The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-07
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which he has espoused and will die with
him." ss''.--
Again the emperor spoke
MADAME" he said. II beg you to ex-
anime more coolly the arguments which ]
have presented, and the advice which
have given. The Emperor Maximilian's 3
future and your own depend upon your
doing So"
Still the young empress stood there. gag
ing, 1t seemed into space; she had no ap-
pearance of listening to Napoleon's words,
her lips were moving as though murmur-
ing some chant.
"He will die. he will die, and l shall die
with him. They will put us into the same
tomb: We shall lie there together, and
We shall love each other. love each other
still. despite the Cruelty of man. We shall
be exalted and the future shall sing our
glory"
The emperor made a movement of dis
may and alarm. He remembered the at
tack from which the empress had suf-
fered at Sainte-Cloud, and he feared a
similar one now. He touched her arm
gently and made her sit down.
"Ah, you are the Emperor Napoleon
ILL.," she said at last, that all-powerful
emperor who raised my husband to n
throne and am a wretched woman who
implores mercy for u victim whom you
have condemned"
Her voice then changed, and assumed q
tone of severity.
"You have. then made your final decis.
ion?" she added. you will leave us to
our own resources with no hope Of assist
ance from yOu?'
II have told you. madame" replied he,
awakened to a consciousness of his pain
full position. II have told you that have
no longer power to assist the Emperor
MaXimilian."
second time she rose; standing notion
less, she fixed her sad and earnest eyes
on Napoleon III, who, embarrassed by her
gaze and by kind Of magnetic influence
which resulted from it, bowed his head.
Suddenly. and without having spoken a
word. Charlotte became desperate. and
threw herself upon her knees at the em-
perors feet: and before he could check
her passionate supplication, she clasped
her hands and pleaded with him as the
faithful plead with their God In whom Is
their last hope.
'Sire" she said, and the tones Of her
voice were like caresses. ''sire, the Em-
peror Macmillan has enemies In that
country. enemies who do not know what
1t Is to forgive. Unsupported. he is power
less against them and must become their
victim. l have taken this journey to save
him; he awaits my return with loving i'm
patience, with the anxiety, too. of a con-
demned man who counts the hours which
separate him from death. Sire, you have
loved: surely the remembrance of your
happiness must open your heart and mind
to the feelings of others. / love my hus-
band. sire, and he loves me; We are every
thing to each other. I entreat you to have
mercy on him and me. l entreat you not
to sacrifice him to the pride Of a rebellious
people. From him who more than once
has granted life to the criminal !, sire
dare entreat the life'of an honest man, the
life Of the Emperor Maximilian."
The wretched woman paused, exhaust
ed; great sob shook her frame. She had
put her whole soul into her prayer; she
collapsed with Its last words. Gently the
emperor sought to raise her and to offer
some consolation. He felt that this heart
rending scene was profonging itself use
lessly, and hastened to bring 1t to a close
Madame he said. 81 will ever do all
that lies In my power to secure the safety
Of and the happiness of both yourself and
your husband but cannot, alas! deceive
you as to the attitude Of my government
In this affair. France will no longer sup
port Maximilian on the throne of Mexicow
He had hardly spoken these words when
he started back in horror Empress Char
)otte had risen, one may better say leaped
to her feet, and stood tall and majestic
before Napoleon Ill. Her lips were drawn
and her look was that of a mad woman,
at once terrible and superbly beautiful.
Thus facing him she flung out her words
Of despair, of fury and of hatred
Sire" she cried, ut Is said that you
are good; II is a lie! II IL said, sire, that
you are magnanimous sovereign 1t is a
lie! 1t Is said that you are great; II, too,
10 q Ia "a ctr nS,ll
are an emperor without authority; a ruler
without ideals. You are ruthless fate and
we are your victims. You are the author
OF evil; you favor It's existence. Evil, how
ever, returns to Its source; II will find
you, sire, and at no distant time. You and
your throne shall be swept away by a
mighty force which you, do not under
stand!'
Her frenzy increased as she. spoke ami
finally took full possession of her She
stretched out her arms with a wild ges.
ture.
Move back!' she crieq, three times,
move back! Sire" she then added, at Is
my turn to say that nothing more may be
expected of you"
The emperor had risen as though struck
by a thunderbolt. For moment he had
been filled with anger by the violence of
the young empress: but looking upon her.
despair he had forgiven her wild language.
and calmed the feelings of rage which had
taken possession. Of him. When at last
Empress Charlotte. In the final climax of
her despair, drove him from the room, he
bowed his head In profound commisera.
tion and withdrew. When once more with
In the palace. he retired to his own apart.
ments and forbade admittance.
The Emperor Napoleon III. feared tho
fulfllment Of these evil prophecies and
was much disquieted by the words OF the
woman who had thus foretold his doom
1t wcs relief to find himself alone and
able to look, calmly forward into the flu.
ture. Who knows but that, by an effort
OF the imagination, that future seemed
still to smile upon him? Who knows but
that in the terror Of his own soul, he, In
that hour, saw the star Of the Bonapartes
begin to set? SO
Not very heroic. not very grand, this
picture Of Louis Napoleon! But is It
not in keeping with is whole half
comic. half-fantastic career? A sorry
wearer. he. of the mantle of Napoleon
Bonaparte L. SR