Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10

about 1t Is uncanny. Would-be purchasers
feel the blues coming on them as they
tread those, alleys. And. then. there are
the tales told them. sooner or later. from
a dozen sources. Such and such a citizen
OF Bois-Preau was scared to the point of
his hair turning gray as he made a short
cut through the property one evening. Such
ana such citiZeness of La Reunion saw
things that made her a fervent Christian
ever after. Servants of the towns of Rueil
ana Bougival, in their love trysts beneath
the century-old trees, have been SO upset
that they ran from each other.
What have these seers seen? They have
seen shadowy Sentinels. They have seen
dim groups of officers in battered uniforms
o. the Grande Armee. They have heard
the neighS of horses, the jingling of spurs,
the muffied tramp of bodies of troops.
They have seen lights moving in the
chateau-when the chateau was locked up
and uninhabitad. They have seen moving
lights out in the grounds.
But it Is of the evening of the Goth OF
June OF each year that the most eXtraord:-
nary thing Is told. During the past i've
years that Malmaison has been the prop
erty of Monsieur Osiris it has been at Vari-
Gus times proposed to watch it out by vari-
Gus parties of his friends. His persistent
refusal to permit any kind of watching on
tne mysterious anniversary is referred. by
those who know him best, back to some
promise Madame Doria-herself a IevereU-
tial Bonapartist-must have extracted from
him.
A Bit Of History.
What the anniversary itself is remains
almost unknown history, because the last
Eeartrending drama that was played at
Malmaison in the few hours Detwecn the
coming on of twilight and the night of
June %, 1915. has been brought to light as
indisputable fact only in these last years.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon. Can
mons We're laundering afar off. Blucher's
russians were attacking Auberviliers. In
great haste. to defend Malmaison against
a sudden attack, troops still faithful to
Napoleon had blown up the bridges of
CEatou, Bezons and ST. German. The
tocsin was sounding in the villages. Parties
OF Cossacks were looting within few
miles.
At Malmaison. to which the emperor had
retired after his abdicaton, there is the ST.
ience of death. But few friends remain
ed around the fallen conqueror. Napoleon 8
mother with Queen Hortense and I.ucien,
had fled the night before. Marshals, min
listers and servants had fed that very morn
ing.
For three days past, in vain, Napoleon
had demanded of the provisional govern
ment the privilege Of serving as a simple
citfzen-to rally the remains of the grande
armee and resist the invasion. Now he
had sent the request once again, by Gen.
de Flahaut
At this moment Gen. de Flahaut was in
Paris, pleading with Marshal Davout, min
lister of war.
An Anxious Time.
At Malmaison the anxiety was terrible.
Pickets on the old royal highway to st.
German had reported the vanguard Of
Butcher. A flying column, under Cen Col
umb, was making for the chateau. 1t was
known to be scarcely defended and Butcher
had promised to hang Napoleon in the pres
ence of his troops.
A hundred lancers, a few dozen chas-
seurs of the guard company of grena-
diers, commanded by Gen. Becker. formed
the whole garrison. GourSaud, Savary,
Montholon, Las Cases, Planat, de Brock.
Gabriel Delessert and a few Polish officers
stood waiting in the court
All at once a CHEEKY clamor rose In a
tremendous jingling of spurs and tramp OF
horses it joyfuly announced that the
whole division of Brayer, just returned
from the Misunderstanding that he was held
prisoner at Malmaison-had come by
forced march to rescue the emperor. There
was immense noise and enthusiasm The
park was full of cheering troops. The
highway was full. And still they came.
The emperor had been in the little parlor,
over great map. When he saw the joy
Gus faces ne exclaimed:
What, does Davout accept"
No. there was no news yet from Paris;
opportunity. Bertrand, Savary and Gour-
gaud feverishly pleaded with him. Here
was unique occasion. With Brayer d.
vision they could march Immediately
against the unsuspecting enemy. The other
faithful troops could be put in movement.
Bluchers vanguard would be crushed. AT
the news of that victory Paris would rise
in arms The chamber of peers and the
provisional government would disappear.
Urged Last Struggle.
Then a new connection rose in the cha
teau Covered with dust and followed by
his officers General Brayer dashed into the
presence of the emperor and fell or his
knee, begging him to listen to the troops
Becker himself. though charged by the
provisional government to hold Napoleon
prisoner counseled last struggle, and
offered his sword.
The emperor made a gesture of assent
his ewes lit up He ordered the horses to
be saddled, ordered his chasseur uniform
to be brought He dressed rapidly. While
Marchand fixed his spurs he bent again
over the great map.
Step by step he had followed the enemy.
He knew their numbers, their positions.
their difficulties and how they were meet
ing them That very day, as If he had fore
seen the possibility, he had sent Lieutenant
de Brock to blow up the bridge of LIE Pecq.
The generals under the walls Of Paris only
waited his order to rejoin him.
No one doubted the success Of the VEN
tire Butcher defeated. 1t would be the
turn of Wellington. Everything was cal
culated.
During these minutes while the emperor
bent over the great map the fate OF Europe
trembled in the balance. And a trifling
accident at the gate of Paris turned the
scale.
What Might Have Been.
Minister of War Davout had refused the
request of Napoleon. and General de Fla
liant was quitting Paris with the bad news
In his hand he held a pass signed by the
Due dOtranto. At the gate the sentries
did not want to recognize it. They were on
the point of sending him back. Had they
DELAYED him ten minutes more the history
of all Europe would have been changed.
At this moment up stepped one of the
high digndtaries of the provisional govern
ment. Honor the pass!' he Numbered to
the sentry, and General de Frahaut with
his bad news. galloped on to Malmaison.
At Malmaison the emperor was already in
the vestibule. once again the invincible
commander, ready to mount and lead his
troops In his sharp battle voice he was
giving their last orders to Gourgaud. Bray
er and Savary. horseman galloped up
1t was de Flahaut.
What news? cried Napoleon.