The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-17
THREW away A CROWN.
A Widow Who Would Have Rejected
Napoleon if He Had Given
Opportunity.
The Future King of Sweden Tilted
for a Watch
maker

maker.
Reduced to AFFECT Poverty, the Naughty
Maiden Would Become His Washer
woman-Tho Workings of Fate.
Early in his career the great Napoleon fell
in with an ardent revolutionist, NJ. Paul
Francois Barras, who took great liking to
the young Corsican. and conceived the
highest opinion of his abilities and of the
powers which events proved he possessed
in so remarkable degree, says Chambers
journal. But in the opinion of Barras, Ma
poleon's want of means was most serious
obstacle to the chance of achieving fame,
and he proposed to remedy this by selecting
for him rich wife.
Barras chose for this position woman
who, though still undeniably handsome,
was no longer young. Though she was
called Mile. Montansier, she was in reality a
widow, who, because she had been on the
stage, had never adopted the name OF her
husband. She was. GO years Of age,
self appear to be not more than 40
by the intimate knowledge that she
possessed of the secrets of the toilet table.
To introduce Napoleon and Mile. Mon
tansier, Barras gave supper, to which they
were both invited. He SO arranged matters
that they we're placed together at the table,
and hoped that this precaution. added to
the injunction which he had given to Napo-
leon to behave for once in his life with
some show of civility to lady, would have
the happiest result.
Napoleon was quite the last man to rely
L 30
ward the fair sex we're those of coster-
monger, and though he could generally hold
his own in conversation with men, he was
entirely without the knack of making him
self interesting or agreeable to women. He
felt that his place was IN the camp or the
field and he was quite out of his element
among the conventionalities of salon.
Had he been inclined to WOO, it would have
been in straightforward, soldier-like fash
ion, not with the dallyings and compliments
go dear to the French woman of his time
So presently Barras had the modification
of seeing Mile. Montansier, her back turned
to Napoleon, engaging in lively CONVERSE
while the future conqueror was making,
with little pellets of bread, plan of battle
on the table before him. Hardly word
passed between the two during the remain
der of the meal.
Supper over, Barras drew Napoleon aside,
way in which he was throwing away his
chances. "You know" said he, "that mon
ey is everything to you; here are million
francs, and you will not stretch out your
hand to take them; a most attractive WON
an, and you will not show her the smallest
Rallantry. Mile. Montansier has come here
this evening prepared to hear declaration
from you. Strike while the iron is hot and
win the wealth that you cannot do without
at one bold stroke"
''Ths woman is old enough to be my
grandmother" said Napoleon, who was
for to me all women are alike. Money ii
what want, and if cannot get it withou
wife, 1 must take the two together. l an
no coiner of pretty speeches, but before tn
evening is over / will say to her, MAIDEN
oiselle, are you willing to accept me al
DO"
1.-THE very kind of proposal that any wo
man would expect from a blunt soldier, >
replied Barras. Say that. and desire no
more. You are sure to ba envied, for, be-
sides her wealth. mademoiselle is very
Napoleon turned away with gesture OF
impatience; but half an hour later Barras
noticed that the two we're alone together in
a recess. Presently Napoleon got up and
went away and the lady beokoned to Barras
with her fan.
lake away Oudt NESdukul AtU10 HAIL.,
she said with shudder; "he has bored me
to death, and only prevented him from
proposing by sending him for glass Of
lemonade"
"But Why prevent him?'' said Barras
He will be great man yet"
Give myself and my money TO such {
little horror. such an ill-lnannered boor at
thatr' replied mademoiselle. Never!
would sooner take the first begQar in tn,
streets. What have done that l SHOULD
be given such wretched evening? Dom,
let your"
But at this moment she was checked b,
the arrival of Napoleon with the lemonade
Barras hurried away, still hoping for tn,
best: but soon he saw at the other end O
the room BOnaparte standing in the atti
tude in which he had 30 often been depict
ed, with his arms folded and his chin SUM
upon them.
"Well, are you to be married?" he said
fastening toward his proteee.
'"rhat old actress" said Napoleon, 'tha
female Cresus refused me before l hat
opened my mouth to ask her hand. wal
on the point of speaking, as I told you
should speak, when she began to inform m
that her wealth was the cause of her con
stantly receiving offers from adventurer
who cared nothing for herself; that sh
thanked Providence she had 80 far seel
through such fellows, and that she was re
solved to keep her Independence. wa
glad had not spoken, Tor IL gave me I'll
opportunity of saying: 'Mademoiselle, pra
persevere in that praiseworthy intention;
is one which am sure no one will ever tr
to persuade you to alter Let her Keep he
millions to bait the hook for some one else
have done with her."
In after days Mile. Montansier was fon
of Boosting that had she chosen, she Nigh
have been empress of France, and wife o
the most famous man of the age.
When the people of Grenoble, in 17ss
were preparing for the revolution, Jeal
Baptists Bernadotte, afterward king o
Sweden and Norway, was quartered in tn
town. At that time he was simple ser
geant, distinguished by the attention h
paid to his military duties, by his skill a
cards, and by his popularity with the fai
sex. On the famous Day of the Tiles, whel
the women Of Grenoble mounted on to tn
roofs and assailed the troops with a storI
of tiles, Bernadotte was with his regimen
in the Rue Pertuistere.
There were cries from one housetop
another to spare the popular sergeant: hui
in spite of the good intentions of the assai
ants, he received blow on the head whio
stretched him apparently lifeiess on tn
ground. But presently he showed SON
signs of life, and was carried into neigl
boring cafe, where he was laid upon tabl
which is shown to this day. surgeon WI
called, aud the wounded man showed sue
signs of vitality under his treatment tn,
it was soon evident that he VI,
preserved for some other fate than that {
1n. l..