Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-10-14

rome, warmly attached to his wife, came
over to Europe, and, throwing himself
at the Emperor's feet, besought his par
don, and earnestly entreated him TO re.
ceive his spouse as a member of the In
perial family. This request was made
at an untoward moment; for Jerome
interview took place at Milan in 1905,
just after he had grasped the iron crown
of the ancient Kings of Lombardy, bear
ing this proud yet beautiful device:
Dio me n diede:
Quai che Ia tocca.
1t was at this proud moment of his
life, that Jerome asked him to receive a
plebian sister from Republican Ameri-
ca. This request was indignantly refus-
ed. Jerome shed tears of passionate
affection as he empraced his wife's por-
trait, and swore never 10 give her up for
any paltry consideration of earthly gran
deur. He, however, lacked the frmness
and resolution by which the family were
so eminently characterised; and, when
the temptation of a Kingdom, with lis
power and its pomps, was held out to
his dazzling vision, he gradually became
less vehement in his denials, and finally
yielded 10 the will of his imperious
brother. His wife was abandoned, his
offspring disOwned, and Jerome stood
alone, weak and guilty man, ready to
sacrifice honor, affection, and duty, upon
the base altar of earthly ambition.
And now, who is to be his partner up
on the newly erected throne of West.
phalia?
Napoleon turned his glance toward
Wurtemburg, which mad recently been
raised to the dignity of kingdom, and
whose sovereign was now degraded into
satellite of Imperial France. The
Princess Royal had just completed her
twentieth year. Fair in person, and
amiable in disposition, this youthful
Princess possessed, nevertheless, far
more frmness than her royal parent, and
she resolutely expressed her aversion 20
the proposed alliance, regarding Napo-
leon as the direst foe of her native Ger
many; while at the same time she felt
her maiden dignity deeply offended al
the thought Of being espoused to man
who, in her estimation. was already mar
ried TO another. Vain, however, were
all her remonsirances. She was com
pelled to bow beneath the iron will of
Napoleon the Great, with whom her
father was ct this time closely allied;
and before many months had elapsed,
she found herself welded by proxy TO
Jerome, King of Westphalia. and had
entered the confines of France as the ac-
knowledged sister of its Imperial ruler
She was obliged, in compliance with
court etiquette, 10 part on the frontiers
with all her German attendants, and to
advance alone in foreign country, sur
rounded indeed by brilliant retinue,
but with no familiar face to meet her
saddened gaze; no sweet home voices to
soothe the bitter feelings of her heart
With the characteristic frmness of her
however, she gathered all
her courage to NEE! the trying circum-
stances of her lot, and seemed resolved
that no tell-tale glance should betray
the hidden conflict of her heart. AS she
drew near to Paris, the whole current of
her being seemed 10 be changed; the
usual kindliness of her manner became
petri6ed into proud and frigid bearing;
and while she was studiously courteous
to her attendants, her evident consiraint
gave a disagreeable expression to her
1t was on the Goth of August, 1907, |
that, at an early hour of the day, she
found herself almost in sight of Paris;
but it being Napoleon's pleasure that
she should not enter his capital until eve
ming, she was conducted by his order to
Rainey, a charming country residence,
once the abode of royalty, but now the
possession of Junot, Duc d'Abrantes, +
whose wife was commanded to receive
the Princess with all the honor due 10
her elevated rank. The Dutchess receiv-
ed her en- deHai toilette de cour on the
grand periStyIe OF the chateau, and con
Quoted hen to her own apartments, where
a repast of the most costly description
was prepared for her refreshment She
coarteously insisted on Madame dab
rantes and her friends partaking with
her of breakfast; and the animation with
which she talked might have bespcken
a contentmeut with lis lot, but the rapid
changes of mind her countenance reveal
I'd only too clearly the inward conflict
Of her heart. At one moment, her feat
lures weresufused with the deepest Grim
son. and at another they became livid
With a deadly pallOr.
The afternoon was filled up with a
irige through the forest of BOndy, dur.
ng which the Princess still exerted her
self to appear pleased with the efforts
made for her amusement. Next came
he grand affair of her toilet, which
seemed TO Madame d'Abrantes matter