The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-03-20
IDAHO WORLD.
AZ EXTRAORDINARY ABDUCTION,

has been intensely cAClASV -. o
nnence Of a very singular affair, the
5eroiheof which is a lady Of American
birth and excellent connections in her
own country, About six years ago
Henry F. Bigelow, a commission Mer'
chant, of No. 2lO Canal street, New
Orleans, failed in that city in conse'
d1ence Of the losses sustained during
the civil war, and went to Marsellles,
where he soon succeeded in obtaining a
good position in a prominent mercan,
tile house. Mr.. Bigelow was a widow
er, and was accompanied by his only
daughter Bertha then about IL years
old and endowed with remarkable
personal charms. Her father moved N
the best society of his new home, and
the beauty and grace Of his daughter
were not long in attracting admirers.
She treated them politely but, after all,
coldly, until one day she was brought
in contact with a dashing French sea-
man, the first lieutenant on one of the
Marseilles and, Oriental steamships.
His name was Maurice Kervel. He
was but little over 80 years old, tall
and handsome, an excellent conversa'
tionalist, and the very man to win the
good grace Of a susceptible young
lady. g.3..rJ ,-a. * .s--a~ .i'a- u
He became very intimate with Miss
Bertha Bigelow, and one day he aston,
ished her father not little by asking
him for the hand of his charming daugh'
ter. Mr.. Bigelow was at first inclined
to lock favorably upon the1suit Of the
enamoree sailor, the more 50 as his
daughter seemed to reciprocate his at.
fiction; but close inquiry into the at:
fairs and character of NJ. Maurice Ker.
vel convinced Mr.. Bigelow that he was
not suitable match for his daughter
He found that -Kervel was man Of ex-
trayagant habits and cholcric temper;
that when under the Influence Of liquor
he was extremely quarrelsom,e and had
fought several duels; that he had run
through the fortune his parents had
left him, and that he had nothing to de-
pend upon but his very modest pay.
The result of all this was that the lieu
tenants suit was rejected, and that he
was requested to discontinue his visits.
Kervel left Mr.. Bigelow, threatening
vengeance. ,..~
Miss Bertha seemed to care very lit
tie about the breaking off. Of this fir
tation with her lover, and, in 1868, she
was married to q merchant, named
Jouvinet, a man Of means, with whom
she lived happily for year. In June,
1869, her husband returned one evening
to his delightful country residence, but,
to his astonishment, did not find his
wife inher apartments. He questioned
the servants about the whereabouts Of
their mistress, and they said they had
seen Nine. Jouvinet walking in the
garden a little before dusk. NJ. Jouvi
net searched every nook Of the garden
and the neighborhood, but not a trace
Of his beautiful wife could be found
He sent out messengers in all directions
but they returned without bringing any
information. An examination Of the
lady's boudOir furnished no clue what.
ever as to where she might have gone
The husband passed a wretched night,
hoping every moment for his wife's re-
turn; but morning dawned and she had
not yet come. He then sent for the po-
lice, and several detectives began to
look for the missing lady. They were
unable to find any trace of her after a
protracted and petient search. Adver-
tlsements, offers Of large rewards for
information concerning her, remained
without result Both the.husband and
father had finally to abandon al! homes
OF seeing herIagain, and an impenetra.
BILE veil seemed to snrrouud her fate,
Jouyinet snoulned her loss for eighteen
months, when, on the Sd of November
last, an event Of the most STARTLING
characteruccurred- Hewas seated IN
his codIiting-room. in the Rue Grande
porting over his ledger, when the door
suddenly oponed, and a yelled lady
stepped in.. She drew back hersvciI
and displayed a bronzed face, the f;ea.
lures OF which he-knew only too well
In the next moment he rushed into hen
arms, exclaiming, Bertha! Berthau
1t was his long lost wife.
The e4Plapat iorahe gave him, While
they sat locked in each others arms
aDout her sudden and long absence was
80 strange that even the choniquer Of
the Marseilles Nouveliste, to whose pen
we are indebted for all these particr-
lars, confessed he had rarely met with