The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-04-04
THE DEAD CAMILLE.
Her Secret Marriage with Henry Herbert
Byrne-Wlly they Separnted-Pursued by
tho Shadow Of an ErrinR Sisters Sin

tween MIR. Byrne and the late Matllda
Heron is now published for the first time
Miss Heron made her de6utin San Fran.
cisco December 26th, 1853, and, making
wonderful success, fame and wealth
were rapidly acquired. Among the hos
of friends her talents gathered around
her none were more 'assiduous in theil
attentions than Henry Byrne, and theil
friendship having developed into deer
affection it was an earnest wish of his that
she should leave her profession and be.
come his wife. This Miss Heron did
not want to do then, as already arrange
lnents had been completed for her broth
er to escort her abroad, and she desired
to defer her marriage until after her re-
turn and the fulflment of two theatrical
engagements she had made-one in Pitts.
burgh and one in New York city. At last
moved by his frequent solicitations, she
consented to secret marriage and be.
came Mr.. Byrne's wife. both determining
not to reveal their relation to each other
until after her return and the completion
of her contracts to play in the two cities
above mentioned.
With loving words and bright hopes
for the future they parted, the wife, ac'
companied by her niece and brother, tc
60 in one of her fathers vessels to Eu-
rope; the" husband, with fond expect
ancy, to await her return as the realiza.
tion Of all his dreams of happiness.
Miss Heron had been absent some time
when large number of prominent gen.
tlemen of California met at social din
ner, Mr.. Byrne making one of the party.
The conversation turning upon women,
mention was made of Miss Heron's re.
markable abilities, when some one sneer-
ingly alluded to her being All actress. Al
this Mr.. Byrne requested "that Miss
Heron be spoken of with more respect,
as he would answer for her being a
lady" One of the party satirically re.
marked: Probably she is as much Of
lady as the original of this" taking a
daguereotype from his pocket and hand.
ing it to his next neighbor at the table,
who, in turn, passed it to another.
Every one upon seeing it exclaimed
"Miss Heron!' Mr.. Byrne, upon look.
ing at it, said: "My God where did
you get this ?" "Gentlemen," replied
the owner of the picture, "that is moi
Miss Heron, but a picture of her sister,
called Kate Ridgely, and the proprie.
tress of a gilded palace of sin in New
York, known as the House of Mir.
ors.' The effect of this statement upon
Mr.. Byrne may be imagined, he being al
excessively proud man.
The irregularities and uncertainties of
the mails was Mr.. Byrne's excuse for not
writing about this affair to Miss Heron,
and he long kept brooding over the mat
ter. Her silence on the subject he is
said to have considered willful deception
on her part, and gradually his mind be,
came biased against her. Upon her re.
turn to this country, he met her at Pitts.
burgh, and he at once broached the sub
ject that seemed of such importance tc
him, "reproaching her for bringing a stail
upon his name and deceiving him. ,
"How could he take her to California
and acknowledge her as his wife wher
her sisters position was the talk of the
State ?" This and much more he said
and those knowing Miss Heron's high
spirit and integrity of purpose will moi
wonder at the reply she made him.
Seventeen years ago (she said) I re
member, as a child, seeing a young wild
owed sister an inmate of my fathers
house; then she disa. peared, my brother
followed, was absent two or three days
and returned, bringing her little girl o.
two years back with him. The child was
brought up in my fathers house, but t e
mothers name was never mentioned in
the family. Ihave heard that I remark.
ably resembled, in form and face, thai
sister; but since childhood I have never
seen her. What temptations or trials
caused her to fall I do not know; but
wherever she is my prayers will follow
her. AS for my not showing you this
blotted page in our family history, did
not think of it in connection with our af.
fairs; but now, thank heaven our mar
riage was a secret one. You return tc
the friends whose noble occupation is the
bandying about of woman's fame. With
them cherish your spotless name. am
not ashamed of mine, but will cling to it,
and from henceforth will be welded tC
my profession. After reflection changed
Mr.. Byrne's views of the subject. He
followed Miss Heron to New York, urged
her to forgive his injustice and return
with him to San Francisco: but all his
persuasions, aided by the entreaties Of
her brother (whom he had enlisted in his
cause), did not avail to change her decis'
ion. Ambition took the place of love
and made her heart dumb to all his
pleadings. Finding there was no hope
he finally consented to a separation,
though neither Of them ever obtained a
divorce.
On being asked recently why she did
not refute the aspersions made upon her
character by publishing the true facts
connected with the separation OF MIR.
Byrne and herself Miss Heron said: 81
cannot do it. The sister who was the
unfortunate cause of our trouble could not
cling to evil; bitterly repentant, she
changed her course of life and at last
married a gentleman of position and
wealth, after making him acquainted
with the errors of her past. Now she is
aged, and her days are spent in doing
good to others. If wrote n vindication
Of myself the public would expect names
and particulars regarding her, which
would tend to wound and humiliate her
deeply; therefore I will bear it for my
sisters sake" Thought her hearersthen,
Matilda Heron, your insanity does not
reach your heart, or if such a resolve is
the result of mania God grant more per-
sons in this world may turn mad.
The funds with which she was enabled to
90 to California to contest the will of Mr..
Byrne were part of the proceeds of a
grand benefit rendered her by generous
dramatic friends in New York. The
benefit was splendid success, buta man
who managed to get possession of the
money swindled Miss Heron out of all
except a few hundred dollars.