Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-20
THE TRICOLOR GIRL.

| The big Elmer" was slowly backing into
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
"Theresdear old dadr' cried a pretty girl
to her mother, and both waved their hands
| to Dad" who responded delghtedly.
There's joe" whispered happy )ooK
ing girl to her aunt "He looks handsornel
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 retiring disposition during
the whole of the trip 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.
tionable 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
throata 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, NJ Paul
Grochette. Upon the death of her parents
she had found herself so poor that in max
ing the journey she was compelled to dc
what no modest French girl cares to do
travel alone. E
A newcomer began to edge his way
I'll,
sight of him her eyes frightened and then
moistened. 1t was Paul, looking as perfect
and flawless 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 arms,
Their first salutations over, he conducted
her to 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 to the pier in answer
to message from quarantine to the effect
that in the trip over Mrs. Hope-Stanley OF
New York had been robbed of some $4,000
francs in French bank notes Of large de-
nomination.
The trunks were brought ashore, and
three customs inspectors gave their atten
ton 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 te
one Of the detectives 1000 franc note.
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 trunks"
The inspector pointed to the 'tricolo,
girl" who was conversing animatedly with
her fiance and his mamma The detective
stepped up to her and said:
beg pardon, miss, but where did you
get this note?"
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 skeptical
and the upshot of it was that the detective
the ''tricolor GIRL" flance and mamma ali
went to police headquarters in cab. Mrs
Hope-Stanley came later in the day and
positively identified the note by its number.
Paul, who felt the disgrace and annoy,
ance of it all as keenly as did the dainty
"tricolor grip herself, wandered distract
eddy about the corridors of police head
quarters. Finally he decided to confide hi.
troubles to two of the police reporters, who
looked jolly, and who might possibly be
sympathetic They We're.
Why" said one of them, "get the police
to cable the banker in Paris, asking him Il
he remembers the number of the 1, 900 fran,
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 at
once. Before the day was over an answer
ing cablegram came, giving the number Of
,he identical l, 600 franc note found in Mile
st. Perre's trunk.
Then she can't have stolen it," decided
,he police.
Mrs Hope-Stanley was sent for again, and
,hen the fact came out that she had mis-.
'akenly given wrong number.
ut was only the difference between a a
md 50" she said apologetically
A slight difference perhaps, but 1t had
been the cause Of deep humiliation to the
'tricolor girl"
Marie was now released with deep apollo.
yies and went to Paul's home. The lovers
we're happy again and have been happy
'ver since, but they can never forget the
tupid mistake of another that caused such
IN unpleasant American reception for the
'tricolor girl .n-Exchanoe.