Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-16
NO. "a.
A LUCKY MISTAKE.

Among the steerage passengers who
drifted over to New York from Havre,
little while ago. was young French girl
named Louise Dunmont. Her destination
was Newark, Delaware, 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 inability
to understand the English language, she
took a train on the Delaware, Lacawana &
Western Railroad, and got off at Newark,
y. J.-When she was informed of her er-
ror, she bought ticket to return again to
New York on the next train, bat on ac-
count of remarkable occurrence she was
induced to change her mind
As the girl sat in the depot, downcast in
spirits, alone in a strange land and almost
penniless. visions of her home in LA
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 as
she mused upon her past joys and present
loneliness, she unconscsiously toyed with
large gold locket that was suspended by
Il strong silver chain from her neck, while
tears trickled down her cheeks. She was
a brunette of the lovelist type, and her jet
black, wavy hair was arranged with such
exquisite taste that it made the broad, high
forehead, expressive brown eyes, and
graceful, full throat appear to the best
advantage.
While Louise was abstractedly playing
with her locket, there came into the de-
pot a tall and handsome gentleman, about
sixty years of age. He had something of
military bearing, and his countenance
indicated intelligence and refinement.
The girls appearance Immediately attract
ed his attention, and as he, too, was wait
ing 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 the girl was sitting just as she
opened the locket and revealed we'll
known face, that was the exact counter
part OF picture that he had at home in
his library. 1t represented the Empress
Josephine, the deceased wife of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
The gentleman Immediately asked the
girl, in good French, where she obtained
the picture. She replied, with much SIM
plicity:
My mother gave it to me-
Requesting the favor of examining the
iothtt, It tooh IL III HIS ItUu, anu, WIFI
the greatest astonshment, read the follow
ing inscriptions
''Josephine, to Hortense De NIiratel.
1872"
"My mother was Miratel," said he,
lures closely, ''and,n he added, as a light
seemed 10 tla Ii in upon his confused ideas,
"she was a sister to IIortense De Miratel,
wi fnr nt Of fat l,o
unhappy Josephine, received this locket
and portrait as reward. My good girl,
who are you, anyhow ?'
The child then related her story-how
her father and brother had been Killed in
battle. and that her mother had recently
died. that she had committed her to the
care of the only relative that she believed
to be living, at Newark, Delaware
The gentleman being satisfied that the
girl was his own niece, disclosed his own
name, Victor Provost. He had escaped
from prison when young man. having
been incarcerated by the Bourbons about
the time of the sojourn of Louis Napoleon
in America. He fled to this country, and
settled at Wilkesbarre, Pa, where he now
lives in atllUence. being interested in large
coal and iron tracts in that locality.
1t is hardly necessary to state that the
niece needed but little persuasion to ac-
company her uncle home. The romance
of her story is increased by the fact that
Mr.. Provost has a son, who is a very
promising young man, and that he imme-
diately became fascinated with his newly
found cousin. The old gentleman was in
ecstacy at the turn things have taken, and
resolved that his son should marry the
girl ON New Years Day. OF course
young Provost accepted this proposition
with much joy, and orders for a magnii-
cent bridal trousSeau were filled by vari-
Gus parties in New York, for the FORUM
ate girl who, but q few weeks ago, was
penniless steerage passenger in an emf
grant ship.