The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-02-20
THE FLIGHT OF
AN EMPRESS
(Original.1

den Of the Tuileries. Then the crowd
broke into the reserved garden before
the palace and tore down the imperial
eagles. Now comes the cry of "Vive
Ia republique.'
Let me entreat your majesty" said
Prince Metternich, the Austrian am
bassador. Ito leave the palace
81 add my entreatics" said Chevalier
Nlgra. the Italian ambassador. ito
those of his exccllency."
1t was a critical moment The en-
press was in the rose cOlOred room
among her attendants Of the service of
honor, who were trembling to be re-
lievcd from duty and to save them
selves. The empress declined to leave.
Madame" said her secretary, Pietri,
your refusal to depart will cause
general massacre Of those whose duty
it is to remain with you"
General Millinet," said the empress.
can you defend the palace without
bloodshCd|
Il fear not. madame"
"Thcn all is over"
When those in attendance perceived
that her majesty had yielded, there
was Il quick sigh of relief, though re-
ncwCd yells at the front of tie palace
brought a terror lest the flight had
been delayed too long. All remembered
the breaking into the palace at Yer
sailles Of the mob from which Marie
Antoinette had fled and the massacre
of the Swiss guard that defended her.
Brcathlcssly the service of honor wait
ed Eugenie's departure. First she must
bid farewell to them. When this had
been finished. she left the room with
pietri, Nine Lcbreton and the, two am
bassadors and passed through the gal
lereS leading to the Louvre. At the
same moment the mob was breaking
into the front of the palace. Suddenly
Pictri found the way blocked by a
locked door. Pale as Il ghost, he cried;
THE key! The key!'
For moment it seemed that they
were lost. but suddenly one of tie at
tcrdants ran forward with the key
y
pictures that the rulers of France had
been centuries in collecting. Tie party
made an exit ut the end of the palace
farthest from the mob and entered the
place on which stood the Church Of
st. German rAuXerrois. The whole
city was in an uproar. A mob was
passing down Rue Kivoli; another was
coming from an opposite direction.
Metternich. who had left his carriag &c
on the Rue RivOli Wien he entered the
Tuileries. went to seek it. A street
boy, recognizing Eugene. shouted,
There's the empressw Fortunately a
cab was driven past. Nigra stopped it
and, opening the door, put in the en-
press and Nine. Le1reton, then turned
to the boy and cndeavored to stop his
mouth The driver OF the cab. seeing
the terrible wave OF revolution pouring
down the street. belabored his horse
with the stump of whip and drove
no one knew where. When Metternich
returned, the empress had gone. She
was deprived of the two ambassadors
protection, but she was safer where
she was.
On went the cab with the woman
who for years had been the first lady
crowd of her infatuated subjects. Far
Their and farther their hidcous yclls
were left behind till at last they had
become n confused murmur. Then the
cabman drew rein and asked where
he should drive the occupants.
Where? The question was the most
serious Eugene had ever been called
unon to answer i'll all her romantic
life. Where? To the home OF one or
the favorites of her late court? Should
she seek those of the diplomatic corps?
Would ii he safe to rely upon one
prominent in the corps legislatif. the
commander Of the arnyi All Of these
were passed in review and dismissed.
Some old friend must temporarily hide
her, Deciding upon one, she told the
cabman to drive to her home. The
friend was not there, The fugitive
was driven to the house of another
and another None was at home. They
were either mingling in the exciting
events or We're hiding from those VINO
had known them for court favorites.
Then happy thought struck the EN-
press. In trying to remember one she
could trust who did not live far from
where size was ut the time ii occurred
TO her that the house of an American
dentist. DR.. Evans. was but short
distance away. She gave the coach
man an order 10 drive there.
Arriving at the house. she sent in
word that lady wished TO see the doc
tor.
Tell the lady that am about to sit
down TO dinner"
THE lady says she must see you,"