Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-03
STORY OF A VIOLET.
THE ROMANCE OF BUoNAPARTE AND
THE PURPLE FLOWER.

Which Opened Before Him a Pathway to
Imperial Honor and Power Was Convey
ed to Napoleon.
Three violets are known to us here
the great purple, the small gray and the
white. The great purple violet is not in
digenous. 1t came originally from Corsi-
ca and it is the flower of the Bonapartes.
it 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 Bona
parte family and 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 children. After such q
storm as history seldom records the last
waves of the revolution are sullenly beat
ing upon the land of the Burgundy rose
and Bourbon lily.
BY quick combination of the old roy
alists and Jacobins the new convention
of Paris, though preferred by the people,
is likely to be beaten by the mob The 90
wards of the city on the Seine are ablaze
with passion.
The convention is in session. 1t is 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 enc
mics of peace. Barras, who leads the con-
vention, is alert and ready, full of the fer
tility of expedient that characterizes the
Latin race, but he can see no hope. The
republic is lost, and mighty France whose
traditions of honor and glory for thou
sand years have had one unbroken line in
history, is to lose her place among the ma
tions, 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 con-
vention for little rest and thought, and
his steps led him to the salon Of q woman
famous in those days-for she was beauti-
full, well born and patriotic-whom he
tenderly loved. She was alone, and to-
gether they spoke of the nations danger,
of the fear which filled each heart that the
life of the republic might soon run out in
astrcam of blood.
"There is no longer leader among us,
chere annie" said the great statesman and
orator, whose fervor and passion had so
touched tho peoples hearts. 1.-THE end has
come"
Never despair. Perhaps the good God
may help us, softly replied the gracious
woman who was so dear to him.
And you say you have no leader" she
spoke after long silence in musing way,
thinking aloud. who are your command
ers, then? Where is that droll little man
you presented to me at Nine. de Stael's
the other EVENING" He seemed to have
brains and courage, too-that little Corsi-
can"
''Pardie," said Barras, springing into
new life. Belle annie, you have given me
a thought that may yet save France!"
They talked very seriously for few
minutes, and he returned to the conven-
ton full of new hope But before he left
the salon he had written little note adj
dressed to 1.-THE general of brigade, Napo-
leon Buonaparte, who spelled his name
thus until after his coronation as emper-
or, praying his immediate presence at the
convention, and a trusty servant was
charged to deliver it personally into M.
Buonaparte's hands and not to fail.
II have sent to you, M. Buonaparte, I"
said Barras an hour later to the small,
pale faced man with whom he was ear
nestly talking, because you are our last
hope and will now present you to the
convention"
"Can you restore peace and order9" said
the president to the young man before
him. The members looked curiously on
and listened.
$50 France has come to this, - whisper
ed one graybeard to his neighbor, that
her life and fate lie in the hands of youth
of 25'-who looked even less than his age
-"only feet inches in stature, with
hair combed low on his brow, like wom-
ans. Farceur val"
II am perfectly aware of the difficulties
in the path, but 1 am accustomed to sue
ceed," said the young man, speaking with
q strong italian, or rather Corsican, ac-
cent. But one thing must insist upon.
1t is that 1 am not to be embarrassed by
orders. 1 must have supreme command"
And bowling low to the peoples repre-
sentatives the little, pale man, but feet
in stature, with gray brown eyes and
banged hair, left the hall, and the conven-
ton, with closed doors, proceeded to con-
slider his proposition.
AS Buonaparte left the hall Barras fol-
lowed him for a last word go to your
rooms and remain there, " said the politi-
clan in quick speech to the young officer,
land 1 will send you the result as soon as
possible"
ut must be all or nothing" answered
the other.
Just then flower girl came up to them
with her basket full of fragrant violets
and Barras bought bouquet for the wo-
man he loved. The little mans eyes sof-
tened.
"They always remind me somehow Of
home" he murmured apologetically as he
gave the seller sou and took tiny bou-
quet A thought struck Barras.
go to the salon Of Nine. -" said
he, land remain there until 10. If sue
coed for you, she will send you q violet"
The young officer went as he was told
1t was early-hours before the time of re-
ception-but he was admitted. The salon
was empty. Alone the young Corsican
paced the spacious room. 1t was z, then
half past, then 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 Buonaparte, from
Nine. -" said the man as he withdrew.
Rather hstlessly Buonaparte opened it,