The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-09-30
Napoleon's Courtship.

Miss MuhlDachS : empress JosepHlne,
published by Appleton s. Co. n. +, con
tanned the following fanciful but interes
ting account of the courtship OF Napoleon
and Josephine:
Josephine was not alone when Bona
partee was announced and when the ser
want named him she could not repress an
inward fear, without knowing why she
felt afraid. Her friends who noticed her
tremor and blush, laughed at the timidity
which made her tremble at the name of
the conqueror of Paris, and this was per-
haps the reason why she received General
Bonaparte with less complacency than
she generally showed to her suitors.
Amid the general silence of all those
present, the young General (26 years old)
entered the drawing room OF the Vlscount-
ess Beauharnais and this silence howev-
er fattering it might be to his pride, caus-
ed him slight embarrassment He there
fore approached the beautiful widow with
a certain abrupt and perplexed manner,
and spoke to her in that hasty and imper-
ious tone which might become general,
but which did not seem appropriate in a
lady's saloon. General Piehegru, who
sto I'd near Josephine, smiled; and even
her amiabie countenance was oyer-spread
with Slight expression of scorn as she
fixed her beautiful eyes on this pale, hin
| little man, whose long, smooth hair fell in
tangled disorder on either side of his
temple over his shallow, hollow cheeks {;
whose whole sickly and gloomy appear
ance bore so little resemblance to the ma.
iestic figure of the lion to which he had
been so often compared after his success
of the thirteenth Vendemaire. fai2 lal
81 perceive, General" suddenly exclaim-
ed Josephine, "that you are sorry 1t was
your duty to fill Paris once more with
blood and horror. You would undoubt
edly have preferred not to be obliged to
carry out the bloody orders of the affrigh-
ted Convention ?" ho23
That is very possible, said he. g But
what can you expect, Madame? We mill
itary men are but the autonlatons which
the government sets in motion according
to its good pleasure we know only how
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 Paris
ians. The whole affair was nothing but
the impress Of my seal on France. ati Such
skirmishes are only the Vespers of my
fame li9i5 u =
Josephine felt irritated, excited by the
GOODNESS with which Napoleonspoke of the
slaughter OF that day and her eyes, 9TH
efIwise SO full of gentleness, were now in
famed with flashes of anger q daIlt.
aa"Oh,n cried she, "Ifyou must purchase
fame at such price, | would sooner you
were one Of the victims DI8 ,92H3l'
| Bonaparte looked at her with astonish-
ment, but as he perceived her flushed
check and flashing eyes, the sight of her
beauty ravished him. and soft, pleasant
smile suddenly illuminated his counte-
nance. He ansW cred her violent attack
by light pleasantly, and with gladstone
unaffecta dness he gave to the conversation
another turn. The small, pale, gloomy
| General was at once changed into young,
limpassioned amiable cdvaJS6,, whose
countenance. grew beautiful under the
sparkling intelligence which animated it,
and whose enchanting eloquence made
his conversation attractive and lively, car
rying with it the conviction of a superior
mind. e niHa s@t# go 3o
After the visitors who had met that
morning in Jcsaphine's drawing room had
departed, the General still remained, not
iwithstanding the astonished and question
ing looks of the Viscountess, paying no
atten ton to her remarks about the fine
/ weather, or her intention to enjoy prom-
enade. $3.50 f99 @
| With rapid steps and arms folded be-
| hind his back, he paced a few times to and
fro the room then standing before J ose-
lpliine, he fixed on her a searching look. Is
Madame, ;, said he, suddenly, with a
| kind OF rough tone," have propositions
to make give me your hand, Be my
lwife?3 "a sg u, .5asaatq aloat y s'ao ssag.
| Josephine looked at him, half astonish-
ed, half irritated. Is it joke you are
INDUCING in ?" said she. aa1sE
| F." speak in all carnestness," said b.
naparte, warmly. "Will you do me the
honor Of giving me your hand? " aoa :.
Sir" said she, who knows if Knight
not be be inclined to accept your distin-
guished offer, if, unfortunately, fate stood
lnot in the way Of your wishes -
" Fate +" said Bonaparte, with ANNA
ltion. - a.,a q@a sal.
Yes, fate, my General" repeated 10
smiling. 6 But let US speak nc
more of this. It is enough that. fate for
bids me to be the wife of General Roma
parte. I can say no more, for you would
laugh at me.
/ " But you would laugh at me if you
could turn me away with SO vague an an
swer," cried Bonaparte, with yiyacity
"I pray you explain the meaning of your
| words RI rogtfa tseaa4 s,rofIs,,f.
/ .'Well, then, General, can not be your
wife, for am destined to be Queen OF
France perhans more than Queen p
i It was. now Bonaparte's turn to appear
astonished and lrritated, and using her