The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-03
A LUCKY MISTAKE.

Il LHN | f ~ HNE |HLH
Among the steerage passengers VIII,
drifted over to New York from Havre,
little while ago, was a young French cir
named Louise Dumont. r, Her destination
was Newark, Delaware, were she had 9
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
q train on the Delaware, L~ackawana and
Western railroad; and got off at Newark,
New Jersey. When she was informed oil
her error, she bought O ticket to return
again to New York on the next train, but
on account ola very remarkable occurrence
she was induced to change her mind.
GAS the girl sat in the depot, downcast in
spirits, alone in q 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 unused
upon her past joys and present loneliness,
she unconsciously toyed with a large gold
locket that was suspended by a strong
silver cham from her neck, while tears
trickled down her cheeks. She was q bru-
nette ofthe loyeliest type, and her jet black,
wavy hair was arragned with such exquisite
taste that it made the broad, high forehead,
expressive brown eyes, and graceful, full
throat appear to the best advantage, 'siy
While Louise was abstractedly playing
with her locket, there came into the depot
q tall and handsome gentlman about sixty
years OF age. He had something of q
military bearing aud his countenance
indicated intelligence and refinement.
The girls appearance Immediately
attracted his attention, and as he, too, was
waiting for the 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 a well
known face, that was the exact counterpart
Of q picture that he had at home in his
library. It 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 simplicity
My mother gave it to me-" an
Requesting the favor of examining the
locket, he took it in hand, and, with, the
greatest establishment, read the following
inscription: gstGosarsI4I
Josephine, to Hortense De Miratel,
1922" s5fT 44a
"My mother was a Miratel,', said he,
scanning the beautiful FrenchgirPs features
closely, " and" he added, as q light SEEM
ed to fash in upon his confused ideas, t'she
x-ur . asoko, A. lTokoona IL AF.vntnl rrxhn
for some act of faithfulness to the unhappy
Josephine, received this locket and por-
trait as q reward. My good girl, who are
you, anyhow? Z" fa T6rI9F
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 then being satisfied that
the girl was his own niece, disclosed his
own name, Victor Provost. He had es-
capad from prison when O 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
af1uence, being interested In large coal
and iron tracts in that locality. 1t is hard
ly necessary to state that the niece needed
but little persuasion to accompany her
uncle home. The romance of her story is
increased by the fact that Mr.. Provost has
a son, who is q very promising young
man, and that he Immediately became
fascinated with his newly-found cousin,
The old gentleman is in estacy at the turn
things have taken, and has resolved that
his son shall marry the girl or New Years
Day. Of course young Provost has &C
cepted this proposition with much joy, and
orders for o magnificent bridal trousseau
are now being filled by various parties in
New York, for the fortunate girl who,
but q little more than a week ago, was y
penniless steerage ~passengerin an smigrant
ship. V iiolulN Ftfgf cad iIl BE- sqiae