The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-10-03
lis way to an alliance with Austria.

He feared the mob OF Paris, and the
gamblers instincts in him led him on.
'You are, perhaps, aware" said the
emperor, that in a few months France
may be drawn into great war-one of
the most important in its issues of our
generation?"
"With Prussia, sire? All! ah! have
prayed for it! And you permit me
to-
"My brave Solange," interrupted the
other, shaking his head, with smile, 81
know that a man like you likes nothing
so well rs to risk his life on the battle
field But it is not this that now ask
of yom When war breaks out you will
be ON the other side of the ocean-three
Thousand miles away"
The soldiers enthusiastic look faded.
He shrugged his shoulders deprecat
ingly.
There are other paths to glory" coil
tinued Napoleon kindly. "Come nearer.
You are soldier and you know that the
fortune of war is uncertain. France
who can tell - may fail to accom-
plish"-
'lmpossible, sireg exclaimed the
other, boldly. France will conquer!
She must!"
LET us hope 80. If our army were
composed entirely of men like you, there
would indeed be no question Of it. But
| some of our most dangerous enemies ars
not among those who will confront us on
the field"
''If you know of any such, my en-
peror, arrest them and order them to be
shot Ma fol! There is powder and ball
enough for traitors, at all events!'
''That may come afterward, mon ami.
For the moment, it is expedient to ap-
pear blind to disloyalty, in order to in
duce it more fully to betray itself
Meanwhile, it is the part of wisdom to
so act. that nothing that may happen
shall Md us unprepared. Many VIC
tory, Captain Solange, has been lost
through not having sufficiently antici-
pated the possibilities and occasion OF
defeat"
..Well, am but a soldier" said So
lange, ''my business is to obey orders.
| After all, you are the emperor!"
Napoleon sighed. Eyes, it is a singu-
lar thing, this being an emperor" he
muttered, half to himself. "In order to
maintain your place at the summit OF
the pyramid you must suffer the pyra-
mid itself to be undermined. Let US re-
turn to business, my brave Solange," he
went on in another tone. Gas for the
war, must have faith in my star, as
did my uncle before me. If, like him,
things come to an end! At least Ger
many shall know that she has an enemyr;
'.The good God preserve you and
France, my emperor" said the other de-
voutly.
'And now to business" repeated Ma
poleon. eff France receives check il
may be desirable that | retire for sea-
son. But it is not my purpose to wear
out my life chained to a lonely rock in
the ocean, as the greatest of men was
forced to do. | mean to go to a place
whence I can again return-either OF
my descendants with treasure and
power to re-establish my fortunes. For
France, if she is to fall, will not long re-
main prostrate; and though, perhaps, she
may for time turn to anarchy or re-
publicanism, yet in the end she will turn
again to the man whose name is asso-
ciated with her greatest glory. Mean
while I shall retire to country which
has before been hospitable to me, and
whom France herself assisted in her houl
of need. shall go to the United States
of America"
"Ah! Americal That is long way
off, /" murmured the soldier.
"America and France will hereafter
share the dominion of the world" re-
sumed the emperor. Gas for England,
do not trust her 1t is not to her interest
that should prevail; nor can st. Helena
ever be forgotten. And before go-if,
) indeed, destiny decides that I must go-l
shall prepare the way by sending to the
United States in advance treasure suff-
cient to meet whatever needs may arise.
And it is this treasure, mon ami, which
wish you to take charge of and forth
with convey to it's destination
Solange lifted his heavy eyebrows.
ssWell, truly, that is not so much Of
an undertaking, my emperor" said he,
Though, to be sure, gold weighs good
deal. Are there many boxes of it?''
"Only one, captain, and that does not
contain gold," replied Napoleon, with a
smile. Moreover, it is not SO large but
that you may lift it with one hand. See
there it stands in the corner"
"That! Why, sire, it is but band box!
exclaimed Solange, following the direc-
tion Of Napoleon's finger. "Surely, nei-
ther courage nor address is required to
carry such thing to its destination.
Cannot the mails take it?''
Bring it out and place it on this table, y
said the emperor, still smiling. Solange
obeyed. The box was of size to be easily
carried in the arms. It was of oak, with
plain exterior; but it was strongly put
together, the framework of steel, painted
to resemble wood. Napoleon put key
in the lock and opened it.
Solange peeped in and saw some folds
of wooden cloth. The emperor lifted
; them up.
Perhaps. no spectacle more remarkable
was ever offered to the eyes of man. The
box was full of Jewels. Precious stones