The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-08-02
HE COUNTESS WALEsKA.
An Incident Of Napolron's sojourn On the
Island CT Elba.

One day something happened to dis
tnrb the calm routine of Napoleon's
life OF the mountain. Tho emperor
had again and again swent the horizon
with his glass. 1t was apparent that
he expected to see something which
failed him. Suddenly he babe Bcr-
MOTH. his orderly, speed down to Porto
Furraio, prepare n four-llarsc carriage
aud three saddle horses, take them to
II certain part of the shore Scar the
capital. and follow the Instructions oil
Gen. Bertrand. The san WAS already
about TO set. Tie man did not, there
fore, reach the place indicated until II
o'clock at night. He was Just in time.
y Genoese sloop approached the island.
Shortly afterward two ladies. n little
boy and a Polish colonel landed from
it. Bertrand received them, and stood
barehcaded under the moon white
speaking to the ladies. Then II OF
the ladies and the boy stepped the
carriage. the other lady and the soldier
mounted horses, and, accompanied by
Bertrand, the whole party made for
Marciaua, the townlet at the foot of
Capanna. They were half way whe0
the emperor, on his white horse and
with several attendants, met them. IL
was pitch dark by this time. The en-
peror at once joined the lady in the
carriage aud they continued their
journey. AT Marciana the lady and
The little boy took horse, and the
cayalcade began to climb The mountain.
How they did it in the dark /. for one,
can not conceive. 1t is at any time
arduous enough, and not without its
moments of peril. Some of the party
was thrown, but no one was hurt.
However at 3 O'Clock in the morning,
the ''Hermitagc," as it was called, was
reached. MADAM, behold my palace!'
said Napoleon, u%ncovering, aud indi.
eating his tent. This occurred in the
night of the LIST of September. Tho
visitors staid on Monte Capanna unit.
the evening of tue Sd. Then, at {
O'Clock in the night, the return journey
was begun with the same secrecy,
Napoleon descending the mountain
with his guests as far rs the seashore
During the intervening two days and
nights the lady and Napoleon were
closeted together; nor did she once
show her face outside the Hermitage,
The, boy however, was allowed tt
climb about the rocks. Such an Incl
dent. so dramatically contrived. hugely
excited the spies in Elba, especially II.
their victim had for u week or more
been out of their way. They wrote t,
their respective chiefs, and had IL,
doubt that this visitor was the empires.
herself, Maria Louisa of Austria. The,
argued, therefore, that Great event!
were brewing. But they were wrong
The lady was a beautiful Pole, III,
Countess Walos!ia, whom Napolco,
had met for the first time at WARSAW
in 1907, and the little boy was her son
by the emperor. 1t is said of her thai
she had given him a gold ring inclos
ing n lock of her fair hair, and witt
The inscription: when You cease {,
love me do not forget that | love you.
The devoted woman hearing tina
Maria Louisa was not with her hus
band in Etba, had travelled t~l,itiler /,
offer him her " loving attentions
But out of regard for the empires:
whom he believed TO be detained q
TIE continent against her will, Ma
p"lcon would not let her stay witt
fim. He probably had some affection
for this lady even in 1911, for when hi
orderly rejoined him on the night G
her departure lie found him seated b.
t}n chestnut tree with y sadcNprcssioi
oil ms face, MS he leaned with hi
check resting in lis right laud.-gN
C0rHht3 MGgaeltle.