The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-04-07
THE DESTINY OF JOSEPHINE.

ana Ny an AtntflCd1s L he WOFid mas been a.
unused with fables OF this man of destiny, which
have been transmitted as heir looms until they
have reached i!in who new sits upon the throne
of France, and is pleased with the title, sthe
man Of destiny"
THIS. though a favorite idea with every class
of Fgenchmeu, undoubtedly arose from tie story
o. discipline, and through her attachment 70
( Naloiega. Though her simple s!osy IS smoiu-
{ cred in the more brilliant ore Of her husband
yet it is well known .hat long before Eapoleo,,'s
admirers caImed him for the destiny he finally
accomplished, i; was common story in P.ris
THAI sc are about 70 tell.
! L WAS while almost child that Josephine,
ii scnc Of her wandering8 with her school !e-
( l0Ss, came across YagGamt gypsy or fortune
! teller IEc Womaa, attracted in some way to-
ward the beautiful child, Insisted on telling her
( iortgua, even a1nrSt iisg wall ard without ic-
ward She tuid her that she wJGid soon be 4
wI.1 q widow, ana afterwards queen OF France
! Inc fr"iir,lJu il :;setf was colauo0 enough,
ou1, a. simple y, ! was. Il had is eIi,;t upon
J asep.irr, 'enJ immediately embraced ii as :,
fact anu could i0f 4 long tine think Of nothing
eis.
Wnen the faihlment came to the first part
Of Inc preIcJiUa, il * course strengthened hcr
III thg belief oi the rest and even "Ien IN pris-
on, roder sentence OF death, and her bed was
! taken from her becaE5e she was tU die in tie
morning. she bade her friends have courage
i that II would not be So. and that she would Ill
upon that throne, then In ruins Geneah the
gloJdy feet Ut hObeSpierrej aad when tho jaiIofs
N degi-iyn called upon her to name iier maids u
honor, that they might be ready when size WAS
queen, She did So, aud her nomination was fin
! ally fulfilled to the letter
On thar very ii: Robysyierre fell. Had
/ I;a Jua'ntaii occurred ono week earlier Juse-
/ pEiac's hasl.and would not have been one oi his
/ victims ad be lived olc day longer, she would
/ have been another ot them.
There was but little lapse of time between
| her liberation from prison and her marriage to
1 Napoleon. and i was by the influence she ex-
ertcd that he appointed 10 the command OF
/ the Amy in i;aiy; after which the path that
| led 'iem upward was clear and open, until tt1e
F.! destiny which she hal insisted upon was ac-
tonpi.He /, sad tho etosy, sc traaca was ulac-
! cd u.,on her head
4 I;1l there was one thing more that jose
/ i4int had t,re.oid for herself, which was :he
( utter iuss oi the power and rank 70 which Size
! hal been - wonderfully elevated; aud si:il.
S si,e hrn0aoj over this, Nap peUn, Wh1
! WAS .cT iuIti gathering new power AMI Yielding
! to new ambitions, she tried 10 crush IL ans. Ia
/ point o8t what should be its true ann bat he
( was an empelo. and desired TO be The founder
! Of n empire.
! How wa1i hsr instincts told her that the time
was rtp.lly approaching wdan thtt ambition
/ would make hn put her away! Thea came
! the close of the campaign of 1893. ana she
saw that the hour W., approaching still nearer
/ that was - seal both their tates. There was
! no longer the confidence OF the past between
/ them; 10 longer the seeking Of sympathy and
a.j,l,a.
L v.as on the 20th Of Eoyonber, 1899, and
TIE court was especially Gay IN honor OF the
] visit Of The king Of saxony, Josephine
sat M tho "iniow of n,r bouTjur, looking
! out on the river. when she heard 4 step ut the
! dUor, and rose 10 receive Napoleon, wE0 caught
( ner IN his arms with more Of an oi,ien time
J embrace than she had known for months, She
/ led hin 10 the sofa on which she had been sit
/ ting, and seated herself by his side, For a
/ few moments there was silence, and he spoke
Josephine, YOU have been weeping; are you
uohappy e.
! ''No, sire. net with you"
''Nonscnae, JJsepine; whom do you cali
! sire Oh iato you are making these forms over
shadow all cur happiness"
/ Then why should they not be forgotten by
! both? You have now reached that point Of am
| btion that should content you. Will yuu tUrn
! the unqaiet god from your bosom and own your
Own happiness
',You misunderstood me, lady" lie said,
quickly rising from lis seat ard leaning against
the window Il an seeking nothing for myself,
bat everything for France"
SIS il for France, Napoleon" she said, drawa
Ing close 10 his side and taking bis hand in hers.
''tl.at YOU would pat away from you not only
! a tsue wife bas true friend rhiak no. that
/ have been blind, sire, 10 this AIy alarmed
heart has told me ali and believe me that /
am Offering no protest to your will; but oh,
sire. examine well your heart before you act.'
lie ,foo silent willie she was speaking and
then. with face tGr:seI fall upon the stream
ing moonlight, lie drew away h;s hands. She
! went on.
''And oh, sire, believe ne, that though / an
TO leave your throne and your side, shal! nev
er cease to love you too deeply for ny peace.
| Therefore it IS ihat plead that you look well
into your heart before you yield yorr future to
/ bad councils"
He drew quickly from the window and walk
el forward TO the centre of the room.''
''Tcu canrvt sympathize with IRE, madame;
I act oniy with reason. The good Of an in
J,iriluaI must yield to the good of France
! FarewelIi''
''Stop" sail she, AMI Josephine stepped quick
~ across the room ana caught his arm drawing
him, as she did 50, again 10 the window. ''Do
YOU see that starr and she pointed TO one OF
marked brightness. ''That is rly destiny. By
il you have risen. To it was promised a throne.
Through me you have accomplished it; part
from me- ana you fall. Yes, fall TO die in sor-
row, neglect, and axils Remember this, Ma