Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-02-06
Courtship OF Napoleon and Josephine.

Josephine was not alone when Bonaparte was
announced and when the servant 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
which made her tremble at the name of the con-
queror of Paris, and this was, perhaps, the rea-
son why Josephine received General Bonaparte
with less complacency than she usually showed
to her visitors. Amid the general silence of all
those present the young General Twenty six years
old) entered the drawing-room of the Viscount-
ess Beauharnais and this silence, however fiat
tering it might be to his pride, caused him a
slight embarrassment. He therefore approached
the beautiful widow with 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 appropriate in
lady's saloon. General Pichegru, who stood
near Josephine, smiled, and even her amiable
countenance was overspread with q slight ex-
preston of scorn as she fixed her beautiful eyes
on this pale thin, little man, whose long, smooth
hair fell in tangled disorder either side of his
temples, over his sallow, hollow cheeks whose
whole sickly and gloomy appearance bore SO lit
tie resemblance to the majestic figure of the lion
to which he had so often been compared after his
success of the thirteenth Vendemare.
81 perceive, General" suddenly exclaimed
Josephine, "that you are sorry it was your duty
to fill Paris once more with blood and horror
You would undoubtedly have preferred not to be
obliged to carry out the bloody orders of the af
frighted Convention ?"
Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders somewhat
That is very possible, said he, perfectly quiet
{" But what can you expect, madame? We mill
tary men are but the autamatons which the gov
ernment sets in motion according to its good
pleasure we know only to obey; the sections,
however, cannot but congratulate themselves
that | have spared them SO much. Nearly all
my cannon were loaded only with powder. l
wanted to give little lesson to the Parisians
The whole affair was nothing but the impress of
my seal on France Such skirmishes are only
the vespers of my fame"
Josephine felt irritated, excited, by the cold
ness with which Napoleon spoke of the slaughter
of that day; and her eyes, otherwise so full of
gentleness, were now animated with flashes of
anger. "Oh," cried she, I" if you must pur-
chase fame at such price, would sooner you
were one of the victims"
Bonaparte looked at her with astonishment !;
but as he perceived her flushing cheeks and
flashing eyes, the sight of her grace and beauty
ravished him, and soft, pleasant smile sud-
denly illuminated his countenance. He answered
her violent attack by light pleasantly, and with
a gladstone unafectedness he gave to the con-
yersation another turn. The small pale. gloomy
general was at once changed into young, i'm
passioned, amiable cavalier, whose countenance
grew beautiful under the sparkling intelligence
which animated it, and whose enchanting eo-
quence made his conversation attractive and
lively, carrying with it the conviction of a su-
perior mind.
After the visitors who had met that morning
in Josephines drawing-room had departed the
General still remained, Notwithstanding tie as
tonished and questioning looks of the Fiscount-
ess, paying no attention to her remarks about
the fine weather, or her intention to enjoy a
promenade. With rapid steps and hands folded
behind his back, he paced few times to and
fro the room then, standing before Josephine,
he fixed on her a searching glance.
Madame" he said, suddenly, with kind OF
rough tone, 81 have proposition to make.
Give me your hand. Be my wife"
Josephine looked at him, half astonished, halt
irrtated. " Is 1t joke you are lndulelng IN
said she.
al sneak 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 con-
vinced Josephine that the General would not
condescend to indulge in a joke of so unseemly
a character, and lovely blush overspread the
face of the viscountess.
" Sir" said she, who knows If might MOI
be inclined to accept your distinguished offer, il
unfortunately, fate stood not in the way of youl
wishesF'
"Fate p said Bonaparte, with animation.
ayes, fate my General, repeated Josephine
sm ling. But let Us speak no more of this. Il
is enough that fate forbids me to De the wife Of
General Bonaparte. lean say no more, for you
would laugh at me.
sBut you would laugh at me, if you could
turn me away with SO vague an answer" cried
ouaparte, with vivacity. {. pray you, explain
the meaning of your words
"Well, then, General, l cannot be your wife
for am destined to be the Queen of France
YES. perhaps more than queen p
Il was now Bonaparte's turn to appear aston
ished and irritated. and, using her own words
he said, struggling his shoulders, madame, il
| it Joke you are indulging in r
81 ,oeak in all earnestnfss," said Josephine
shaking her head. Listen, then n"gro 90
man in Martinique fortold my fortune and al
her oracular words have thus far been fulfilled
| must conclude that the rest of her prophesie'
concerning me will be realized"
AAnd What has she prophesied to you z,
ucI. ivan uill ana day be Queer