Monroe City Democrat., 1908-12-17

IN$A9GAS,V year 1900, he sent mes
lOl/WIEI sengers forth to an
H[GY<@Tal nounce his intention Of
@s5H r. We paying a visit to the
JgN - R Paris opera house that
I(A\N1 night.
IMkNNW He was now first
lXSQlC N consul, to which posi-
pruxrUagsYN tion he had been
NJ SISS&S. elected in November,
kJ 1893. my reign began
from the day i was
made consul" he declared ydars aft
erwards, and in that phrase he accu-
rately described his power.
Installed already at the Tuilerles
with his beloved Josephine, he lived
in regal state and exercised little less
than despotic sway. Seven years be-
fore he was an unknown artillery Of
iicer. Now he was the most promi-
nent man in Europe, proclaimed the
savior of his country, and practically
dictator What events he had crowd
ed into those seven years! The Eng
lish had been driven from Toulon in
1893; he had suppressed the Paris in
surrection of 1895; he had gone
through his first victorious campaign
in Italy, in 1867; had made his Wig
orous attempt to conquer Egypt, in
1879 and now was back again in
France.
1t was Christmas, eve, however; the
time when pleasures are expected to
be INDUCED in, and Napoleon liked to
show himself to the people in public
places, for popularity was ever dear
to him. So he would go to the opera
| that night.
He sat in an apartment overlooking
the Tuileries gardens awaiting the ar
rival of Fouche, the minister of po-
lice, who had been sent for to take
his instructions. Josephine, to whom
| he had been married since 1896, had
Just left him. and he was alone when
Fouche was announced.
"You have nothing further to re-
port I" said Napoleon, his keen gaze
fixed on the minister.
Nothing"
mo new conspiraciesT"
| None"
AND the olG, onesE
/ well under surveillance. am
ready to strike at the necessary mo-
ment"
"Ah, M. lie Ministre, your waiting
gives them the opportunity of strik-
ing the first blow. This is not SOL
dier's way. You are only clever in
watching plots want a man who can
crush them at their inception. Fouche,
you must strike now. Every suspect
must go to prison. My death is de-
sired by all the fanatical Royalists,
Vendeans and Chouans in Paris, and
Fouche has to stamp these conspira.
cies out. II Fouche does not, Napo.
leon will"
First consul, you are SAFE" was all
that Fouche replied.
safe or not" said Napoleon, impa'
tientiy, Il look to you to guard my
life, and with that life the destinies OF
France. shall visit the opera within
an boar. You know your duty
Consider Il DONE" sAd with tina,
the famous police tAaotionGry Dc
parted.
Napoleon, who hak bsan working
hard al day and was Tired. now fell
asleep. When Josephine came In
Creased Tor the opera, she had the
greatest a&si0alsy IN Messing him from
the sound sasep iats which he had
fallen.
Coma, tAe carriage n vRising.- sh~
said.
Let It be sent back" he said
Growsily. 4 have changed Ky mind;
l bad rather act se 10 the epsra to
night"
Bat In the end Josephine prevailed
and they went 70 the carriage, accom-
panied hy Lannes and Bessi0r0s.
In the carriage Napoleon fell asieeI
Rgain. and, as he afterwards rotated
began 10 dream Of the danger be hat
run years before in crossing the Tag
hamenso during q food hV torch
light.
No attempt was -Snads to Swaker
him. but just as they reached thu
corner Of the Rue Nicaise a loud ex
plosion was heard, and the first con
sui awoke with sudden start.
I'VE are blown upi- he cried.
But death by assassination was no
I 70 be his destiny. An Internal ma
chine OF a most destructive character
prepared by st, Regent. had exploded
just second too late TO effect IL
deadly purpose. Although Napoleon
oscaned 90 pePsona Were killed an,