Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-11-09
Have you got herr"

Hoary old sinner. unrepentant of his deser
ton, fifty years ago. of his true American wife
In Baltimore, he had the court ladies in full
SANDER of Eugene before Napoleon had made
up his mind, and be exercised diabolical in
genuity in trying to prevent an honest mar
rage
Those first ladies' Of the Second Empire had
extraordinary manners One evening at Com
peigne. when Eugene was going in to dinner
on the arm Of Colonel de Toulongeon. slight
confusion permitted him to whisk Eugenie
ahead OF Madame Fortoul. wife of the minister
of that name
"How," exclaimed. audibly to her cavalier.
do you permit that - creature to push
past me?'
The next morning Mile de Montijo with
tears In her eyes. stood the terrace apart
from the others. It was no ruse to attract
Napoleon's sympathy the girl saw her prince
hero disappearing in nightmare OF hateful
gossip Napoleon who had sought her. asked
the cause of her sorrow.
81 must leave Compegne." she faltered-
and told of the sights and insults to which
she was subjected
The emperor listened to the beautiful girl.
Then. when she had finished. he tore green
string of ivy from a. park tree deity twisted
It into crown, and said loudly-that all might
hear-as he placed it on her head:
Wear this one-meanwhile."
II is twice-told anecdote. but. as 1t
Napoleon's proposal OF marriage, see way
to omit II. He never actually asked her hand
he took IT. Not another murmur arose from
the court ladies At they iocked around
Eugene
It was another matter. however, for Napo-
leon to force his choice the statesmen and
soldiers backing his still risky empire. Opini
ions were divided on what royal alliance he
should make. Some we're for princess OF
Sweden some for Braganza. some for the
Hohenzoliern. Then. suddenly. Napoleon.
speaking of Eugenie sprung the mine by say
ing, There Is no question but the right of
hand
NO question but the right of handi" The
words ran through his hackers like an alarm
of fire One with the strongest hold upon
Naroleon-De Persigny, his minister of the In
terior--was sent to tell him in the name of all
that II would not do
De Persigny. mixed up with Napoleon In
many adventure. had kept his old-comrade
liberty OF speech. He joked about Napoleons
admiration for Eugenie: surely the emperor
must amuse himself When he noticed that
Napoleon's face grew stern. he rose to fighting
arguments. brutally accommodating proofs and
reasons why marriage would be idiotic both
dynastcaily--and otherwise. He sneered at
the Montiio title: brought out the grandfather.
Kirkratrick, bankrupt Malaga raisin merchant:
and then he took up Eugenie's rowing life.
What was the girl doing here In Parish
Did you ever hear Of the young Duke OF
Sesto?" asked De Persigny did you ever
hear of Merimee%
Merimee is great writer" said Napoleon.
'Surely--for he writes Eugenie's letters to
you!" laughed De Persigny. Mother. daugh.
ter and newspaper man sit round the table
and concoct the beautiful letters that you cher
ish Really. It was not worth riskng the coup
d'etat to arrive at that"
What triumph for the aged lady to recall
Napoleon's steadfast love In face Of both policy
and SANDER. It was always known why Eu-
genie hated De Persigny. Prince Jerome and
the Princess Mathilde She could forgive po-
litical counselors who pressed the royal prin.
cesses upon Napoleon: she could not forgive
the powerful ones who sought - take away
her character behind her back
Napoleon heard them all alike. He answered
nothing. Fould and most Of the military back
ers, with Edward Ney and Toulongeon for
their spokesman. formed rapidly THE Clan
of the Lovers" In vain did Mathilde drag her
self at Napolsou's knees. begging him to re-
nounce a marriage that would be the ruin OF
them all The emperor had decided you win
give great ball to announce the engagement"