The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-10-12
miscellaneous.
STORY Of A VIOLET.

the great purple, the small gray and
the white. The great purple violet is
not indigenous. 1t came originally
from Corsica, and it is the flower of
the Bonapartes. 1t brought to the
head of that family the first news of
his coming greatness. From that time
forth it was the flower he loved best,
and it was adopted by the Bonaparte
family AMI incorporated into their
coat of arms.
1t was the good fortune of the writer
to hear this story told by the daughter
of a dame d'honneur at the court of
the first empire.
1t is France in 1894. The month is
May, and Mother Nature has just
awakened from their winters sleep
the flowers, the loveliest of her chill
dren. After such a storm as history
seldom records the last waves of the
revolution are suddenly beating upon
the land of the Burgundy rose and
Bourbon lily.
BY quick combination of the old
royalist and Jacobins the new conven-
ton of Paris, though preferred by the
people. is likely to be beaten by the
mob. The SO wards of the city ON the
Seine are ablaze with passion.
awed by the old royalist armies and
the newer national guards.
One commander after another has
gone over either in person or spirit to
the enemies of peace. Barras, who
leads the convention, is alert and
ready, full of the fertility of expedient
that characteriZes the Latin race, but
he can see no hope. The republic is
lost, and mighty France, whose ira
ditions of honor and glory for thous-
and years have had one unbroken
line of history, is to lose her place
among the nations, for who shall be
her deliverer from the awful cruelty
of her own unnatural children
The shadows of the soft May day
were growing longer when Barras, the
peoples champion, left the heated
hall of the convention for little rest
and thought, and his steps led him to
the salon of a woman famous in those
days-for she was beautiful, well born
and patriotic-whom he tenderly low
ed. She was alone, and together they
spoke of the nations danger. of the
fear which filled each heart that the
life of the republic might soon run out
in stream of blood.
There is no longer a leader among
us. chere amie,n said the great states
man and orator, whose fervor and pas
sion had so touched the peoples
hearts. "The end has come"
Never despair. Perhaps the good
God may help u.s." softly replied the
gracious woman who was SO dear to
him.
And you say you have no leader p
she spoke after long silence in mus
ing way, thinking aloud. who are
your commanders then? Where is
that droll little man you presented to
me at Nine. de Stael's the other even
ing? He seemed to have brains and
courage. too-that little Corsican."
"Pardie," said Barras, springing
into new life. belle annie, you have
given thought that may yet save
France"
They talked very seriously for few
minutes, and he returned to the con-
vention full of new hope. But before
he left the salon he had written little
note addressed to the general of bri-
gade, Napoleon Bounaparte, who
spelled his name thus until after his
coronation as emperor, praying his
immediate presence at the convention,
and trusty servant was charged TO
deliver it personally into NJ. Bouna-
parties hands and not to fail.
Il have sent to you, NJ. Bouna-
parte," said Barras, an hour later to
the small, pale faced man with whom
he was earnestly speaking. because
you are our last hope, and l will now
present you to the convention"
"Can you restore peace and order p
said the president to the young man
before him. The members looked
curiously ON and listened.
so France has come to this whis-
pered one graybeard to his neighbor,
that her life and fate lie in the hands
of a youth of twenty fiven-who look
ed even less than his age-'only feet
2 inches in stature, with hair combed
low on his brow, like a woman's.
Farceur va 20
II am perfectly aware of the diff
culties in the path, but am accus
toned to succeed" said the young
man, speaking with strong Italian,
or rather Corsican, accent. But one
thing / must insist upon. 1t is that |
am not to be embarrassed by orders.
must have supreme command"
And bowling low to the peoples re-
representatives. the little, pale man, but
5 feet inches in stature, with gray
brown eyes and banged hair, left the
hall, and the convention, with closed
doors, proceeded to consider his propo
sition.
AS Bounaparte left the hall Barras
followed him for a last word. "Go to
your rooms and remain there" said
the politician in quick speech to the
young officer, land will send you
the result as soon as possible"
ut must be all or nothing" answer
ed the other.
Just then flower girl came up to
them with her basket full of fragrant
violets, and Barras bought a bouquet
for the woman he loved. The little
man S eyes softened.
"They always remind me somehow of
home" he murmured alphabetically
as he gave the seller sou and took a
tiny bouquet. A thought struck Bar
ras.
go to the salon of Nine. -"
said he, land remain there until 10.
If succeed for you she will send you
a violet"
The young officer went as he was
told. 1t was early-two hours before
the time of reception-but he was ad
mitted. The salon was empty. Alone
the young Corsican paced the spacious
room. III was Z, tnen NAH pdst, bHeH
8. At last the clock in the hall began
to strike off 8. AS its chimes ceased a
servant entered the room with a billet
For the General Bounaparte, from
Nine -" said the man as he with
drew.
Ratherlist Bounaparte opened
it, and, 10 it contained only violet ?
How the young man crushed out the
mob in awful slaughter with cannon
volleys, how ten years thereafter,
having changed the map of Europe,