The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-28
Napoieon's Fir.t Love Affair
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

!. It is an old and well-worn stor
!. that of the young man who told hl
r friend that be might have had tina
: girl. and when asked to explain
, replied:
: Wal, | proposed to her once
: and she said she'd rather be excu-
ed, aud I, like darned fool. excus
] ed her" But Napoleon Bonaparte'
J first love affair was very much th
, same.
When Paul Francois Jean Nicho
las Barris, the celebrated French
reyolutioDist, first took the poo
young officer, Napoleon Bonaparte
! under his wing. he took a grea
liking and an intense admiration 70
J him, and felt sure that be wonlC
} one day be great man.
i In order to succeed, however
Barras believed that he should hav,
!, money, and resolved to find for hin
. rich wife.
For some reason he pitched upor
a woman for this position who
though very handsome, was no long
er young.
She was an actress known a:
/ Mademoiselle Montansier, though
she had been married aud was q
widow. Ii IS said of her that she
knew all the arts of the toilet to per.
fiction, and did not look fortv,
but she was sixty years of age. Ma
| poleon was twenty five. but Barras
selected him for this lady's hus-
I band.
Accordingly, having notified both
of his intention, praised the wit a. d
vivacity Of Madamoiselle TO Il e
Young officer. and told the lad,
plainly that she could buy with her
wealth husband who could give
her the high position he was sure to
attain.
How far his foresight went one
cannot ascertain. He gave supper
for the purpose of introducing them
and arranged Bnnapsrte should take
the lady to table, and sit beside her
during that meal, enjoining him to
make himself agreeable for once in
his life, to a lady.
This, however, was entirely out OF
Napoleon's line. His manners with
the fair sex were those of a bear
He could talk to men, and have
something to say, hut be had moth
ing to say to girl. Had be desir-
ed to WOO. be would have done it IN
rough fashion enough. His place
was in the camp, or on the field !;
and in a salon, amongst flowers.
and music and charming women
and men of gallantry, be assuredly
was not n his element.
At that time be desired money be-
you'd all things, and perhaps he did
his best to he agreeable. He did not
succeed, however. Soon Barras was
told that the lady bad her back TO
Napoleon, and was talking to anOth-
er man, one OF those gallant Fren~h-
men who did not recognize the fact
that a woman is growing old until
she confesses it herself, when be,
being obliged to admit it, protests
that age is but an added charm
At distance, and in the candle
light, Mademoiselle was yet lovely.
Confound Napoleon be could
not do better" muttered Bsrras. as
the future emperor leaned back 10
his chair with wide, undisguised
yawn. Why does he not put out
his hand for the million that might
be his ?"
Whep it became possible be
delivered lecture to bis portege.
" Napoleon" he said, wealth
means everything to you. | have
influence with Mademoiselle Mon
tansier offer at once faint heart
never won fair LADY,"
-She ia old enough to be nv
grandmother said Napoleon.
- However, do not care for women;
they are all alike, and money would
be worth having. even with an old
girl tackled to it ; I'll propose. |
can't make love, hut Ill say ::
F" Mademoiselle, will you marry
me p
= That Is good, honest, soldierly
fashion. at least. said Barras. And
see. she is very handsome still"
Napoleon shrugged his shoulders,
but half an hour after this, Barras,
TO his JOY, saw the two sitting in a
corner together. He drew his guests
away, according the pair all the pri-
vacy to be desired at such delicate
junetGre.
Shortly after he saw Mademoi-
sellz bes koning him with her fan
She Was alone
= / have sent your Bonaparte for a
glass Of wine" she said. Call him
of. can't your I'm bored to death
He is the most dreadful little
brute, and be is going to propose to
me y
"Verv well. Don't refuse him
He is to he a very great man yet,
said Barras
with NV money ?" said Mad
emoiselle. He has worse manners
than anv peasant | ever met. /
should like to whip him and shut
him up in the cellar for bad boy
Oh, how can you make such a
dreadful evening for me? Why
didn't you ask your Napoleon Bo-
naparte to NEE. few bearsg They
would have suited each other
But Napoleon was coming back,
and Rarras still hoped. until turning
he saw near him Bonaparte. in his
favorite attitude, his arms folded,
his chin sunk upon them.
We'll. then. what has happen
ed ?" he asked. expecting to hear a
gloomy reply of " She has accepted
me-"
That woman there" said Nspo-
leon. that actress, that female mil
lionaire, has rejected me before |
aske,l her. She has vanity and CON-
celt enough for twenty, that old girl
! had just opened my mouth to
make the offer / had promised to
make. when she began. without nv