Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-09
The Empress Autograph
An Incident Recalling the Days of the
Empire.

Scarcely had the postman gone out
of the house. after having left the
morning letter., when Jules Duple, who
was watching from his sixth-story win
dow. descended lurriedly to the por-
ter's Office.
ANY letters for me?" he asked.
! The porter put on his spectacles,
gathered up the letters which had just
come in. looked them over one by one,
and replied, laconically;
None"
"Thank YOU" said the young man,
and he slowly remounted the stairs,
where his friend, Armand, was waiting
! for him.
Through economy, the two young
men lived in the same room. There
were to be seen all their furniture, all
their books, and all their papers
There were more papers than anything
! else. because both of them ran man
useript-mills. We regret to say that
while the two young men turned out
! great deal Of manuscript, they sue
ceeded in placing very little. Once in
| while, one of them would get an ar
ticle inserted in one OF the papers. but
! they scarcely made enough to live on,
even by making partnership of their
assets-and liabilities.
'Well?" said Armand, seeing his
companion enter
Nothing, as / told you. We shall
have to wait until the end Of the
month. My uncle is man who is a
believer in fixed dates"
''The DEVIL We have five days yet
to wait Still | would not object to
breakfasting today, instead of five days
from now"
| 1--WE needn't breakfast. III that way,
we can save taking cocktail"
"Oh, could spare that. am as
hungry as a wolf. You know we had
rather a light supper yesterday
Yes, it is true that a smoked her
ring for two is scarcely gluttony,'
Armand, his hands in his pockets,
walked up and down the room refiec-
lively.
See here said he, don't you know
anybody who could loan us hundred
/ francs?"
Yes, | know lots who could, but !
know no one who would"
Armand suddenly cried out: II have
an idea"
rs 1t a good one?"
Listen. Have you rot often spoken
to me of an old collector OF autographs
who lives in this house?
Yes. He lives on the first floor. a
man named Bridoux"
"'What sort Of a man Is he?"
well, don't know. have scarcely
seen him more than couple Of times.
Suppose we try and sell him some
thlng?"
THAT is a good idea It is true we
have plenty of autographs, but they
are mostly our own. He wants historic
ones
Are you sure that no celebrity ever
wrote to u.s."
81 don't think so; but there is the
, &C rrespondence Golfer. Look il
through"
emptied the box upon the table, and
began to 60 through the letters. Fol
at least half an hour he carefully
turned over the sheets Of paper.
Suddenly he cried out:
Eureka! | have found tia letter
from the Empress Marie Louise"
Feverishly he waived in the air 8
following sheet of paper almost cut in
two by the folds.
Jules looked at It. "Why, / recog.
nize that" said he. "It is a note from
little Marie Louise. who used to be a
saleswoman at the ACE counter in the
Louvre. / got that letter from her
when was serving my volunteer term
of year, with the grade OF corporal
4 tell you old man, that 1t is from
the Empress Marie Louise, and 1t Is
j addressed to the great Napoleon"
And dated 1872"
Eighteen hundred and thirteen, my
dear fellow. The seven looks exactly
like one. II is after the victorious
battle Of Lutzen, and this is what the
empress wrote:
Ny Little Corporal: You have
won enoEgh Of laurels for the moment
Leave your army, and come to me al
the Louvre where am yawning in the
midst OF pillows of lace.
Marie Louise.
And you think you can sell that to
our neighbor Bridoux? Why, you are
joking II would be swindle."
You can aid me. Have you that
false beard that you wore at the mas
querade last year,"
Yes, think It is around some
where"
Listen then and ! will teach you
Your role
IN few words Armand instructed
bis friend what he Lad to do and then