The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-07-25

In their manCnuYreS and marches, the ar
! my sometimes came so near the hamlet il
which Hude.t lived, that the roar of batu
would often make the windows rattle. Thes
were exciting times for the farmers. They
would quit their work, gather around l.
groups, and talk over the battles in which
many of them had fought under the g Littl,
Corporal" as they all delighted to call tht
Emperor.-And, as day after day, fresh ac
connts came Of his wonderful achievements
the old military fire was aroused, and the
farmers talked of forming company and
marching to his camp. Bat one evening sad
news came-Maymont had surrendered Pa
ris; and they bow knew that the Little
! Corporal's doom was closing around him.
/ He could have overthrown a hostile world
in arms but how could he withstand do
mestic treachery,
One evening, after the knot of ncighbors
now accustomed to gather at Hudelt's had
dispersed, and the family were about to re-
| tire, trampling Of horses was heard with
out, and soon the clank and jingle Of metal
| sounded on the air. The family ran to the
windows, and saw BY the bright moonlight,
troop of horsemen winding along the road.
Hudelt gazed moment and exclaimed
Mother of my soul! it is he.' and rush
ed from the house. '
At the same moment ali recognized, in the
leader Of the troop, the well known outline
of Napoleon's form. The farmer saluted
his old commander; the company halted
they dismounted; the horses were hitched
to the fence and while the Emperor enter
ed the house with Hudeit, the troopers ca
gerly stretched themselves on the grass by
the roadside.
Napoleon soon put the family at their ease
by the simplicity and cordially of his greet
ing; aud when Marie, at signal nom her
husband, retired with him to the kitchen,
she declared the Emperor was not half SO
much "stuck up" as their old landlord.
After rapidly surveying the room, Napoleon
stepped to Pauline's side, and gently pinch
ing her check, asked If she rememberc
him, and without waiting for a reply said,
s. Hudelt has used you vel, hope. Your
cousin has done finely but she has not
married Marshal yet. Have you married
a peasant:
Pauline bIushcd, and exchanged g'anccs
of embarrassment with Pierre. Napoleon
at once detected this manoeuyre, and again
pinching Pauline's check, he said" All, |
see. You will do we'll Those roses on
your cheek have their roots in your heart.
Very good. Had the world known of your
choice few months since, 1t would have
said How foolish, What nsanityi But
you are wise. Hudult, the independent
farmer, is better off tonight than Napoleon,
the betrayed Emperor :"
Then folding his arms upon his breast, he /
strobe jmpa;iently back and forth across the |
floor
In a short time Hudult returned, and
spoke in low voice to Napoleon, who said
a. Very good"
Hudult then went and spoke to the officers
lounging on the grass, who immediately
spraug up and followed him 10 the best
room in the house, where bountful rustic
repast was spread, Of which the Emperor
was already partaking. Not a word vas I
spoken by Napolean or the men for several .
minutes.
AT last Napoleon said, '.You are lortu-
nate man Hudelt. Accident prevented
battle in this neighborhood, else your farm
would have been spoiled for a year, your
orchards and crops destroyed, and perhaps
Ill your lives sacriced.-Part of my forces
ire not very long march from your door
low, and the enemy are everywhere. |
lave been accommodating all around you; but
Tou may rest in peace; no shot viii be fired
lere; it would be useless waste of life.
iave been betrayed. This repast is oppor-
une, for we have had little time to eat to-
lay. Come, addressing his companions,
md advancing to the door, time presses"
As he walked to his horse he met Pauline
md Pierre, coming from the gate, and said,
kiss me for the last time, little ones. Had
Iour father lived and been in command Of
Paris, the destiny Of France might have
,een changed"
a jinging of spurs and sabres, a tramp
oF nd ha
so one in that house ever saw Napoleon
nore; but the plate off which he ate, the
up from which he drank, and the chair on
rhich he sat, are still treasured in the fami-
=, as the most priceless heirlooms of the past
Two years more had passed. Napoleon
ad returned from Elba, given the heredita
y thrones of Europe his last shaking, been
ent 10 his far off prison, and the hated
'ourbon again sat on the throne of his an
estors. But the ParisianS seemed to have
orgotton these events, and were merry.
rand parties were given, and the grandeSt
f the season was now to be held in honor !
f young novelist and poet, whose praise
,as sounded by every tongue. His name ,
-as Pierre Hudult; and his young wife, =,
'auline, was the belle of Paris. When the /,
arty broke up at very late hour, Pierre
eing what his friends jocosiy called des-
erado in manners, resolved, as it was ;
leasant night, to walk home, and a gay :
arty determined to keep him company. :
When they arrived near Pierre's hotel, a .
eautiful girl of shame, whose thin and
heap attire was tastefully arranged upon ,
er exquisitely moulded form, crossed the
reet and stood directly in front of them.
nder a glaring lamp. Pauline uttered {
~ and sprang towards the melancholy ap |;
arition.
The cousins had once more met !
Pauline attempted to embrace Camille, .
ut the latter threw her Off with fierce
esture, and fled down a narrow street, end +,
= in impenetrable darkness. Two days =
ter, Pierre, who, aided by the police, had ),
cen searching for Camille, found her life
SIS body at the dead-house on the Seine,
here it had been deposited, dripping from
le river but one hour before.-Three eve :,
ngs afterwa DIS, Pauline and Pierre sat !
ith Hudolt and Marie and the good parish !.
REST, before the old kitchen hearth, on
hich a cheerful fire blazed.-Deep silence =.
igned, and each seemed busy with melan- q q
loly thoughts. !.
Suddenly the good farmer exclaimed ;,
Soul of my mother! but this is strange -
orld Who would have thougt that this q
ould have been the end, five years ago to- .
,y, when /, poor laborer, was standing
the road with the orphans, and the Little =,
orporal, sitting in his carriage with the n
impress, was the most powerful monarch G;
e world had ever seen, Camille chose -
C Emperor for guardian, and Pauline
e peasant. Now, the Emperor is pris- h
ner at St. Helena, and Camille is sleeping a,
the churchyard; while am rich. Pierre :,
nous, and Pauline the belle of Paris. Ho- -
father, you are wise; read this rddle!" 3,
at is simple riddle, good JEAN" said
C curate, slowly rubbing his hands.-"You
member what Paulne's dying mother
id "The humble may rise and carry US
th them, while the great may fall and