The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-05

be interminable. On hearing that his young
wife was so near him, he could longer mod
crate his patience. He suddenly resolved
to put aside the etiquette so labori-
ously prepared for the following day, and TO
go to meet Marie Louise. Hesummoned Murat,
the only companion he wished to have in this
step, and secretly leaving the park by private
door, he, with his brother-in-law, got into
modest carriage without any armorial bearings,
and driven by a servant not in livery. The car
riage took the road to Poissons. The horses
went at full speed
Never had time appeared SO long to the i'm
patient Emperor. A double feeling of curiosity
and love made his heart beat like the heart of a
youth OF twenty. When he had passed Pois-
sons he calculated Marie Louise could not be
much further on and he got out of the car
riage at village called Courcelles
ION her side. the Empress, having her sister
in-law, Queen Caronne, with her in the carriage.
and having no idea of what was going on. was
travelling since morning. She had passed Cha
Ions and Rheims and intended dining at Pois-
sons, where she imagined she was going to sleep,
ner meeting with the Emperor having been ar
ranged to take place the following day, the 25th
of March, in the pavilion erected for the purpose
couple of leagues beyond the town. Cour-
celles was the last relay before Poisson 1t was
raining in torrents when Napoleon arrived there,
and, getting oct of his carriage with his brother
in-law, he took shelter under the porch of the
church facing the posting inn. Nobody in the
village could suspect that the unknown pair
WnOm the cnurcn porch was Shelter1nO from
the rain were the great Emperor and the King of
Naples
Suddenly the noise of wheels was heard A
carriage preceded by an outrIder and followed by
several other vehicles, arrived. Napoleon quiv-
cred with Joy. It was she! Marie Louise Arch
duchess of Austria Empress of the French,
Queen of Italy, the wife who would bear him
son and heir to his immense empire! Pride and
intoxication mingled with JOY in the heart of the
conqueror.
''The carriage stopped. The horses were being
taken out. Napoleon rushed to the door He
would fain have remained unnoticed for few
moments longer, but the Eauerry d'Oudenarde,
who could scarcely believe his eyes, at this juno
ture called out the Emperor The happy hus-
oand threw himself into the arms of his
young wife, who was overcome with
emotion and surprise He was en-
child, all radiant with freshness and youth, with
strength and health, with her pretty fair hair.
her blue eyes, her innocence and candor. She is
the companion whom he needed. She is the en-
press of his dreams And how the first words
she spoke to him fiattered him and touched him,
and went direct to his heart. After having
looked at him for a long time she said, in timid
sweet voice, You are much better than your
portrait"
The coquetries of Marie Louise in later years
contrast strangely with the fascin ating ingenue
that so enchanted Napoleon. Marie Louises
reign was a short one-a brief space of two
years so-but she must have enjoyed it while
it lasted, seeing that all the world was at her
feet