Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-02-11
FORTUNES OF A YOUNG GIRL.
A ROMANCE OF REALITY.

| ~ ASONANOL Of HEALlII.
We find the following singular story narr
ted as fact by Mr.. Jony, in his Hermit
the Provinces" work protesting to detail az
thent'c and curious matter relating to the va
rlous provinces Of France. Mr.. Jony state
that he received the narrative from the lips {
Monsieur and Madame Dupre, who were aide
in the recital BY the actual letters of the he
roine.
In the town of Havre de Grace, France, no
many years ago, there lived an aged couple
Mons. and Mad. Dupre. In themselves, thes
personages were worthy and respected but cir
cumstances Of a remarkable and romantic ma
ture connected with their family, rendered the.
! objects of peculiar interest, not only to thei
nelghbors and fellow citizens, but to all wht
visited the town of Havre. One of the pea
relatives of this venerable pair was destined t.
a career in life such as we shall only find pa
ralel to in the pages of Arabian fiction.
AlIne Dupre was born at Martinique in the
year 1868 Her father possessed one of the
best estates on the island, and spared no pains
or expense in educating his daughter, whose
rare qualities, both of person and mind, well
merited the most careful deveopement. AT
the age of fourteen, when womanIy charms are
almost mature in that cline, Alne was the pride
Of her family, and the admiration of the upper
circles Of the colony. In private society, no
one surpassed her in vivacty of spirit in the
ballroom, the graces of her person and moye-
ments were unrivaled; and she possessed mu-
sical talents well fitted to enhance and complete
the impression made by her appearance and ad.
dress. Such was AIine Dupre, when an un-
foreseen accident gave sudden turn to her
prospects and fortunes. Excited by oppression,
real or imaginary, a numerous band of negroes
made their escape from their masters, and
spread the most serious alarm over the whole
island. Profiing by the scantiness Of military
force stationed there at the time, these runa-
ways committed various outrages and made
threatening demonstrations at many different
points, calling everywhere upon their fellow
slaves to join their standard.
None ofthe negroes in the employ of NJ. Du-
pre- had acceeded to the insurgent band; but
the station ofthat gentleman, and the high opin.
ion entertained of his talents and activity caus.
ed him to be pitched upon as the leader of the
militia raised for the suppression of the mutt
neers NJ. Dupre filed with energy and success
the duty entrusted to him. The fugitives were
surrounded and captured. but only after des-
perate struggle, in which NJ Dupre received
mortal injury. He survived it long enough to
permit him TO receive from France the cross of
st. Louis, which the Governor Of the colony,
he Marquis pc BouilIe, had requested for him.
Soon after receiving this reward, NJ. Dupre died,
with his last breath his daueh.
er A'ine and his only son to the care of the
Governor.
The Marquis de Boule did not neglect the
harge committed to him. 1t had been the pur
'ose of the DR.. Dupre 10 return to France,
where he had small patrimonal property, and
where various members of his family were set.
led. This intention had been partly formed
With the view Of completing the education of
Ane and her brother, and in the hope of see-
ng them well established there in life. The
Governor of Martinique determined 10 fulfil the
'ishes Of the father in this respect. Finding
he young Dupre, who was a year or two older
han Aline, to have an inclination for militia
y life, the Marquis arranged that he should 90
D France and enter the regiment of Bouillon;
'hile the sister was to be placed for time in
ne seminary of St Cyr, the highest institution
1en existing for persons of her sex.
Aline and her brother accordingly embarked
l vessel bound for France. The vessel, how. |
yer, never reached its destination. Its fate re. |
lained unknown for several years, at the end |
which time a letter containing disclosures |
,ncernng it, was received by one Of the friends
the Dupre family residing in France. This
dyidual was young lady who had spent
'me years of her youth in Martinique, and had
zen the playmate and dear friend Of the young
line. The letter alluded to was delivered by
70 ambassador of great power, and il was
ON his sovereign-hs crowned queen. That
leen was Aline Dupre! The strange vcissi-
des which placed Aline in this position were
tailed in the communication to her friend.
arly as follows:
The vessel which bore the brother and sister,
tended to land on the western coast of France,
ached the Straits Of Gibraltar in safety. Soon
lerwards, however, when the passengers, at.
lcted by the beauty of the evening in that la.
ude, had assembled in a group on deck, an
negress in attendance on Aline, pointed out
lark spot in the sea at distance. The CAP
n was present at the moment, and was OBJ. [
wed to grow pale as he turned his eyes on
, object pointed out, but he made no remark [
the passengers retired for the night. In
, morning they found nothing but hustle and
rm on board. The vessel was pursued by a
ift sailing Algerine corsair, of size which al. q
'st rendered it hopeless for petty merchant Z
n to attempt any resistance. Nevertheless, e
} crew took their arms, resolved to sell their .
erty dearly. The pirates were not long in q
ming up and boarding, and as might have ?
IN expected, soon oyerpowered all opposi- '
n.
AIne had kept close beside her brother, de- +
mined to perish with him if be fell, and when a
capture took place, she was bound with v
q to The same chain. This association great.
|ightened her sufferings on the occasion, but a
lid not last long. When the corsair reached il
port of Algiers, an order was issued for the Il
'veyance of all the male prisoners ashore, s
the retention Of the females. The lam /
lge spoken around was unintelligible 10 T
ne, but she soon became sensible Of the in. 8
ded separation. Her agony was dreadful v
he moment, the past mishap seemed insight. q