Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-02-15
The Courtship of Napoleon and Jo-
sephine.

The Courtship of Napoleon and Jo
sephine.
Josephine was not alone when Gen
Bonaparte was announced and wher
the servant named him, she could no
suppress an inward fear, without know
ing why she was afraid. Her friend.
who noticed her tremor and blush
laughed jestiugly at the timidity which
made her tremble at the name of th,
conqueror of Paris, and this was, per
haps, the reason why Josephine re-
ceived General Bonaparte with les
complacency than she generally showed
to her visitors.
Amid the general silence of all thos,
present, the young General (tweuty-si,
years old) entered the drawing room O
the Viscountess of Beauharnais aud
this silence, Aattering it might be t,
his pride, caused him a slight embar
rassment. He therefore approached the
widow with certain abrupt and per
picked manner, and spoke to her in tha
hasty imperious tone which might be
come general, but which did not seen
appropriate in lady's saloon. Genera
Pichegru, who stood near Josephine
smiled, and even her amiable counter
ance was overspread with a slight ex
preston of scorn, as she fixed her beau
tiful eyes on this pale, thin little man
whose long, smooth hair fell in tangled
disorder on either side of his sallow
hollow cheeks, whose sickly and gloomy
appearance bore so little resemblance O
the majestic figure of the lion to which
he had so often been compared after hi.
success of the thirteenth Vendemaire
81 perceive, General" suddenly ex
claimed Josephine, "that you are sorry
it was your duty to fill Paris once more
with blood and horror. You would un
doubtedly have preferred not to bs
obliged to carry out the bloody orders o.
the afrig GIFTED Convention +?
Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders
somewhat.
"That is very possible, said be, per
fectly quiet. "But what can you ex
pect, madam !? We military men are
but the antomatoms which the Govern
ment sets in motion according to its
good pleasure; we know only how tc
obey; the sections, however, canno,
but congr ratulate themselves that have
spared them so much. Nearly all my
cannons we're loaded only with powder
| wanted to give little lesson to the
Parisiaus. The whole affair was moth.
ing but the impress of my seal on
France. Such skirmishes are only the
vespers of my fame''
Josephine felt irritated, excited BY
the coldness with which Napoleon spoke
Of the slaughter of that day; and hel
eyes, otherwise SO full of gentleness
were now animated with flashes o.
anger.
"Oh," cried she, ''if you must pur
chase fame at such a price, l would
sooner you were one of the victims p
Bonaparte looked at her with aston
ishment, but as be perceived her flush
ed cheeks and flashing eyes, the sigh
of her grace and beauty ravished him
aud soft, pleasant smile illumined his
countenance. He answered her violent
attack by light pleasantly, and with
gladsome unaffectiveness he gave to the
conversation another turn. The small
pale gloomy general was at once changed
into young, impassioned, amiable cav
alier, whose conntenance grew beautiful
under the sparkling intelligence which
animated it, and whose enchanting elo
queuce made his conversation attractive
and lively, carrying with it the convic
tion of superior mind.
After the visitors who had mel
that morning in Josephine's drawing
room had departed, the general still re
mained, notwithstanding the astonished
and questioning looks Of the viscountess
paying no attention to her remarks abou,
the fine weather, or her intention to en-.
joy promenade.
With rapid steps aud hands folded
behind his back, he paced few times
to and fro the room then, standing be-
fore Josephine, he fixed on her face 8
searching look.
"Madame," said he suddenly, with q
kind Of rough tone, II have a PROPOSE
tion to make: Give me your hand, be
my wife ?"
Josephine looked at him, half aston
ished, half-irritated. "Is it joke you
are indulging in?" said she.
81 speak in all earnestness," said
Bonaparte warmly. "Will you do me
the honor of giving me your hand ?"
The gravity with which Bonaparte
spoke, the deep earnestness imprinted
on his features, convinced Josephine
that the general would not condescend
to indulge in joke of so unseemingly
character, and lovely blush over.
spread the face of the viscountess.
"Sir," said she, "who knows if
might not be inclined to except your
distinguished offer, if, unfortunately,
fate stood not in the way of your
wishes 2"
"Fate7" said Bonaparte, with ami.
nation.
"Yes, fate my general" repeated
Josephine smiling. "But let us speak
no more of this. 1t is enough that fate
forbids me to be the wife of General
Bonaparte. l car say no more, for you
would laugh at mt"