Thibodaux minerva., 1853-10-29
A Romantic Life.

history which have been marked by so many
deaths of prominent individuals, as the last
three months.
| In our obituary columns, to-day, will be
found another addition to the list of remar-
kable deceased, in the death of Madam
Zulime Gardette, the mother OF DR.. Gar
dette, of this City, and Of Mrs. Myra Clark
Gaines. She died in this City, at the re-
sidence of her son, DR.. Gardette, at the adj
vanced age Of 7s years.
This lady was the heroine of that intensely
interesting romance in real life, which was
developed in the celebrated lawsuit of Mrs.
Gaines.
Her maiden name was Zulime Carriere.
She was born in the old French Colony of
Biloxi Her parents were emigrants from
the land Of poetry and Iomance-the favo-
rite home Of the oubadours-Provence.
The blood of the Gipsy race, which, in the
early days Of Louisiana, settled along our
sea coast and whose lovely daughters were
the special objects Of the admiration and
love Of the gallant French cavaliers who
established the first colonies, mingled with
that Of the poetic Proyencal From such a
stock, it IS not remarkable that Znime Car
fiere should have derived extraordinary per-
sonal beauty. The charms of herself and
her three sisters. were universal themes in
the Colony Of Louisiana. The warm and
genial climate, and luxurious atmosphere Of
the sea shore, ripened these charms into
full maturity at very early age.
Znlime had hardly emerged into her teens,
before her hand was sought by numerous
suitors. The successful aspirant gained his
point, as Claude Melnotte in Bulwer's play
did, by holding an imaginary coronet, or
other insignia Of nobility, before the eyes Of
beautiful but nnsuspecting girl of thirteen.
She was canght by the glittefing bait The
French nobeman soon dwindled into con-
fectioner, and, what was worse, a married
man, who had never been divorced He
was arrested and tried by an ecclesiastical
court in this city, for bigamy, was convicted
and sentenced to be punished, but afterward
escaped, and was no more heard OF. Thus
ended Zulime's relation with Jerome De
Grange.
Pending this proceeding, and after the
discovery of De Oranges previous marriage
there grew up an intimacy between ZuIime
and Daniel Clark, then leading man in this
calony-a dashng, whole-souled Irishman,
reported to be very wealthy-of very popular
character and agreeable manners. Clark
was just the gallant, chivalrous man to
espouse the cause of an unprotected and
wronged woman.
1t is said-but as from this point starts the
protracted litigation which has recently en-
gagged SO much of the time and attention of
our courts-we must be understood as giving
the version related by the deceased lady
herself and her friends, that Clark having
met ZuIime In Philadelphia and satisfied
himself as to the existence of De Oranges
bigamy. and the consequent nullty of his
marriage with Miss Carriere, promptly Of
fered her his hand and heart, but suggested
the prudence of keeping their marriage
secret, until they could complete the proof
Of De Oranges crime. They were then
married. OF this marriage but one witness
was living when the suit was brought by
Mrs. Gaines, and that was the sister of
Zulime. But there were corroborating cir
cumstances, upon which the proof Of the
reality of such connection was rested
After her marriage to Clark in 1902, Zulime
returned 10 New Orleans. to take further
legal proceedings to invalidate, or rather
authenticate the illegally, of the marriage
with De Grange. A suit was brought for
this purpose in the civil courts of the Ter
ritory. and judgment was obtained against
De Grange. In the meantime, Clark had
advanced in years and honors The gallant
youth Of 1902 had became the ambitious
politician and millionaire. As the popular
man of powerful party, he was sent as de-
legate of the territory to Congress- Here
he soon forgot the poor Creole girl, and be-
gan 10 mediate more brilliant marriage
connection. The object of this aspiration
was the lovely Miss Cation, of Maryland,
granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Car
rollton, who afterwards became the Mar
chioness of Wellesly. She was great
belle, and Clark's fine manners, distinguish
ed position ahd great wealth, no doubt,
rendered him quite desirable match for
so brilliant and accomplished beauty They
were engaged: but some stories of his
enemies caused sudden Termination of
their relations.
On hearing ofhis courtship of Miss Cation,
the unfortunate Zulime again went to Phi
ladelphia to procure proofs of her marriage
with Clark. Bnt alas! Clark, it was al
Legged under the influence of reckless am
bition, had made way with those proofs, and
poor Zulime again found herself the victim
Of mans treachery. In feeling of deser-
ton and helplessness, alone among stran-
gers, whose language and habits were
foreign to her, she accepted the hand of DR..
Gardette, who generously and magnanimous-
Iy, relying on her truth and sincerity, united
his fate and fortune with hers From that
period, her life flowed smoothly on in the
discharge of her duties as wife and mother.
Shortly after her marriage with Gardette,
Clarke had suffered his severe rebuff from
the lovely Miss Cation. In spirit of true
penitence, he hurried TO Philadelphia, saw
Zulime, and declared his determination to
proclaim their marriage. But it was too
late. She informed him that she was Mrs.
Gardette. Clark was deeply distressed at
this, and exhibited sincere penitence. He
sought to atone for his desertion of the
mother, by kindness to the daughter, who
was born in 1906, of this secret marriage
This was Myra Clark. She was placed in
charge Of an intimate friend OF Clark, Col.
Davis, who raised and educated her as his
own daughter. II was not until she had
reached maturity, that Myra discovered the
secret Of her history. @Ss 'e
Silence then, as Mrs Whitney and Mrs.
Gaines, she has prosecuted her claim to the
property of Daniel Clark, as his lawful heir,
with zeal, earnestness ard energy, which
have rarely been equaled in the annals OF
litigation. The difficulty has been to es-
tabiish the marriage between Zulime and
Daniel Clark. Certainly, mystery has