The Prescott daily news., 1910-02-24
GREAT LOVE STORIrcl - OF HISTORY I
 By ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE
NAPOLEON HI AND EUGENE
tCopyrieht by the Author.l

Napoleon Bonaparte. young, stern cynical-commander of Frances army in Egypt-sat silent in his tent at Cairo. His favorite officer, Le Febvre. stood near, not wishing to break in upon his chiefs thoughts. Those thoughts. Le Febvre knew, were doubt less of Josephine. the adored wife whom the commander had been forced to leave behind him in France soon after their wedding Suddenly Bona parte raised his head and asked in his imperious, rasping voice:
 "Le Febvre. what do you suppose Josephine is doing at this moment?"
 The officer more tactful than truth ful. answered:
 General, she is weeping and count ing the days that must crawl by until your return"
 ''Le Febvre. you're a fool!" snarled Bonaparte At this moment Joseph. inc is riding in the Bois de Boulogne on white horse and in bad com pany."
 
 emperor'S eyes were already opened concerning the character of his wife and that his early worship of her was dying out. Josephine was a creole. ignorant but pretty, and with no depth of character. At 15 she had come to France and married the Vicomte
 de Beauharnais
 Their welded life
 was not pleasant Josephine was not a model wife. Beau harnais tried to divorce her, failed to secure the decree. and for time sep arated from her Later he fell victim to the reign of terror and was behead- ed Josephine herself was sent to prison, but managed to win her free dom The reign of terror was ending and France was governed by a com mittee known as the directory" Jo- sephine became a leader in the de- cidedly fast social set made up of the directors relatives and friends She attracted the notice of Barras, a dis solute politician, who just then was high in power. Soon Barras tired of her. She was past her first youth. her teeth were bad and she could no longer help him politically. Also she had two children to support It was at this time that she met Napoleon Bonaparte.
 Napoleon. a poor Corsican, had had many changes of fortune and at last had risen to local military power un. der Barras He was just 27 He was poor, unpopular and lacked the quality of making friends. He had lived the life of a hermit. One day Josephine visited him to thank the young gen eral for the return of her late hus- bands sword Napoleon. who knew nothing of women. thought her a vision of loveliness The ascetic, shy man went mad with love for this somewhat faded widow. who was six years his senior. Josephine was not carried away by the same fervor When Napoleon proposed to her she asked Barras' advice. Barras Che says in his memoirs) told her Napoleon had a promising future and advised her to accept him. The couple were married. Napoleon received from Barras the command of the army of Italy and left for the campaign almost at once after his wedding. He was desperate at parting from Josephine and wrote wildly ardent love letters to her all the time he was gone. He conquered Italy in a whirlwind campaign and was sent to Egypt. By this time he had heard that Josephine was consol- ing herself for his absence by a series of daring flirtations.
 Such rumors, as well as news of a political crisis in Paris. sent Bona parte hurrying back to France before
 Fortunes for Inventors.