The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-11-13
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY
\ lovely blush ovcrspread the face of the

n lovely blush overspread the face Of the
viscountcss.
'.Slr." said she, ''who knows n I might
not be inclined to accept your distinguish
ell offer, II, unfortunately, fate stood moi
In the way of your wishesY'
"Fate." said Bonaparte, with anima'
ton.
"Yes, fate! my Gcneral,' repeated 10
sephlne, smiling. ''Bnt let us speak nc
more Of this. 1t Is enough that fate for.
bids me to be the wife OF General Bona.
partee; can say no more, for you would
laugh at me-"
''Bnt you would laugh at me II you
could turn me away with SO vague an an.
swer," cried Bonaparte, with vlvacity. "l
pray, YOU, explain the meaning Of yOui
words"
"well, then, General. I cannot be your
wife, for am destined to be Queen OF
France-yes, perhaps more than queen"
1t was now Bonaparte's turn to appear
astonished and lrritated, and, using her
own words, he said, Struggling his shoul-
ders. Madame, Is Ii n joke you are lndulg-
Ing Inf"
Il speak In all earnestness," said Jose
phlne, shaking her head. "Listen then
q negro woman In Martinique fOretold my
L ioituhCs utu uS itCT OEuCttluT WOIuS huNC
thus far been fulfilled, ! must conclude
that the rest Of her prophesies concerning
me will be realized"
| "And what has she prophesied to your
asked B0naparte, eagerly.
| "She has told me: 'YOu will one day
be Queen OF France! you will be still
more than queenw
The General was silent. lie had re
malned standing; but now slowly paced
the room tew times, his hands folded on
his back aud his head inclined OH his
breast. Then again he stood before the
vlscountess, and his eyes rested upon her
with a wondrous bright and genial ex-
preston.
II bid defiance to fate" he said. some
what sOlemnly. ''rhls prophecy does
not frighten me away. and, In defiance of
your prophetic negro woman. l, the Re
publican General, address my prayer to
the future queen of France; be my wife |!
give me your hand."
Josephine felt almost aflflghted at this
| pertinaclty Of the General. and a scnti-
ment of apprehension overcame her as she
looked into the pale. decided countenance
Of this man, n stranger to her, and who
claimed her for his wife.
| "Oh, sir, exclaimed she, with some an
gulsh, "you offer me your hand with as
much carelessncss rs II the whole matter
were merely for contra dance. But l
can assure you that marriage IL q very
grave matter, which has no resemblance
whatever to gay dance. know 1t Is so.
have had my sad experience, aud can
not SD easily decide upon marrying Sec
| Ond time"
"You refuse my hand. theng' said Bon
aparte, with threatening tone.
Josephine smiled. ''On the contrary,
General" said she, give me your hand
and accompany me To my carriage, which
has been waiting for me this long time"
'.I'hat means you dismiss me! You
close upon me the door of your draw
Ing roOmy' exclaimed Bonaparte, with
warmth.
She shook her head, and. bowing before
him with her own irresistible grace. she
said, In friendly manners. II am too
good patriot not to be proud of seeing
the conqucror of ToulOn In my drawing
room. Tomorrow have an evening re-
ception. and invite you to be present.
General"
From that day Bonaparte visited Jose
phine daily; she was certain TO meet MN
everywhere. At first she sought to avoid
him. but he always knew with cunning
foresight how to battle her efforts, and to
overcome a.l difficulties which she threw
I'm his way. Was she mt her friend Their
esse's she could safely reckon that Gener-
nj Bonaparte would soon make his ap-
pearancc and come near her with his
eyes beaming with joy. and In his own
energetic language speak to her OF his
| love and his hopes. Was she to be pres
ent mt the reception of the five mOnarchs
of Paris, Il was General BOnaparte who
waited for her mt the door Of the hall to
offer his arm. and lead her among the re-
spectful. retreating, and gently applaud
inw crowd to her seat, where he stood by
her, drawing upon her the attention OF
NIL. Did she take drive, at the accus-
toned hour, In the Champs Elsees. she
was confident soon to see General Bona
partc on his gray horse gallOp ut her side,
followed by his brilliant staif, himself the
object of public admiration and universal
respect; and, finally, ii she went to the
! theatre, General BOnaparte never failed
to appear In her Io2e, to remain near her
during the performance, and when she
lef, to offer his arm to accompany her to
her carriage.
1t could not fail that this persevering
homage of the renowned and universally
beloved and admired young General
should leave deep and flattering impres-
sion ON Joseplilne's heart, and nll her
with pride and JOY. But Josephine made
resistance to this feeling; she endeavor-
ell to shield herself from II by maternal
love.
She sent for her two children from their
respective schools, and with her nearly
grown up son OIL one side, and her daugli-
Ter budding into maidenhood on the other,
she thus presented herself to the General,
and. with an enchanting smile, said: "See
General, how old am, with a grOwn-up
son and daughter who soon can make of
| me u grandmother"
| But BOnaparte. with heartfelt emotion,
reached his hand to Josephine and said :
~ man who can call 50 worthy q young
man Us this his son, Is to be envied."
A cunning, smiling expression Of the
eye revealed To Josephine that he had un-
derstoOd her war stratagem-that neither
the grown up son nor the manageable
daughter could deter him from his OBJ
ject.
Josephine at last was won by so much
love and tenderness. but she could not yet
acknowledge that the wounds Of her heart
were closed; that once more she could
/ lTust b uuDpthSSss ANU uONotC hVi iiV w
| n new love, to new future. She shrank
timidly away nom such shaping of her
destiny; aud even the pcrsuasions of her
friends and relatives, even the father 0i
her diseased husband, could not bring her
to u decision.
The state of her mind Is depicted In q
letter which Josephine wrote to her friend
Madame dc Chateau Renaud, and which
describes In great measure, the strange
uncertainty of her heart:
"You have seen General Bonaparte al
my house! Well, then, he Is the one who
wishes to be the father of tho orphans OF
Alexandra de Beauharnais and the hus-
band of his widow. "D0 you love hlmT
you will ask. "well, no." "DO you feel
any repugnance toward him." mo, but
I feel In state Of vacllliation and doubt,
q state very disagreeable to me. and which
the devout In religious matters consider
i tn he the most scaudalizinp As love L. n