The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-03
A LnckH Misfnke.


Among the steerage passengers who
drifted over to New York from Havre,
little while ago, was young French girl
named Louise Dumont. 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
10 understand tho English language, she
took train on the Delaware, Lackawana
and Western Railroad, and got off at New
ark, N. j. 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 occurrence
she was induced to change her mind.
AS the girl sat in the depot, downcast
in spirits, alone in strange land and al
most 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 lone
liness, she unconsciously toyed with q
large golden locket that was suspended by
a strong silver chain from her neck, while
tears trickled 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, expressive brown eyes, and grace
ful, full throat appear to the best ad-
vantage.
While Louise was abstractedly playing
with her locket, there came into the depot a
tall aud handsome gentleman, about sixty
years of age. He had something of mill
tary bearing, and his countenance indicat-
ed intelligence and refinement. The girls
appearance Immediately attracted his at
tention, 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 a picture that
he had at home in his library. 1t repre-
sented the Empress Josephine the deceased
wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. The gentle
man 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 hand, and, with the
greatest astonishment, read the following
inscription
Josephine, to Hortense De Miratel,
1872"
"My mother was a Miratel, said he,
scanning the beautiful French girls fea-
lures closely, "and," be added, as a light
seemed to fash in upon his confused ideas,
"she was sister to Hortense De Miratel,
who, for some act of faithfulness to the
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 then being satisfied that
the girl was his own niece, disclosed his
own name, Victor Provost. He had escap-
ed flom 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
affiuence, 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 romance of her story is in
creased by the fact that Mr.. Provost has
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 resolved that his son
shall marry the girl OF course young
Provost has accepted this proposition with
much joy, and orders for magnificent
bridal trousseau are now being filed by
various parties in New York, for the for
tunate girl who, but little more than
week ago, was penniless steerage passen-
ger in an emiglant ship.
g8 A cable dispatch from London, con-
tanning advices from India on the subject