The Cambria Freeman

A LUCKY MISTAKE.

Among other steerage passengers
who drifted over to New York from
Havre, a little while ago, was a young
French girl named Louise Dumont.
Her destination was Newark, Dela-
ware, where she had a distant female
relative living, in indigent circumstan-
ces, and, as she believed. the only sur-
vivng kin she had in the world. By
some mistake, owing to her inability to
understand the English language. she
took a train on the Delaware, Lacka-
wana and Western R. R., and got off
at Newark. N. J. When she was in-
formed of her error, she secured a tick-
et to return again to New York on the
next train. but on account of a very re-
markable occurrence she was induced
to change her mind.
As the girl sat in the depot, down-
cast in spirits, alone in a 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 his father as they
fought side by side at the terrible battle
of Saarbruck. and as she mused upon
her past joys and present loneliness, she
unconsciously toyed with a large gold
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 graceful, full throat appear
to the best advantage.
While Louise was abstractedly play-
ing with her locket. there came into the
depot a tall and handsome gentleman,
of about sixty years of age. He had
something of a military bearing, and
his countenance indicated intelligence
and refinement. The girl's appearance
immediately attracted his attention,
and as he. too. was waiting for a 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 a well known
face. that was the exact counterpart of
a picture that he had at home in his li-
brary. It represented the Empress
Josephine, the deceased wife of Napo-
leon Bonaparte. The gentleman imme-
diately 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 fol-
lowing inscription:
"Josephine, to Hortense de Miratel,
1812."
"My mother was a Miratel," said he.
scanning the beautiful French girl's
features closely, "and," he added, as a
light seemed to flash in upon his con-
fused ideas. "she was a sister to Hor-
tense de Miratel, who. for some act of
faithfulness to the unhappy Josephine,
received this locket and portrait as a
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 but 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, dis-
closed his own name, Victor Provost.
He had escaped from prison when a
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 affluence. being interested in
large coal and iron tracts in that lo-
calitv. It is hardly necessary to state
that the niece needed but little persua-
sion to accompany her uncle home.
The romance of her story is increased
by the fact that Mr. Provost has a son,
who is a very promising young man,
and that he immediately became fasci-
nated with his newly found cousin. The
old gentleman is in ecstasy at the turn
things have taken, and has resolved
that his son shall marry the girl on
New Year's day. Of course young
Provost has accepted this proposition
with much joy, and orders for a mag-
nificent bridal trousseau are now being
filled by various parties in New York
for the fortunate girl who, but a little
more than a week ago, was a penniless
steerage passenger in an emigrant ship.