Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-13
NEW SERIES, VOL. TX, NO 81

| forty when she died but this monument rep
resents her as younger. Her son, the pres
ent Emperor, is cry exact in his devotIons
at the tombs of his mother and grandmother
Here, thea. lived. and here died, the gen.
tie, devoted Josephine. All her heart was
given to tha hero whom she married when
as vet the world knew him not, and she and
a few intimate friends alone presaged his
future greatness. Deprived of his love nd
his presence, the joy, the aim of her life
was gone; she had lost a second, dearer
self; her heart pinned ano her body wasted in
the retrea. she had chosen at Maimalson
now sad and melancholy. The rooms Ma
pDeon had inhabited were sacred to his
memory; nothing was touched, but all re-
naaiussd last read. pre-
ciseiF as he had left it. < Her imagination
sought to deceive her reason by cherishing
these reflections; she loved TO imagine that
he was near, and would return again
| Touching evidences of her great love so i'll
requited: Hsr- sr-snfferings during the time
that the divorce was as We. undecided are
related in the Memoirs, written by her at
tendants.
On one occasion, in particular, Josephine
was in so distracted a state, after an inter-
view with Fouchee, on the subject of the
divorce, that Madame de Remusat, her lady
in waiting, becoming really alarmed at the
frantic expression of her griel, determined,
without saying anything to o>her. to acquaint
Napoleon with her condition. He had al
ready retired to bed, and. not over-pleased
at being disturbed, desired her, through his
atte ndant, to return early in the morning.
But" e2led Madame de Rsmusat, 81 mus t
see the Emperor This very night; tell him it
is not for myself, it is for one that is most
dear-for his own, for her soke."
At'last she was admitted. Napoleon was
in bed, with silk handkerchief tied around
his head He motoned 10 Madame de Re-
musat TO approach the little couch on which
he lay. She was so much agitated that she
could scarcely speak, but at last found words
to describe the agitation in which she had
left the Empress. As she spoke, he raised
himself in the bed, ard regarded her with
one of those gIanccs which. like his smile,
were quite peculiar to himself.
"Bus why,'' sai: he, "has she resolved to
anticipate my wishes, and propose divorce
herseifr'
because, sire,' replied Madame de REM
usat. she lives but for you, and hopes, by
this means, to give you last and extreme
proof of he devotion. No other reason can
exist. 1t is because | have Witnessed the
frightful struggle this resolution has cost her
that have presumed to inform you of her
sitGation.''
"Poor Josephine!'' said Napoleon, "she
must indeed have suffered agonies before
she could form such resolution
"Ypur Majesty can never knew what she
has undergone these last few days. and the
silence of the Empress proves aaJw much
she desired to spare you any annoyance"
".aow is she now!'' inquired he. with
every appearance of anxiety.
"Quite in despair Wien lett her, she
was on the point of going to rest, and de-
sired her woman not to leave her for fear of
accident, but she would not hear OF any one
remaining. She will have night of cruel
suffering"
The Empero- made a sign for Madame de
Remusat to Withdraw. ....
$50 to bed" sald he TO her, as she left
the room. Good night. Tomorrow !
shall see you again; and, in the meantime,
be sure shall not forget the service you
have done NE this night"
When she was gone, he rang the bell,
and desired to have his drcssing-gown
brought In grea, haste. taking light in
his hand, he descended a small staircase
leading down stairs into his own rooms
As he descended, he was conscious of "a de-
gree of emotion he seldom felt, but Jose
phine's condust had quite touched him.
Such devotion and resignation in one crown
ed BY his own hand, and who might fully
expect to die IN thai throne where he had
placed her-a woman he had once so idol
lied, and whose soul he we'll knew breathed
but for him-spite of all his neglect and
coolness, voluntarily to offer him divorce
in order to further and accelerate his own
projects PROJECTS, too, whose realization
ensured her eternal misery - all this passed
rapidly through his mind, and he felt that
only recompense ought to reward such az
tachment. For a moment all his plans. al
the reasons of state, all the ambitious views
he had long INDUCED, vanished from his
mind: Josephine, as he had loved her
graceful, fascinating as in her youth-alone
stood before him. A sudden idea rushed
through his mind. and he almost deiermin-
ed But it was only for a moment: be-
fore he had turned the lock of the door the
vision had vanished, and he approached only
to console, not to heal her sufferings.
As he approached her room, he distia city
Eeard the sound OF sobs and groans; the
voice was that of Josephine. Her voice ex-
ercsed peculiar power over him--a sort
OF gentle charm--the effect of which he had
often experienced. Like the sound OF gen.
tie music, it Impressed him so strongly, that
one day, while he was First Consul, alter a
review al the Tuiie ries, on hearing the gen.
eral acc ;amations around him. he exclaimed
to Bourienne, "How happy | am to Re thus
loved! This applause sounds almost as
sweet as the voice of Jose chine" Alas!
what change since those happy days OF
love and unity!
But at that time he always heard her
speaking words of happiness and pleasure
nov her voice was drowned in groans OF
misery. Perhaps even now it might have
exercised more power over him had it not
been raised 10 express sorrow and reproach
but where is to be found that man, how ever
great, VINO can tolerate the idea Of being
bIamcd--of being in the wrong!
However, the sounds of sorrow really
afflicted the Emperor; he was truly grieved
Gently opening the door, he stood within
Josephine's room, who lay sobbng on heI
bed, little imagining who was approaching
"What is the matter, ] ephine!" said he
taking her by the hand. he screamed with
surprise. why this excessive surprised
Did you not expect mel Did you not thnl
| should come when heard how you were
suffering! Yol know love you truly, ant
that in all my life never willingly caused
you pain"
A. .lo eo,nJ of Nnnoleon's yoice lose