Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-27

The story of Matilda Heron, including ro-
nance not hitherto known to the world, is told
IN an article in the San Francisco Chronicle Of
March I. The article is really a sketch of the
career Of Henry Herbert Byrne, district attor-
ney, &c, whose death was really announced
and its publication became eNcuSabe with the
filing of his will in the probate court, since the
proceedings to follow mustnecessarily be widely
known.
"Mr. Byrne," saws the Chronicle, "was scarce
ly married in this city on the 10th of June, 1854
TO the celebrated actress, Matilda Agnes Heron,
who is now en- route to San Francisco, for the
purpose Of Contestng the will as the legal wife
OF the deceased, and this fact renders it impos-
sible longer to conceal the DleSdiidnce, however
painful the revelation may be. At the time of
this marriage Miss Heron was in the zenith of
her fame, and was regarded as one of the most
talented and fascinating actresses on the Amer
lean stage Her Camille was one of the best
representations Of the emotional school She
made her first appearance in this city in 1853 at
the old American theatre, on SanSOme street,
and met with the most brilliant success. She
at once became an immense iayorite and
the newspapers Of this city, and at every
place in the state where She appeared teemed
with the most eNtrayagant praise of her his
trlonic powers. Moreover, her talent had Sc
cured recognition in other ways. She was an
accomplished elocutionist, a writer of no mean
ability, authoress of several plays, woman of
generous impulses, intense feeling and faScnat-
ing address," They were married rs stated, and
their honeymoon lasted five DAYS "On June
10th, CONTINUES the Chronicle "tbe romantic
par 6ade each other adieu, and the bride sailed
for Panama on the Sonora to fulfill the engage
ment that was to be her farewell TO the stage
the young husband remaining behind to attend
TO his business and to arrange his affairs that he
could join the object Of bis idolatry at the time
agreed upon. Turning his whole attention to
his business affairs he soon arranged matters to
his satisfaction, and within a short time sailed
for New York, buoyant with the good hopes and
high expectations love alone can inspire in the
human heart, but which, alas were doomed to
vanish like the baseless fabric of vision He
remained with her but a single night, and then
their earthly lllc-pahs dverged forever. 1t is
only known of this parting that information af
iecting the Young wife'S conduct during
her absence was now given him, and
that it must have been of such a
character as the sensitive nature could not over
look. With heart weighed down with the
agony of this wretched termination of his beau
tllul dreams, the disappointed man returned to
San francisco and sought 'surcease of sorrow
10 the concentration Of his energies in the field
OF usefulness in which he occupied so important
a part down to the day of his DEATH How fear
mi the effect of this cruel blow on the head of
larry byrne can only be conceived by those
VINO understand the keenneSs of his sensibilities
and the almost morbid sensitivencss of his re-
hhed nature on points of moral obligation. The
name OF Matilda Heron and the subject of his
unfortunate alliance with her were ever after
ward forbidden subject in his presence, and he
never alluded to the matter even 10 his bosom
friends. Thewll itself bears on its face an eyi
dence of the romantic element in Mr.. Ryrness
| nature. 1t is said that when be first came to
TINS state, III company with Edward K, Carpen-
| Ter, tue young men made q mutual pledge that
| whichever OF them should die first should leave
| Will bequeathing to the survivor the bulk of
| ms property It will be seen that Mr.. Ryrne
| did NOT forget his pledge" Miss Heron left New
| York as soon as she learned of the cath of
Byrne, and will contest the will. lfshe succeeds
in breaking it she will be entitled TO half the
| property OF the deceased, which is valued at
s3OO,OOO, but she will subject herself to the
| charge Of blgaIny, she having married n
man named stoepel subsequently, and gone
| by his name, After this marriage
she went again upon the stage, but
| was not successful She was reported TO
have fallen heir to $4,000 At all events, she
| was wealthy for Il time, when she discovered
That Stoepel had married her merely to get pos.
| session OF her money. Matilda HerOnp saws
| the Chronicle, "nO sooner became convinced of
this than she set about to do what only her own
| generous and peculiar nature could have sup-
| gesled. lie married me for NV money! she
| SAID to her friends, and he shall have it, She
| ut once proceeded to make over to him in leral
| FORM her mouse, her wardrobe, her diamonds
| everything OF value which she had In the world
1t was in vain that her friends attempted to dis
suade her from course so absurd from a utli.
| tarlan point of view. She was obstinate in her
purpose, and completed this sacrifice by paving
| TINS man $3.50 year rent for the very house
| which she decided him, and which she had paid
| TOR win her own hard earned money. OF her
husband, it is Sufficient indication of character
70 say that he accepted all this Her subse-
| quent career has recently been made public i'm n
most unhappy manner. She tried to teach elo-
cuu0n, Out her pupils were few, She wrote
| plays, but they were not successful. She at
tempted new life upon the boards, and was
pronounced crazy, Recently her poverty be-
came known in New York, where she was tenn
porarily living, and she was given matinee
benefit at Niblo's Garden, which netted over