Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-04-11
A Lucky Mistake,

hHOh6 viz SeCOtobO PooSSAbNAo "HS
drifted over to New York from Havre,
little while ago, was young French
girl named Louise Dumont. Her des-
tination was Newark, Delaware, where
she had distant female relative living,
in INDECENT circumstances, and, as she be-
lieved, the only surviving kin she had
in the world. By some mistake, owing
to her inability to understand the Eng
lish language, she took a train on the
Delaware, Lackawana and Western
Railroad, and got off at Newark, N. J.
When she was informed of her error,
she bought ticket to return to New
York in the next train, but on account
of very 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 re-
Gently 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 unconscious
ly toyed with large gold locket that
was suspended by strong silver chain
from her neck, while tears trinkled
down her cheeks.
She was brunette of the lovliest
type, and her jet black, wavy hair was
arranged with such exquisite taste that
it made the broad, high forehead ex-
pressive brown eyes, and graceful, full
throat appear to the best advantage.
While Louise was abstractedly play
ing with her locket, there came into the
depot 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 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 the
girl was sitting just as she opened the
locket and revealed well-known face,
that was the exact counterpart of q pic
ture that he had at home in his library.
1t represented the Empress Josephine,
the deceased wife of Napoleon Bona
parte. 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"
Requesting the favor of examining
the locket, he took it in his hand, and,
with the greatest astonishment, read
the following inscription
Josephine, to Hortense De Miratel,
1872"
"My mother was Miratel," said he,
scanning the beautiful French girls
features closely, "and," he added, as a
light seemed to flash in upon his con-
fused ideas, "she was sister to Hor-
tense De Miratel, who, for some act of
faithfulness to the unhappy Josephine,
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 only relative that she
believed to be living, at Newark, Della
ware.
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 at
Wilkesbarre, Pa, where he now lives
in afluence, 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
accompany her uncle home. The ro-
nance of her story is increased by the
fact that Mr.. Provost has a son, who is
very promising young man, and that
he Immediately became fascinated with
his newly-found cousin.
The old gentleman is in ecstacy at
the turn things have taken, and has re-
solved that his son shall marry the girl.
OF course young Provost has accepted
this proposition with Joy, and orders
for magnificent bridal trousseau are
now being filed by various parties in
New York for the fortunate girl who,
but little more than week ago, was
penniless' steerage passenger in an
emigrant ship.