Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-02-08
A FAIR CAPTiV

MARsrllLEs.-For the past two weeks
the city of Marseilles, France, has been
intensely excited, in consequence Of
very singular affair, the heroine of which
Is a lady of American birth, and excel
lent connections in this country. About
six wears ago, Henry +. Bigelow'
commission merchant of No. 2lO Canal
street. New Orleans, failed IN that ci'y'
in consequence of losses sustained duI
ipc the civil war, and went to MarSci'-
IaS whore he soon succeeded i'll obtain
inc good position in prominent
mercantile house Mr. BlgeloW was
widower. and was accompanied by his
only daughter, Bertha, then about eigh-
teen wears old. and endowed with re
markable personal charms. Her father
moved in the best society of his new
home and the beauty and grace of his
Jonghter were not long in attracting
aJmirers. She treated them politely,
Lrt after all coldly, until one day she
was brou ont in contact with q daShing
Er.ncb seaman. the First Lieutenant on
emo oftbe Marseilles and Oriental steam
sb;rs His name was Maurice Kervel.
lie was but little over thirty years old,
tall ard handsome. an excellent CONVEX
s,tiouali>t. and the very man to win
the rood graceS ola susceptible young
lady. He became very intimate with
Miss Bertha Bigelow, and one day he
aStoniShed her father not little by ask
in, him for the hand Of his charming
daughter. Mr. Bigelow was at first
inclined 10 look fayorably upon the suit
of the enamored sailor, the more 50 as
his daughter seemed to reciprocate his
affection: but close inquiry into the
affairs and character of NJ Maurice ke"
vel. convinced NJ. Bigelow that he was
not a suitable match for his daughter.
He found that kcrvel was man Of
extravagant habits and choleric temper;
that when under the influence OF liquor
he was extremely quarrelSome, and had
fouaht several duelS; that he had run
through with the fortune his parents
had left him. and that he had nothing
20 depend on but his vert modest pay.
The result of all this was that he was
requested 10 discontinue his visits. ker-
vel LETT llr. Bigelow muttcring threats
of revenge.
Miss Bertha seemed 10 care very lit
lie about the breaking of Of this t}irta,
ton with her lover, and in 1868 she
was married to Il merchant named .]ou-
vinet, a man of means, with whom she
lived happily for year In June, 1850,
lcr husband returned one evening to his
delightful country residence, but, to ms
establishment. did not find his wife in
her apartments He questioned the
servants about the whereabouts OF their
mistress. and they said that they had
seen Nine. Jouyinet walking i'll the Gar
den little before dusk VI. .Jouvinet
searched every nook OF the garden and
the neighborhood. but not Il trace Of
his beautiful wife was 10 be found lie
sent out messengers in all directions,
br;, they returned without bringing any
information An examination OF the
iady's boudoir furnished no clue what
ever aS TO where she might have gone
The husband passed 4 wretched night,
hoping every moment for his wlteS re
turn: bat morning dawned and she had
not vet come. He chen sent for the
police. and several detectives began to
look for the missing lady. They were
unable TO lind any trace OF her alter
rlo,racted and patien, search. Adver-
'>emcntS. offers Of large rewards Tor
information concerning her, remained
without result. Both the husband and
father abandoned all hope OF seeing her
again. and IN imPencuable veil seemed
10 surround her fate. JouVmet. aiter
mourning for her loss for eighteen
months. applied 10 the Court Tor the
annuIlation OF his marriage with Miss
Bioclow. and he was waiting for rem
dition OF the decree, when, on the 81 OF
November last. an event OF the most
startling character occurred. lie was
seated i'm his coW,i2g room in the kue
C;ranIc. pouring over his ledger, when
thc door was suddenly opened, and a
yelled lady stepped in. She drew back
hcryyil, and displayed a bronzed face,
the features of which he knew only too
well. I'm the next moment he rushed
INTO her arms. cXclaimiug 'Berth" .
Hcriha :" It is his long lost wife.
The explanation she gave him while
ihcv sat locked in each others arms, a
bout her sudden and long absence, were
50 strange that even the chronlquer OF
the NarScilcS .N0uUci,r'e, to whose pen
L ,Il..,