Smyrna times., 1874-03-04
What Girl Made by Mistaking New
ark, N. j., for Newark, Del.

Among the steerage passengers who drifted
over to New York from Havre, a little while
ago, was young French girl named Louise
DumOnt. Her destination was Newark, Della
ware, where she had distant female relative
living, in INDECENT circumstances, and, as she
believed, the only surviving kin she had in the
world By some mistake, owing to her ina
bility to understand the English language, she
took train on the Delaware, Lackawana, and
Western Railroad, and got off at Newark,
New Jersey. When she was informed of her
error, she bought ticket to return again to
New \ ork on the next train, but on account of
n very remarkable occurrence she was induced
to change her mind.
AS the girl sat in the depot downcast in
spirits, alone in strange land and almost pen.
niless, visions OF her home in ia Belle
! France crossed her mind. She thought of
her mother who had recently died, of her only
brother who fell with his father as they fought
side by side at the terrible battle of Saarbruck
and she unused upon her past joys and present
| loneliness, she uncOnsciously toyed with a
| large gold locket that was suspended by a
strong silver chain from her neck, while tears
trinkled down her cheeks. She was a brunette
of the loveliest type, and her jet black, wavy
hair was arranged with such exquisite taste
that it made the broad, high forehead, express
| sive brown eyes, and graceful, tull throat an
| While Louise was abstractedly playing with
her locket, there came into the depot a tall and
handsome gentleman, about sixty years Of age
FIe had something of military bearing, and
his countenance indicated intelligence and re.
6nement. The girls appearance immediately
attracted his attention. and as he, too, was
waiting for train, he occupied the time in
watching her. AS he walked leisurely to and
fro in the ladies' room, he came near to where
/ ~ -, Il sb III. l.
ct and revealed a well known face that wa,
the exact counterpart of picture that he had
at home in his library. 1t represented tht
Empress Josephine, the deceased wife of Ma
poleOn Bona parte. The gentleman immediatel,
asked the girl, in good French, where she OBJ
tained the picture She replied, with much
! simplicity:
MY mother gave it to me"
Requesting the favor of examing the locke
he took it in hand. and, with the greatest az
constituent, read the following inscription
Josephine, to Hortense De Mratel, 1912.
My mother was Mratel," said he, scan
: ming the beautiful French girls feature
. closely, land, he added, as light SCENE,
to fash in upon his confused ideas, "shs wa
a sister to Hortsnss De Mirat0l, who, for SOM
act of fathfulness to the unhappy Josephine
h received this locket and portrait as reward
i My good girl, who are you, anyhow
. Inc chlld tnen related ner StOry-h0w he
:. father and brother had been killed in battle
:. and that her mother had recently died; tina
;. she had committed her to the care of the onl
= relatives that she believed to be living, 9
- Newark, Delaware.
!. !. The gentleman then being satisfied tha
;. the girl was his own ueice, disclosed his ow
+ name, Victor Provost. He had escaped froI
= prison when young man, having been inca
20 cerated by the Bourbons about the tims of tn
!. sojourn of Louis Napoleon in America.
!. He fed to this country and settled at Wilke
:. barre, Pa, where he now lives in afiluene
- being interested in large coal and iron trac
i in that locality. 1t is hardly necessary to sts
a. a. that the Deice needed but little persuasion
p accompany her uncle home. The romance
~ :, her story is increased by the fact that NJ
40 Provost had a son, who is very promisir
20 young man, and that he Immediately becom
,e fascinated with his newly-found cousin. I'll
a old gentleman is in ecstacy at the turn thin
a. have taken, and has resolved that his son sht
H. marry the girl. OF course young Provost b
u" accepted this proposition with much joy, an
4 order for q magnificent bridal trousseau q
re now being filed by various parties in Ne
nd York, for the fortunate girl who, but liti
az more than week ago, was penniess steera
,;s passenger In an emigrant ship.
4 ---------~-m~