Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-09-30
TRICOLOR GIRL,


her berth in the North river The steamers
decks were thronged with returning tour
lists, most Of whom were peering eagerly at
the crowds Of waiting relatives and friends
| on the wharf.
"Theres dear old dadr' cried a pretty girl
TO her mother, and both waved their hands
" Dad" who responded delightediys-
There's joe" whispered happy look
ing girl TO her aunt "He looks handsomer
| than ever. See, there he is. standing over
there by that post"
Perhaps the prettiest girl on the steamer
was one who stood all by herself. She had
| shown such "A retiring disposition during
| the whole Of the iTip over that but few OF
the passengers knew her name By most
| she was called "the tricolor girl" That
she was French and Partisan was unques-
tionahle She possessed that nattiness, that
chic" which other than Partisan women
may initiate, but cannot acquire. The
name of "the tricolor girl" had been given
To her because she invariably wore at her
throat dainty bow OF tricolored ribbon.
Her name, which few knew, was Marie st.
Pierre.
She, too, WAS gazing at the pier In the
hope Of seeing one particular and familiar
face. Marie had journeyed to the new
world To meet and marry her lover, M. Paul
Grochette. Upon tie death OF her parents
she had found herself so poor that in max,
ing the journey she was compelled to do
what no modest French girl cares to do
travel alone
A newcomer began TO edge his way
through the crowd, and as Marie caught
sight Of him her eyes Frightened aud then
moistened 1t was Paul, looking as perfect
and nawless as ever Marie had not seen
him for two years, but in that time Paul
had not changed an iota.
After the inevitable telegraphy In lovers
handkerchief code, both lovers waited impa-
tiently for the drawing aboard Of the gang
plank. Almost the first one to go ashore
was Marie, who ran down the gang plank
and rushed plump into her lovers armA
Their first salutations over, he conducted
her 70 his mother, who was waiting at some
distance up the pier
Every one who saw the lovers envied
them their happiness. Two men in the ad-
miring throng happened TO be detectives
who had come down 10 the pier in answer
TO message from quarantine TO the effect
that in the trip over Mrs. Hope-Stanlsy Of
New York had been robbed Of some 5000
francs in French bank notes Of large de
nomination.
The trunks were brought ashore, and
three customs inspectors gave their atten-
tlon To the trunks in turn. The detectives
closely watched the work of the Inspectors.
This may interest you, said one Of the
customs men In an undertone, handing TO
one Of the detectives a 900 franc ncts.
The detective glanced at the note and
then said sharply;
II should say so. This has the number
of one Of the bills reported stolen. Who
owns this trunk"
The inspector pointed to the "tricolor
girl" who was conversing animatedly with
her fance and his mamma. The detective
stepped up to her and said:
Beg pardon, miss, but where did you
get this notey"
Marie couldn't speak English, and Paul
acted as interpreter Through him she re-
peated that she received it from certain
banker in Paris the day before starting.
The detective was professionally skeptioal, |
and the upshot of it was that the detective. |
the "tricolor girl dance and mamma all |
went To police headquarters in a cab. Mrs. |
Hope Stanley came later in the day and |
positively idenli fled the note by its number.
Paul, who felt the disgrace and annoy |
ance of 1t all as keenly as did the dainty |
"tricolor girl" herself wandered distract ]
edly about the corridors Of police head |
quarters. Finally he decided to oonfide his |
troubles to two of the police reporters, who |
looked jolly, and who might possibly be
They were.
why" said one Of them, get the police |
TO cable the banker in Paris, asking him II |
he remem bers the numb Der of the / 900 franc |
note he gave Mile. st. Pierre"
Paul wrung their hands gratefully and |
wondered why he had not thought of this |
course before. He carried the idea out ut |
once Before the day was over an answer
ing cablegram came, giving the number Of
the Identical 900 franc note found in Mile.
st. Pierre's trunk.
"Then she can't have stolen it," decided
the police.
Mrs. Hope-Stanley was sent for again, and
then the fact came out that she had mis-
taEenly given wrong number.
"lt was only the difference between q -
and 81" she said apologetically.
A slight difference perhaps, but it had
been the cause Of a deep humiliation to the
''tricolor girl"
Marie was now released with deep apollo
gies and went to Paul's home. The lovers
were happy again and have been happy
ever since, but they can never forget the
stupid mistake of another that caused such
an unpleasant American reception for the
"tricolor girl. Exchange