The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29
A Romantic Story.

Among the guests at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel in New York city, in the summer
of 1864, was lady Of wealth, who was
known as Mrs Capt. Worthley. She
was the reputed wife of Capt. Worth
'ey, then in charge of a first: Class clipper
engaged in the China trade. She had no
children of her own, but was passionate
ly fond of them, and often had with her
as a companion at the hotel or at the
seaside the son or daughter of some of
her friends. One day in July of the
year already named, French laundress
named Mortinet, who had been working
for Mrs Worthley, called at the hotel to
deliver some laces to that lady She had
with her at the time a little girl aged
four years. She was a pretty child but
somewhat sickly, and in the course of
conversation with Mrs. Worthley the
mother expressed fear that the child
would become victim of consumption.
Mrs. Worthley stated that on the follow
ing day she would start for Long Branch
to be gone six weeks, and that nothing
would please her so much as to have
Mrs. Mortlnet's little girl with her. The
mother was 10th to let the child 90, but
the idea that a trip to the seaside would
improve the little ones declining health,
and the promise of Mrs. Worthley that
the child should have the best of care,
induced her to part company with her
little darling. Mrs. Worthley took her
departure, and two months passed by
without Mrs. Mortinet learning an8hing
of her or her child. She then became
alarmed and reported the matter at Pc.
lice Headquarters.
An investigation was MADE by the
officers, and the result of it was that they
learned that Mrs. Worthley went to Long
Branch with the little giri and boy
about three years of age; that she re-
manned there but two days and left, TAX
ing the children with her. The mother
being in poor circumstances was unable
to offer anything in the shape of areward,
consequently the search for the missing
woman and the abducted child was aban-
doned by the police. The mother, how
ever, did not discontinue her endeavors
to learn of the whereabouts of her stolen
girl. In the course of her inquiries
she learned that Mrs. Wothley had, on
her return from Long Branch, taken
passage on one of the Cunard steamers
for Liverpool, and that after doing Eu-
rope" she had sailed for China, and from
there had sailed for California. When
then the Aimee opera troupe was about
to leave New York for this city, on the
occasion of their first professional visit,
Mdlle. Marie Aimee, who had heard of
Mrs. Mortinets affection, promised to
use her best endeavors to learn some
thing of the kidnaper. True to her
promise, Mdlle. Aimee, after her arrival
here, took steps to find out if Mrs.
Worthley was in the city, and adver-
tised for her, but naught came of her eff
forts.
A few months ago Mrs. Mortinet de-
termined to make an individual effort TO
find her lost child in San Francisco, hav-
ing heard from some source that the
woman who had stolen her girl was in
this city or in its immediate vicinity.
Some time after her arrival she inserted
advertisements in different newspapers
asking for information, but cid not learn
anything about what she was in search
man called upon her and made state
ment which gave her ray of hope. He
said that several years ago there came to
Oakland lady and two children-a boy
and girl. She took up her residence in
house on the San Pablo road, and as
she was very wealthy she soon formed a
large circle of aCquaintances. She, how
ever, was very reticent as to her previous
history, and all efforts to ascertain who
she was or where she came from proved
futile. The children, who appeared
to be very much attached to her, called
her mother. The lady had bestowed
upon the children liberal education,
and they had all that money purchases
to satisfy their whims. One day the lady
was taken i'll and gradually grew worse
until the attending physicians, after a
consultation, pronounced her case hope
less. One afternoon she called the
nurse to her and and told her that she
had great secret to impart. She told
her that the children who called her
mother were not hers. She gave the
name and former residence of the mother
of the girl, and was about to give that
of the boy, when she became unconscious
and in short time breathed her last.
The secret of the boys birth died with
her. Mrs. Mortinet became satisfied
that this girl was her long-lost daughter,
and fastened to Oakland, where she had
an interview with her. The girl, who is
now about seventeen years of age, is the
perfect image of her mother, and this is
the only proof the mother has in support
of the claim of relationship. The girl
refused to recognize her. Mrs. Mortinet
will probably have recourse to the courts
to regain possession of her child San
francisco Call.