The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-02-01
THE MAN OF DESTINY

Sll L4-D IO4NtCNA ClS4CoS lis VI cast ltCt'
dropped upon his chest, and his eye
fixed upon the ground, though he see
nothing that belongs to this world
His face is deadly pale, his lips ar
compressed his brows are contracted
| Ten thousand clashing thoughts ar.
fasLing across his active brain H
is summing up the past Of a wondrou:
Life, debating terrible present, reach
ing onward into an awful future
! this IN one maddening whirl, that. il
Il lesser genius, would dethrone rea
son. A terrible crisis is upon HIM
the moments are big with fate-it i
life or death now He who has made
thrones totter and princes tremble. Is
now quaking IN his own soul. The
outward signs of his perturbation are
not many; but the ashy, quivering lip
the fixed. distracted gaze, and the
beads Of perspiration standing on his
features. tell much Of his painful emo
tons.
At length, with a groan-of mental
not OF physical, agony starts
stamps his foot violently, glances
quickly and tiercely around him, and
eXclaims:
Is this the end Of all? Have /
only reached such height to fall to
such a depth? Must my friends de
sert and my enemies triumph? Have
L only raised men to power that they
may crush me? Bah. what a world it
is. He whom destiny makes It's mas
ter, III the end becomes the slave Of
chan5em
He steps forward and rings his bell
with m impatient jerk.
admit the prince" is his order to
he attendant.
As the prince enters, the emperor
hrows himself into one seat and
points to another.
Il have had bad news, my friend
,ays Napoleon, abruptly.
Il am sorry to hear it. though | can
we'll credit it, Sire"
The Duke Of Nincenza has just re
turned from his interview with the
Emperor Alexander"
Yes. Sire
''Everything is against us. The
Emperor sends me word that my only
nope is in immediate abdicatlon in
favor Of my son"
Tho Estner Is silent.
You do not speak, Prince" cries
Napoleon with a glance of fire.
because, Sire, L have no consola-
ION u offer"
'Ha, has 1t gone so far"
i fear it has. Sire"
lnu saw the troops on parade IN
he y bite Horse Court this morning.
Il did, Sire"
You remarked their enthusiasm p
Would to Heaven the whole army
we're ike them
Is If not. then?"
ALAS! no, Sire"
Your gloomy words correspond
With the report Nincenza brought me
from Paris sighs Napoleon.
There is long pause, and the EN-
peror becomes lost III a painful revery.
May | venture to disturb your
Majesty?' at length observes the
prince, IN a tone Of some embarras-
uent
Napoleon lifts his head and stares
1t the speaker
Pardon me, if | seem in hast to in e
rude unpleasant things upon your
Majesty" pursues the other, with
Dlushing hesitation; but this Is a
critical time, and every moment is too
precious to be wasted"
"Well?n
Napoleon speaks this single word
Is an angry soldier bites his cartridge.
Il am here. Sire, to crave an i'm
mediate audience for your marshals,
Concludes the prince.
More bad news. then"
Il hope no worse than your Ma
iesty has heard,' evasively replies the
other.
Hardly worse" returnes the EN-
peror, with a grim smile. They shall
nave audience at once"
In few minutes the apartment i
filed with the highest military and
'ivil officers under the crown OF
france. They are men Of intelligence.
courage and renown. who have borne
themselves proudly in the presence OF
he greatest potentates IN the world
out now they seem to shrink and
cover before the eagle glance Of that
man Of destiny
Nv ell, my lords and gentlemen.
says Napoleon, as he keenly surveys
the brilliant, dazzling group, you are
acre to make demand, crave boon
proclaim tidings, or bestow advice
Speak. [ am prepared for anything.
There is general hesitation-they
exchange glances, no one seems to crave
the Office Of spokesman. At length
/ pressed by the necessity of the case
under the keen, cold glance of the
emperor, one ventures forward anC
stammers forth:
1--WE have come. your majesty, on {
painful mission. but one which oul
/ tuty 10 our emperor and our country
cOmpels us TO perform. In this darl
/ hour of trial for all who love France
we pray your majesty TO believe oul
devotion TO yourself and dynasty az
4 deep and sincere as in the days O
your majesty's happiest prosperity
and that only with heartfelt sorrow
10 we lift the veil which conceals
1 from our sovereign the terrible truth
Sire. your friends are growing weak
your enemies are becoming powerful
If you would save your crown, yol
must instantly place 1t on the head o
your son: there Is no tune for delay
this must be done at once this day
I this hour-or all is lost: at this pric
only Is peace possible"
Am l, then, bereft of all power
| inquiries Napoleon, with the stern loo
of despair. Have we, then. no arm,
to march on Paris and give our foe
another lesson?"
Alas, your majesty, it is even Sc
The army IS fatigued discouraged
disorganized, with great detection i
its ranks. and to attempt to precipi
tate it on Paris, would not only COS