The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-02-06
NAP0LE9N'S COURTSHIP.
His First Interview with J0sephiie---
His Attention as SuitGr.

! Ills EiFSj laseTEtcH HiEE gSsepHiNS---
His Attention as Suit0r.
Miss Muhbach's Empress Josephine
contains the following fancifnl but inter-
esting account of the courtship OF Napol
con and Josephine
Josephine was not alone when Bona
parte was announced; ana when the ser
want named him she could not repress an
| inward fear, without knowing why she
was afraid. Her friends who noticed her
tremor and blush. laughed jestingly at
| the timidity which made her trenl bic at
| the name Of the conqueror Of Paris, and
| this was perhaps the reason why Jose
| phine received Gen. Bonaparte with less
| complacency than she generally showed
F.! to her Saltors.
Amid the general silence Of all those
| present the young general (26 years Old J
entered the draWing-Toom OF the fIscoun-
tess Beauharnois; and this silence how
ever fattering it might be to his pride,
caused him a slight embawassme1 He
therefore, approached the beautiful widow
with a certain abrupt and perpleXed
manner, and spoke to her in that hasty
and imperious tone which might become
a general, but which did not seem APP
proprlate in lady's saloon. Gen. Pic
hegru, who stood near Josephine, smiled,
and even her aIniable countenance was
overspTead with a slight expression Of
scorn, as she fixed her beautiful eyes on
this pale, thin little man, whose long,
smooth hair fell in tangled disorder on
either side OF his temples over his saliow,
hollow cheeks; whose whole sickiy and
gloomy appearance bore so little resem
blance to the majestic figure of the lion
to which he had been so often compared
after his success of. the thirteenth ende
marie.
Il perceive, General" suddenly ex-
claimed Josephine. ''that you arc sorry
It was your duty to fill Paris once more
with blood and horror. You would an
/ doubtedly have preferred not TO be ebfg-
1 ell 10 carry out the bloody orders Of the
affrighted Convention =
THAT IS very possible, y said he.
But what can you expect, Madame
| We military men are but the automation:
which the government sets In motion
according to its good pleasure we know
only how to obey the sections, however
cannot but congratulate themselves tina
[ have spared them so much. Nearly
all my cannon were loaded only will
powder. I wanted to give little lessor
to the Parisians. The whole affair wa
nothing but the impress Of my seal oil
France Such skirmishes are only tht
vespers Of my fame.
| Josephine felt irritated, excited by thC
GOODNESS with which Napoleon spoke Q
the slaughter of that day: and her eyes
otherwise SO full Of gentleness, were nov
inflamed with flashes OF anger.
"Oh, cried she, IF you must pur
chase fame at such a price, [ woulC
sooner you were one Of the victims.
Bonaparte looked at her with astonish
ment, but as he perceived her hushet
cheek and flashing eyes, the sight of he
beauty ravished him, and a soft, pleasan
smile suddenly Illuminated his counte
nance. He answered her violent attacl
by light pleasantly, and with gladstone
uneffectedness he gave TO the converse
ton another turn. The small, pale
gloomy general was at once changed int
young, imprisoned, amlable cGUolIei
whose countenance grew beautiful undo
the sparkling intelligence which animated
it, and whose enchanting eloquence made
his conversation attractive and lively
carrying with it the conviction Of a su
perior mind.
After the visitors who had met tia
morning in Josephine drawing-roon
had departed, the General still remained
notwithstanding the astonished and ques
tioning looks Of the Viscountess, payin!
no attention to her remarks about tn
fine weather, or her intention to enjoy
promenade.
With rapid steps and arms folded be
hind his back, he paced few times t
and fro the room; then, standing befor
Josephine, he fixed on her searching
look.
MADAME" said he suddenly, with
kind of rough tone, Il have proposition
10 make; give me your hand. Be M
wife?-'
| Josephine looked at him, half astonish
ed, half irritated. Is it a joke you ar
indulging IMP" said she.
Il speak in all earnestness, said Bona
parte, warmly. "Win you do me The
| honor of giving me your hand !?
''Sir, said She, who knows if I nigh
not be inclined 10 accept your distinguish
ed offer, if, unfortunately, fate stood no
in the way OF your wishes p
Fate ?" said Bonaparte, with ANNA
ton.
Eyes, fatel my general" repeated
Josephine, sailing. but let us speal
no more of this. 1t is enough that tatt
forbids me to be the wife of General Bona
parte | can say no more for you woul'
laugh at me-
'sBut you would laugh at me if yo,
could turn me away with so vague an an
swer, cried Bonaparte, with vivacity. =
pray you explain the meaning of you
words. y
''Well, then, general, I cannot be you
wife, for | am destined to be Queen o
of France-yes, perhaps more thar
Queenr
1t was now Bonaparte' turn TO appea
astonishea and ifritated, and, using he
own words, he said, Struggling his shout
ders. Madame, is it a joke you are in
da!ging in a9
f II speak in all earnestness.n said Jose
phine, shaking her head. Listen. then
negro woman in Martinique foretol,
Q my fortune -.