 10 morrow! o, grant MIN
your royal pardon"
A cloud gathered on the brow of Ma
buleon, as hs Interrupted her with
:. "a deser,ei, Mademoiselle; he has
twice deserted. No, lie mus, be made
al example for the rest Of the regiment"
"Bdi the cahsc of his deseylion!' cried
Ilenrielio in agony: che was compelled
10 join the army against his will"
'Wbat are the Causes Of lis desettion?'
interrupted Napoleop. -
"Two weeks SINCE" answered Henri
cite, "he received news that Ills parent,
d mother, sire, was on her death bed,and
longed day and night 10 brhNld her son
again. Louis knew that relief OF release
from his post was impossible. His mind
was filed with one ihoush,--'hat she
tniglli not close het eyes forevef,ere they
tested on son she luved 30 fondly."
"Did she def" ask ID the empress with
interest. sa3
"No,madame,' replied Ienfiet,e, "shc
d, las, recovered. But hardly had Louis
teceivcd her blessing, been folded ih her
arms, ete he Sas torn from her grasp by
The officers Of justice and dragged hiihsr.
o, must hs def Mercy; sire, | beseech
you!" l
"Madem6isellc,'' sad Napoleon, sp>
paren:ly suf,ehed, ":his was The second
oisnce; mamie the first ;yod omitted that"
u, was," said she; hesita,iug and col
6fihg--''il wa'--,hal lie heard ! was To
tnarry Conrad FerAn,, whom de'es. as
much as he docs" atisweted Hcnrietie,
with naivette: HH
"A,e you his sister, that he feels SO
great an interest in yout fate!" asked the
emperor. IH2 u~t. ~
20, no, SIRE" said Henfie,ie, het love.
ly checks assuming still deeper hue Of
the rose, IL am only his cousn." ~
"Ah! only his cousin" repeated Ma
poleon, glancing a, Josephine; with a halt
suppressed smile. slla r.Idaq 81
"Ob, sire !" said Henriette; "tecollecr
the anguish Of his widowed mdlher;yahen
she recollecis tina. the affec lion Of her
son fuT her is the cause Of his DEATH
What" she continued, Sean do TO save
him." and the poor girl, forgetting the
presence Of royalty, butst into tears. The
kind-hesr.ed Josephine glanced at the
emperor with eyes expressive Of pity and
sympathy. She noticed The workings Of
his face aud felt at once it was very Gn>
certain whether Louis Delsnarfe was to
he shot next morning. 5eq gH de.
Napoleon approached the weeping girl
N--she hastily looked up and dried her
tears. "Mademoiselle," said he, "would
you give yourlife for his! Would you
die could Louis Delamarre be restored
TO his liberty and his molhere" e
rIienriette started back, deadly pale,
locked at the emperor for momeni, ,,ben.
tuthing away, she buried her face inlher
hands. i6 oil. ta,u iielq 70 sai
After silence Of soma minutes, Hen.
rieite looked up; an air Of fixed deteTmi.
nation rested upon her face. 81 am will.
ine," she said in low voice. Napoleon
locked at her in surprise, as il he had
not anticipated SO ready an answer 10 his
proposal. 81 will see you again." said
he; ''in the meantime accep. such apari-
men,s for your accommodations as shall
direct" i5 Il Tsf lssis ai gt8 b39E3 |
As soon as tho door was closed upon
the fair petitioner, Napoleon walked to
the window, against which Josephine was
leaning, and said, 81 see how il 10; Louis
DslamarTe istthe loyer Of this young lifl. |
True TO- woman's nature, she has bIated
dii6cnlty and danger To- 6egoiOE bis Tes
lease" +