The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-28

that they might be ready when she
was queen, she did so, and her nomi-
nation was finally fulflledto theletter.
On that very night Robospierre fell.
Had his downfall occurred one week
earlier Josephine's husband would
not have been one of his victims had
he lived one day longer she would
have been another of them.
There was but little lapse of time
between her liberation from prison and
her marriage to Napoleon, and it was
/ by the influence that she exerted that
he was appointed to the command of
the army of Italy, after which the path
that led them upward was clear and
open, until the destiny she had insist
ed upon was accomplished, and the
crown of France was upon her head.
But there was one thing more that
Josephine had foretold for herself,
which was the utter loss Of that power
and rank to which she had been SO
wonderfully elevated and still, while
she brooded over this, he who was her
lord, gathered new power and yielded
to new ambition. She tried to crush
it, and to point out what should be
his true aim but he was now an en-
peror, and desired to be the founder
Of a new empire.
How well her instincts told her that
the time was rapidly approaching when
that ambition would make him put
her away Then came the close Of
the campaign Of 1909, and she saw
that the hour was approaching still
nearer that was to seal both their
&tes.--There was no longer the conf
dence Of the past between thom no
longer the seeking Of sympathy and
advice
1t was on the 10th Of November,
1909, and the court was especially gay
in honor OF the visit Of the King Of
Saxony, Josephine sat at the window
Of her boudoir, looking out upon the
river, when she heard a step at the
door, and rose to receive Napoleon,
who caught her in his arms with more
of the olden time embrace than she
had known for months She led him
to the sofa on which she had been
sitting and seated herself by his side
For a few moments there was silence,
and then he spoke
Josephine, you have been weeping !!
Are you unhappy
NO sire not with YOU
Nonsense Josephine, why do you
call me sire? OF late you are making
those forms oyershadow all our hap
piness.
Then why should they not be for
gotten by both? You have now at
tanned that point OF ambition that
should content you. VIII you turn
the unquiet god from your bosom, and
study only the good of France, and
your own, our own happiness {?
You misunderstood me, lady, he
said, quickly, rising from his seat and
leaning against the window 4 am
seeking nothing for myself, but every
thing for France.
Is it for France, Napoleon, she
said, drawing close to his side, and
taking his hands in hers, that you
would put away from you not only a
true wife, but true friend? Think
that l have been blind, sire, to this
My alarmed heart has told me all, and
believe me that am offering ON pro
test to your will, but, o sire examine
well your heart before you act
He stood silent while she was speak
ing, and then, with his face turned
full upon the streaming moonlight, he
drew away his hands. She went on :
And, 0 sire believe me, that
though am to leave your throne ana
your side, that l shall never cease to
love you too deeply for my own peace.
Therefore it is that l plead that you
will look well into your heart before
you yield your future to bad counsel :!
He drew quickly from the window
and walked towards the centre Of the
room.
You cannot sympathize with me,
madam ! act only with reasons. The
good of the individual must yield TO
the good of France. Farewell +
stop, sirel' and Josephine stepped
quickly across the room and caught
his arms, drawing him as she did so
again to the window. Do you see
that star ? and she pointed to one that
shone with marked brightness. That
is my destiny. BY it you have risen.
To it was promised a throne. Through