Hortense. Makers of History Series

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Abbott John Stevens Cabot. Hortense. Makers of History Series

PREFACE

Chapter I. Parentage and Birth

Chapter II. The Marriage of Josephine and. General Bonaparte

Chapter III. Hortense and Duroc

Chapter IV. The Marriage of Hortense

Chapter V. Birth of Louis Napoleon and. the Divorce of Josephine

Chapter VI. The Death of Josephine

Chapter VII. The Sorrows of Exile

Chapter VIII. Peaceful Days, yet Sad

Chapter IX. LIFE AT ARENEMBERG

Chapter X. Letter from Louis Napoleon to. His Mother

Chapter XI. The Death of Hortense, and the. Enthronement of her Son

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In the year 1776 a very beautiful young lady, by the name of Josephine Rose Tascher, was crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the island of Martinique to France. She was but fifteen years of age; and, having been left an orphan in infancy, had been tenderly reared by an uncle and aunt, who were wealthy, being proprietors of one of the finest plantations upon the island. Josephine was accompanied upon the voyage by her uncle. She was the betrothed of a young French nobleman by the name of Viscount Alexander de Beauharnais, who had recently visited Martinique, and who owned several large estates adjoining the property which Josephine would probably inherit.

It was with great reluctance that Josephine yielded to the importunities of her friends and accepted the proffered hand of the viscount. Her affections had long been fixed upon a play-mate of her childhood by the name of William, and her love was passionately returned. William was then absent in France, pursuing his education. De Beauharnais was what would usually be called a very splendid man. He was of high rank, young, rich, intelligent, and fascinating in his manners. The marriage of Josephine with the viscount would unite the properties. Her friends, in their desire to accomplish the union, cruelly deceived Josephine. They intercepted the letters of William, and withheld her letters to him, and represented to her that William, amidst the gayeties of Paris, had proved a false lover, and had entirely forgotten her. De Beauharnais, attracted by the grace and beauty of Josephine, had ardently offered her his hand. Under these circumstances the inexperienced maiden had consented to the union, and was now crossing the Atlantic with her uncle for the consummation of the nuptials in France.

.....

"I do not think, brother, that papa is very sick. At any rate, it is not such a sickness as doctors can cure." Josephine felt the reproach, and conscious that it was in some degree deserved, said:

"What do you mean, my child? Do you think your father and I have combined to deceive you?"

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