The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-04-16
BR|BED NAPOLEON
The Prize Barras Offered TO .iave
Him Wed Josephine.
A STEPPING STONE TO FAME.
Command OF tho Army In Italy Was
tho Lure That Won tho Ambitious
Young General to Court tho Widow.
- Surprise For Notary Rspuideau.

/
- Surprise For Notary Rspuideau.
Paul Jean iiarras. the fiery French
reyolutionlst, who took leading part
In the overthrow OF RObespierre In
llOi, then became member OF the
committee OF public safety and com
mander Ia chief on the thirteenth Ven
demlaire, entering the Directory In 1905
and becoming dictator In 1907, was
the man who while head OF the gov
ernment induced Josephine Benuhar-
nails 10 become Honapartes wife. Both
Of them We're unwilling, Mime, Tallien
had apparently taken the affection OF
Barris away from Josephine. Bona
parte started like war hOrse at tho
sound or trumpet when Barras alb
ruptly proposed that he should ofrer
the widow his hand,
| IL want NO wife save this" he ex
claimed, striking his sword hilt
Listen 20 me-" said Barras "You
are brave, but poor This widow OF
the Marquis lie Beauharnals IL In
position 10 advance your future, You
wv ANAtAhANA Nhi hl NNlVa AhNi
huentlal friends will serve you, Marry
her and procure you the command Of
the army In Italy"
A fiush passed over the face OF Bona.
parte,
"Decidep said Barras.
We all know the result. The bribe
was too tempting, and Josephine yield
81 also. III her heart remained awhile
untouched her vanity was less passive,
As she listened to the glowing prophe-
cies of the ardent young soldier she
began 10 Indulge the same visions aud
glory In the same hopes.
She requested hlm to accompany her
To- VI, Raguldeau, a lawyer In whom
she had long been accustomed 20 con
nde, They went. and Bonaparte wait
ed In an anteroom while she talked
with Raguideau In his ONCE. She neg
lected % close the door. aud IL happen
ed that Bcnaparte was able ~ over
hear the conversation,
'if you are really going 20 marry this
adyenturer," said Raguldeau. '-tt win
be the worse for you"
'Oh why~ asked Josephine.
'whyr A paltry general without
either name or prospects wan be ever
become a Dumouriez or a pichegru'
Better marry a good rich army con-
tractor. The profession ot arms 70
worthless now. You Will repent your
folly all your tie. Whoever heard OF
q sensible woman throwing herself
away on man whose fortune consists
Ia bis sword aud bis great coatr'
Bonaparte was half surocated with |
rage and tnpatlence lp listening Co this. |
Sts was on the point of dashlng into |
the room, but retralned. Josephine |
came out ruttted aud annoyed. but it t
that neither of them said /
a word about the conversation right up /
eo the tine when Napoleon was crown
~ emperor oy the pope, IN Parts.
On the morning OF that day he sene
Cor Ragu,deau. rne hoDest lawyer WAS
lost to amazemenc. lie was ushered
into sp apartment OF tAe ruileries and
round himsele IN the presence OF Ma
,cleon aud Josephine.
Aba said the emperor "Do you
a day when l accompanied
~ your house Mime. De Beauharpais,
now empress OF tse FRENCH DO ycu
your panegyric Of which l
was the object"
A delOge of such questions stupehed
and Josephine was eewil-
iered.
rbe poor fellow could hardly gasp
sae a word. When DC found speech tt
was "kIow could tell? How could
s0essr thought only of her aud her
,stSeriess children. l wanted - see
.hem restored to prosperity aud honor
With that be burst into tears.
"l believe you,' said the emperor.
chen De paused aud added, "rhe ~
:ure Is beyond the grasp OF any living
nan. Well, look here. have a pun
shment for you. l condemn you ~ 20
bis day % Notre Dame and witness
he coronation. Not ln "a corner noe /
sehlnd pillar which Will prevent my
moving your obedience, but m the !
,est seat that can command Tor you."
-srom "Erench Episodes" by Julia
saruoe.