The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-01-07
A Lucky Mistake.


Among the strange passengers who
drlfted 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 to
understand the English language, she took
tain on the Delaware, Lackawanna and
western Railroad, and got off at Newark,
New Jersey. When she was informed OF
her error. she bought ticket to return
TO New Y Iork on the next train; but, on
account of very remarkable occurrence,
she was induced to change her mind.
AS the girl sat in the station, 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 at Saarbruck; and as she mused on
the past joys and present loneliness, she
uncOnsciously tOyed with large gold
iocket that was suspended by strong
silver chain from her neck, while tears
t,1ckled down her cheeks. She was bru-
nette of the loveliest type, and her jet
n,
exquisite taste that it made the broad, high
forehead, expansive brown eyes, and grace
full, full throat, appear to the best advan
tage.
While Louise was abstractedly playing
with her locket, there came into the sta
ton tall and handsome gentleman, about
sixty years of age. He had something of
a 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 watch
ing 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 we'll
known face, that was the exact counter
part of a picture that he had at home In
his library. 1t 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 1t to
me-"
Requesting the favor of examining the
locket, he took it in hand, and with the
greatest astonishment, read the following
inscription:
o. Josephine, to Hortense de Miratel, 1872"
"My mother was a Miratel." said he,
scanning the beautiful French girls fea-
lures closely: and" he added, as light
seemed TO flash in upon his confused ideas,
. she was a sister to Hortense de Miratel,
who. for some act of faithfulness to the un-
happy 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 her mother had recently died;
that she had committed her to the care OF
! the only relative that she believed 10 be
! living, at Newark, Delaware.
| The gentleman then being satisfied that
| the girl was his own niece, disclosed ms
own name, Victor Provost. lie mad es-
| caped from prison when young man,
having been incarcerated by the BOurbOns
| abOut the time of the sojOurn OF Louis
| NaDoleon in America. He fled to this
couutrv. and settled at Wilkesbarre. Penn
svlyania. where he now lives in affluence,
being interested in la ge coal and iron
tracts in that locality. IL is hardly neces
sary to state that the niece needed but lit
tie persuasion to accompany her uncle
home. The romance of her story is IN
creased bv the fact that Mr.. Provost has a
son. Who is a very promising yo ng man,
and that he Immediately became fascinated
with his newly-fOund cousin. Inc oid
gentleman is in ecstasy at the turn Things
have taken, and has resolved thaC MS son
shall marry the girl as soon as possible;
Of course young Provost has accepted
this prOposition with much joy, and orders
for a magnificent bridal trOusscau are now
being filled bv various parties III New
York, for the young girl who, but liItlt
more than a week ago, was pennies
steerage passenger in an emigrant ship.