The Republican journal., 1874-03-05
A Lucky Mistake.

Among the Storage passengers VIII.
drttcd oyer 10 New York from ilavrr. Il
little while ago was Il Young French girI
named Louise Dumont Her destination
was Newark. Delaware, where She had Il
distant female relative living, in INDECENT
circumstances, and, rs she believed th,.
only surviving kin she had in the world
BY some mistake owing to her inability
to understand the English language, she
took u train ON the Delaware, Iachawanl
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 ac-
count of Il very remarkable occurrence she
was induced to change her mind.
As the girl sat in the depot, doWncast m
spirits, alone in u 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 Lis
father rs they fought side hy side at the
terrible battle of Saarbruck, and aS She
mused upon her past joys and present
loneliness, she unconsciously toyed with Il
large gold locllet that was suspended by 4
strong silver chain from her neck. while
tears trickled down her checks
She was a brunette Of the loycicSt type.
| and her jet black, wavy hair was arranged
with Snrh exquisite taste that ii made the
broad, high forehead, expressive brown
eyes. and graceful, full throat appear t.,
the best advantage
While Louise was abstractedly PLAYING
with her locllct there came into the depot
4 tall and handsome gentleman, about
sixty years of age. He had something ut
a military bearing, aud his countcnancr
indicated ntelligcnceand refinement. The
girls appearance attracted his attention,
and as he, too, was waiting for train. h,
occupied the time in watching her As he
walked leisurely to and fro in the ladies
room, he came near to where the girl Wa
sitting Just As she opened the locket and
revealed a well-knoWn face, that was the
exact counterpart of Il picture that he had
at home in his library. 1t represented the
Empress Josephine, the deceased wife OF
Napoleon Bonaparte. The gentleman I'M
mediately 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 ,hr
locket, he took it in his hand, and with the
greatest establishment. read the following
inscription;
''Josephine, to IIorten>e DE MirairI
1872"
My mother was Miratrl," said Ae
scanning the beautiful French girls fea-
lures closely, "and," he added as 4 light
seemed to flash in upon his confused ideas,
.'she was Il sister to IIortense DE Miratel,
who, for some act of tIithtulness t. the
unhappy Josephine, received this locket
and portrait aS Il reward My good girl,
who are YOU, anyhow p
The child then related her story-how
her father and brother had been Killed H.
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 9lrl was his own niece, disclosed his
own name, Victor Provost. He had es-
capped from prison when a young man, hay
ing been incarccratcd by the Bourbons
about the time of the sojomn of loai4
Napoleon in America
He fled to this country and settled at
Wilkesbarre, Pa, where he now lives in
atfluence. being interested in large coaI
and iron tracts in that locality Ii is hard
" 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 MIR. Provost has
son, who is Il very promising young man,
and that he Immediately became fascinated
with his newly-tound 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 thspropositon
with much Joy, and orders toramagniticent
bridal trousseau are now being filled by
various parties in New York, for the tortu-
nate girl who, but little more than
week ago, was y penniless steerage pas
sengcr in m emigrant ship.