St. Paul daily globe., 1889-03-07
ROMANCE OF NAPOLEON III.
A Question as to Whether He Left
a Legitimate Heir.


A writer in the New York Star raises
a question as to whether the third
Napoleon was not married and father
before he espoused Eugene. The story,
such as it is, runs as follows:
After thede of his mother, the ex-
Queen HOrtenSe, in 1887, Louis Napol-
con went to England, and for the next
three years, and until he made his tre-
mendOus failure in 1910 to take France
by storm by way of Boulogne, he lived
principally in London. He had mag
nificent establishment in Carlton ter
race, an establishment inferior to none
in the city in point of splendor. AL
though he was regarded by many as a
silent and rather dull man, his drawing
rooms formed one of the recognized So
cial centerS. 1t was here that he met
whose mother had been an intimate of
his imperial uncle. Strange freak of
romance it was that afterwards made
the Count Bentivoglio, brother of the
countess, introduce Louis to Eugene
Marie de MOntyO.
The countess was brilliant, fascin-
ating woman, and she occupied a high
social position. Louis fell victim to
her charms and she bore him two chill
dren. both daughters. The Youngest
died in infancy, but the eldest grew to
Womanhood, married and bore a son
who was christened Paul. These facts
are matters of history and are well sub
stantiated. Were this all the story the
romance would not differ materially
from others in which Louis was
the hero. But the Countess Wal
ewska held the future emper-
or in closer fascination than did others
of that talented half score of women.
There came moment. before the birth
Of her first baby girl, when the title of
wife, even though it be secretly held,
appeared to be worth more than any
other, and Louis, cold and heartless
though he was, a man Of destiny though
he considered himself to be, bestowed
it upon her. They were secretly mar
ried in London, and the fact was known
at least to Charles TheIin, foster brother
and valet de chambre.
Time passed and the second daughter
was born. Years rolled by-years in
which history was made at a terrific
pace. Louis NapoleOn's failure at
Boulogne landed him in the Fortress of
Ham, and it was five years before he es-
capped. Then came the revolution, and
the once political prisoner, condemned
to perpetual confinement, became
first a deputy in the Constituent assem-
bly,, then president of the republic, and
then emperor of France. And i'm all
these years the Countess Walewska,
the secret wife, made no signs. Her
secret and her husbands was faithfully
kept, and not suspicion of that mar
riage ever arose during Louis scramble
for his throne.
Once the Third Emperor was firmly
established, Louis began to think of a
social head and also of a succession.
The faithful Countess Walewska was
out of the question. Eugene. Countess
of Montijo, was fitted in everv wav to
be his empress. Then it was that the
Countess " alewSka rose to the supreme
height of devotion. She would not
throw a shadow over the emperor's S
glory. She renounced all claim upon
him, destroyed all evidence of marriage.
and was content to take her place
among others who had enjoyed Louis
NapOleOn'S fav0rS for the moment.
Louis was not ungrateful. He loaded
her with riches and did everything
that powerful emperor could
do to recompense her for the
loss of the title, not of en-
dress, but OF wife. The countess con-
tinues to reside in England, and was
sense under the protection of Queen
Victoria. She was even known at the
court of st. James under an assumed
name. Such is the story hinted at by
Charles Thelin-the story is sometimes
told by others of Napoleon's early as
socrates.
+ PauPs whereabouts are unknown.
His name even is a secret known to but
few. But he doubtless is familiar with
the story of his parentage. If the Ma
poleons ever rise to the top in the effer-
vescence of French politics he may
come forward to assert his rights.
/, The life of Napoleon Ill. was full of
strange romance. He was almost con-
ltinually involved in intrigue. The no
,torious Mrs. Howard, once North of
England girl, and Louis first known in
innate, exercised some fascination over
him almost to the last, and lived in lux
Jury on a princeiy pension. The chill
rdren she bore hlm received liberal fort
unes. Others of the emperor's intrigues
are matter of history. For the moment
1.-THE Countess of Walewska exercised a
more complete fascination over the man
of destiny than did any other woman.
Is it not possible, even probable, that
she was able at the time to secure the
one favor she desired. the title of wife,
even though bestowed in secret?