Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-08-04

| OAIiCA iii AO0ACN ava 1870
The pain and beating did more t
cover him than a swOrd-thrust.
Still the seconds did not intel
fere, and Gabriel was so angry tina
he nearly chOked the Prussian
death.
Not till he was black in the fac
did the young man leave him, an
Zen he rose and flung the SWor
far away from him, saying:
st is a shame to use q sword o
such. The stick is the proper wea
pom to punish him."
He dressed and rode back I
camp.
That evening he received order
from Berthier, chief of staff, to g
to Paris with dispatches, annOunC
ing to the empress the peace G
Tilsit.
"Why do you tremble so, M,
belief One would think il wa
winter, and that you were cold"
1t was said in whisper and tn
speaker was the Empress Josephine
who sat in state in the throne room
of the Tuileries, surrounded by he
ladies and the high dignitaries o
the empire, awaiting the arrival o
the officer who was bringing tn
news of peace and triumph.
Close to her side was young la
dy whose white satin robes made
the paIeness of her face more con
spicuous, though for all its pallor i
was the loveliest face in that cOur
of beautiful women.
II cannot help it, your majesty
was the low answer. 1--WE parted
in anger. He may be angry yet"
Tut, tut, said the empress light
| ly. "If the gentleman does no
know when he has treasure ] viii
tell him he does not deserve it
Hank there go the guns. Be firm
Inez, ma belle. 1t is not we'll to lei
man see that you love him toe
much. l have found that in my
time"
And her sunny face was clOuded
for moment, for already the Om.
inous rumOrs had come to the ears
of Josephine OF the event that was
to sadden the rest of her life, two
years later.
But now, in the heyday of pros
perity, with France at the head OF
Europe, the guns booming their
loud salute in the parks, the bells
pealing jOyOusly, the clash of scab-
bards and spurs, told of nothing
but Joy, and the empress rose proud
ly to her feet and stood to welcome
in the "bOy general" Gabriel Count
of Friedland, who entered the sa-
loon at that moment, knelt before
his fair sovereign and handed her
the letter which contained the joy
full news.
81 have the honor to announce to
your majesty, that the emperor has
beaten all his enemies, that France is
once more at peace, and that his
majesty will be in Paris in a week, :"
was his formal announcement.
The empress smiled on him gra-
ciOusly, and turned to IneZ.
"Give me the patent, ma BELLE"
Inez, paler than ever, handed to
the empress large parchment.
Ladies and gentlemen" said
the empress, 81 have the pleasure
to present to you his majesty'S spe-
cial envoy, General, the Count OF
Friedland. Here, mon cher cOnate,
is your patent OF nobility, with the
title to the lands of Williamson.
May you and your charming wife
live long to enjoy them. The conf
pany is dismissed"
There was buzz and dispersal
into informal groups, and the en-
press descended from the throne,
leaning on the arm of IneZ, and
said to Gabriel:
"And have you not yet had time
to speak to your wife? All, Mon
sieur, she deserves Il ScOlding; but
not from you. Do you know that,
last year she actually deserted me
to try and find you in the midst of
the campaign? 1t is true. She
gave me no peace till / made Tai
leyrand give her passports, and af
ter all you were so cruel as to send
her back. All, monsieur, when /
was first married, my husband
leased me to come to the front, and
it was only because the danger WIS
so great that had at last to returnI
1t was in Italy, ten years ago. All,
perhaps we were happier then, when
| was simple Madame Bonaparte,
than now when l am empress"
And again the empress sighed,
but went on chatting in her cheer
ing way, not giving the reunited
lovers "a chance TO speak word.
But they had used their eyes for |
all that, and those eyes spoke vol
Imes.
When the levee broke up an hour
ater, the young Count of Friedland |
'ound himself at last alone with his |
wife, his first words were:
"Inez, ask forgiveness. / was
/ jealous brute, year ago, but L
nave found my mistake. The man
hat poisoned our happiness is dead.
Jan you forgive me the past :?
Her eyes filled with tears.
a have nothing to forgive, mon
ieur," she said, in low voice.
You are here now and all is for
.Otten."
"And is it possible-?" he asked,
hen hesitated and stopped.
SIS what possible, monsieur ?"
She was smiling now.
"That you can find anything in
ne not absolutely to lOve-Of course
hat is impOSsible-but just to tOler-
tie? | know / am rough soldier,
neg. | was a common sentry
ghen you first saw me only a SIM
lie soldier"
81 know it," she said, slyly, land
h, monsieur, how afraid l was of
GU with your big sword and cui-
ass. L thought you might take a
ancy TO eat me up. You looked as
you wanted to do it,"
'Did /, IneZ ?"
They were strolling down the 1
OrridOr of the TuilerieS as he said
and he stopped suddenly.
at was fact, / did. Do you
now what was saying TO myself
hen my eyes looked so hungry ~
She looked down at the pave ]
tent, very red in the face and muir
lured:
"HOw should / know mon 1
eur p" S
81 was saying to myself: There }