Middletown transcript., 1875-03-13
prove to him a father 2"

and. arm in arm, for long time walked
up and down one of its avenues, en-
gagged in earnest conversation. The
noble Josephine. with mothers love,
could not forget the interests of her
children. She urged Eugene to remain
faithful to the Emperor.
'.The Emperor. she said lis your
benefactor. To him, therefore, you
owe boundless obedience. !"
A fortnight passed and the day ar
rived for the consummation of this
cruel sacrifice 1t was the 18th of De-
cember. All the members of the i'm
perial family were assembled in the
grand saloon of the Tuileries. An e1-
treme paleness overspread the face Of
the Emperor. In his brief address to
the assembled dignitaries. he said
1.-The political interests Of my mon
archy, and the wishes Of my people re-
quire that I should transmit to an heir,
inheriting my love for the people, the
throne on which Providence has placed
me- 1t is this consideration alone
which induces me to sacrifice the dear
est affections Of my heart, to consult
only the good Of my subjects and to
desire the dissolution Of our marriage.
God only knows how much such de-
has cost my heart. But
there is no sacrifice too great for my
courage when it is proved to be for the
interests of France Far from having
any cause Of complaint. | have nothing
to say but in praise of the attachment
and tenderness Of my beloved wife.
She has embellished fifteen years of my
life and the remembrance Of them will
be forever engraven on my heart. Let
her never doubt my affection or regard
me but as her dearest friend"
Josephine then endesvored to read
her consent to the divorce. But tears
blinded her eyes and sobbings choked
her voice. Sinking into a chair and
handing the paper to M. Reynaud, she
buried her face in her handkerchief and
remained in that position while it was
read aloud
Napoleon then embraced Josephine
and led her, almost fainting, to her
apartment, where he left her alone with
her children. The next day the Sen
ate met to sanction the divorce. The
Emperor, careworn, wretched, pale as
a statue, leaned against pillar. A low
hum of mournful voices alone disturbed
the gloomy silence Of the room. There
was table in the center of the apart
ment, on which there was a writing
Of gold. Josephine entered
leaning upon the arm Of Hortense. Her
face was as pale as the muslin dress
she wore. The daughter, not possess
ing the fortitude of her mother, was
sobbing aloud The whole assembly
arose. Tears blinded nearly all eyes.
Josephine sat down and. leaning her
pallid forehead upon her hand, listened
to the reading Of the act Of separation.
Eugene and Hortense stood by the side
Of their mother, the daughter weeping
convulsively.
Josephine. as the reading was finish
ed, for a moment pressed her handker-
chief to her eyes and then rising, in
clear but tremulous tones, pronounced
the oath Of acceptance. She then sat
down and, taking the pen. signed the
deed which sundered the dearest ties
which can be formed on earth.
Eugene feel fainting to the floor.
His inanimate form was borne out Of
the room by the attendants. Josephine
retired with her daughter. Night
came. The Emperor, utterly wretched,
had just placed himself in the bed from
which he elected his faithful wife, when
the door was slowly opened and jose
phine tremblingly entered.
Her eyes were swollen and her hair
and dress disordered. She seemed
scarcely conscious of what she was do
ing as with hssitatipg, tottering steps,
she approached the bed. Then in a
delirium Of grief, all the pent up love
Of her heart burst forth and she threw
herself upon the bed, clasped the neck
Of the Emperor in her arms and sx-
claimed my husband my husband p
while sobbing as though her heart
would break
Napoleon also wept convulsively He
folded Josephine in his arms and as
sured her Of his uudying love. For
ssme time they remained in each 9TH
er's embrace, while the mutual words
Of tenderness were interchanged. The
valet de chambre, who thus far had
been present, was dismissed, and for
an hour the Emperor and Empress con-
tinued in their last private interview.
Josephine then departed forever from
the husband whom she had so long and
tsnderly loved. They remained the
best of friends until the death of the
Empress. And one of the last words
Of the Emperor as he was dying at St.
Helena, was Josephine"