The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-21
The Chilly Argns,
Rock ISLAND, ...........ILLINo1s,
TIE SHADOW OF A Gin.
The History of Matilda Heron's Sc
cret Marriage to Henry Byrne,
and Its Dissolution --Pursued
by a Sisters Shame.
From the Nea0 York Herald.

OV SISTER s Shame.
From the Nea0 York Herald.
The true cause of the separation b,
tween Mr.. Byrne and Matilda Heron !,
now published for the first time. Mis-,
Heron made her debut in San Francisco
Dec. 20, 1858, and, making a wonderful
success. fame and wealth were RAPIDLY ac
CURED. Among the host of friends heI
talents gathered around her, none were
more assiduous in their attentions than
Henry Byrne, and their friendship having
developed into deep affection it was an
earnest wish of his that she should leave
her profession and become his wife. This
Miss Heron did not want to do then. as
already arrangements had been completed
for her brother to escort her abroad, and
she desired to defer her marriage until af.
ter her return and the fulfllment of two
theatrical engagements she had made-one
10 Pittsburgh and one In New York citv
At last, moved by his frequent solicitations,
she consented to secret marriage and
became MIR. Byrnes wife, both determin
ing not to reveal their relations to each 9th
er until after her return and the comple
ton OF her contracts to play in the two
cues ABOVE mentioned.
With loving words and bright hopes for
the future, they parted, the wife accom-
panied by her neice and brother, to 20
IN one of her fathers vessels to Europe;
the husband, with fond expectancy. to
wait her return as the realization of all
his dreams of happiness. Miss Heron
had been absent some time when a large
number OF prominent gentlemen of Cali
tornia met at social dinner, Mr.. Byrne
making one OF the party. The conversa-
ton turning upon women, mention was
made OF Miss heron's remarkable abilities
when some one sneeringly alluded to her
being an actress. At this Mr., Byrne re-
quested that Miss Heron be spoken of
with more respect, as he would answer for
her being lady" One of the party satiri-
cally remarked, Probably she is as much
of lady is the Original of this" taking
= daguerrotype from his pocket and hand
Ing 1t to his next neighbor at the table.
who 10 turn, passed it to another. Every
one upon seeing it exclaimed, Miss Her
on! Mr.. Byrne, upon looking at it. said
My God! where did you get this ?''
"GentlemeD, replied the owner of the
picture, that is net Miss Heron, but a
picture OF her sister, called Kate RidgeIy.
and the proprietress of a gilded palace of
sin in New York, known as the House Of
Mirrors. " he effect Of this statement
on Mr.. Byrne may be imagined, he being
an excessively proud man.
The Irregularities and uncertainty of the
mails was Mr.. Byrne's excuse for not
writing about this affair to Miss Heron,
and he long kept brooding over the matter.
Her silence on the subject he is said to have
wlllful deception on her part.
and gradually his mind became biased
against her. Upon his re,urn to this
country be met her at Pittsburgh, and he
at once preached the subject that seemed
such Importance to hlm, "reproachino
her for bringing a stain upon his name and
decaIVlng HIM How could he take her
to California and acknow dye her az his
wife when her sisters position was the
talk OF the state?' This and much more
ne said, and those knowing Miss Heron's
high spirit and integrity Of purpose will
lot wonder at the reply She made him.
Nccyeht .en years ago (shu said) [ re-
neulheT. ~ Il child, seeing young wild
owed sister an inmate I'll my fathers
loase; then she 4lisa ppeared, my brother
lnd returned, bringing her little girl Of
We years back with him The child was
trough; up in NY fathers house, but the
mother name was never mentioned 10
he family. | have heard that | remark |
lbly rescmbled, 10 form and face, that
lister; but since childhood | have never
een her. " hat temptations and trials |
:aused her to fall do not know; but
wherever she is my prayers follow her |
As for my not showing you this blotted |
page in our family history, | did not think |
II II 10 connection with our affairs; but |
low, thank heaven! our marriage was a
ecret one. You return to the friends |
whose noble occupation is the bandying |
bout OF woman's fame. With them |
berlsh your spotless name. | am not
IshalDed of mine, but will cling to it, and
lenoeforth will be welded to my profess
ion"
After reflection changed Mr..
}yrne's views of the subjnct. He fol
owed Miss Heron to New York, urged |
Ter to forgive his injustice and return with |
I'M to San Francisco; but all bis persuas
Ons aided by the entreatics of her brother
whom he had Unlisted in his cause), did
Tot avail to change her decision. Ambi~
ion took the place of love, and made her
leart dumb to all his pleadings. Finding
here was no hope, he finally consented to
separation, though neither of them ever
btaiDed a divorce.
On being asked recently why she did
lot refute the aspersioas made upon her
haracter by publishing the true facts in
onnection with the separation of Mr..
}yrne and herself, Miss Heron said Il
annot do it, The sister who was the IN
ortunate cause of our trouble could not
ling to evil; bitterly repentant,she chang
d her course of life and at last married
Gentleman OF position and wealth, after
making him acquainted with the horrors of
t the past. Now she is aged, and her
ays are spent in doing good to others.
t | wrote a vindiction of myself, the
ubllc would expect names and particulars
egarding her, which would tend to wound |.
nd humiliate her deeply; therefore I will
ear it for my sisters sake" Thought
Ter hearers then, Matilda Heron, your
insanity does not reach your heart, or if
uch resolve is the result of mania, God
rant moro persons IN the world may turn
lad.