The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-03-05
A Lucky Mistake.

Among the Storage passengers who
drifted over to New York from Havre,
a little while ago, was young French
girl named Louise DumOnt. Her
destination was Newark, Delaware,
where she had distant female rela-
tiveliving, in INDECENT circumstances,
and, as she believed, the only surviv-
ing kin she had i'm the world. BY
some mistake, owing to her inability
to understand the English language,
she took a 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 York on the next train, but on
account of very remarkable occur
renee she was induced to change her
mind.
AS the girl sat in the depot, down
cast in spirits, alone i'm 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 Mt the terrible
battle of Saarbruck, and as she unused
upon her past joys and present lone
illness, she uncOnsciOusly tOyed with
a large gold locket that was suspended
by a strong silver chain from her
neck, while tears trickled down her
cheeks. She was a brunette Of the
lovliest type. and her jet black, wavy
hair wasarranged with such exquisite
taste that it made the broad, high
forehead, expressive brown eyes, and
graceful, full throat appear tOthe best
advantage.
While Louise was abstractly play
ing with her locket, there came into
the depot q tall handsome gentleman,
about sixty years of age. He had
something of military bearing, and
his cOuntenance indicated intelligence
and refinement. The girls appear
ance Immediately attracted his atten-
ton, and as he, too, was waiting for
a train, he occupied the time in
watching her. AS he walked leisurely
to and fro i'm. the ladies' room, he
came near to where the girl was sit
ting just as she opened the locket and
revealed q well-known face, that was
the exact counterpart Of picture that
he had ut home in the library. 1t
represented the Empress Josephine,
the deceased wife of Napoleon Bona
parte. The gentleman Immediately
asked the girl i'm good French, where
she obtained the picture. She re-
piled with much simplicity:
My mother gave It to me-"
Requesting the favor of examining
the lOcket, he took 1t in hand, and
with the greatest astOnishment read
the following inscription:
|" Josephene, to HOrtensc De Mira
tel, 1872"
"My mother was a Miratel," said
he, scanning the beautiful French
girls features closely, and he added,
as light seemed to flash In upon his
confused ideas, "she was sister to
HOrtense De Miratel, who, for some
act of fiithfulness to the unhappy
JOshephine, received this locket and
portrait as a 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 COM
mitted her to the care OF the only
relative that she believed to be liv-
ing, at Newark, Delaware.
The gentleman then being satisfied
that the girl was his own niece, dis
closed his own name, Victor Provost.
He had escaped from prison when a
young man, having been incarcerated
by the Bourbons about the time of
the sojourn of Louis Napoleon In
America.
He fed to this country and settled
ut Wilkesbarre, Pa, where he now
lives in affiuence, being interested In
large coal and iron tracts in that 10
cality. It Is hardly necessary to state
that the niece needed but little per-
yuasion to accompany her UNCLE
home. The romance OF the story Is
increased by the fact that Mr.. Pro-
vost has a son, who is very prom
sing young man, and that he imme-
lately became fascinated with his
cousin. The old gentle
uan d IN ecstacies at the prospect Of
Weudlng. r 81 - 90 a. E.4