Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-11-11
A Poor French Girls I,omance.

i verltaoie romance In real hce, the
facts Of which are vouched for by the
attorney of the young lady in the case.
has been developed by his efforts 10
prepare the way for the admission TO
probate of will by which she was
made joint heiress of valuable estate
upon conditions which are now IN
course of fulflment. The principal
characters in the story, which might be
named "The Silver King" THE Lost
Heir" "a Tale of Two Cities. - or
."rhe Romance of a Poor Young
Woman" are a wealthy Wall street
operator, a waywars youth who ran
away from home and made fortune,
and French young lady, companion
to a desolate but wealthy widow. The
story as related to a reporter by John
5. Griffith, lawyer, whose Office is in
the Garfield building, No. 2G Court 81,
Brooklyn, is as follows:
In 1871 Joseph w. Walters, a New
York broker, living with his wife and
only son in Green avenue, near st.
James place, Brooklyn, died leaving a
fortune of 500, 900 10 his widow. She
was at that time about forty eight years
old, and her son, Lester ID. Walters,
was sixteen. The boy was of a rowing
disposition, and wearying of the strict
discipline OF his mother household, he
resolved to leave home and seek his
fortune in the West. Having saved
little money from the allowance which
Mrs. Walters gave him, lie packed his
trunk one day, informed his mother of
his intention. and took a sudden depar-
ture. HIS mother thought he would
soon see the error of his ways, and WAS
prepared to kill the fatted calf as soon
as tire prod gal should return. Time
passed on and no tidlngs of tie truant
were received. After Il while the lone
lv widow inserted an advertisement in
a New York newspape. calling for
young lady companion. Among those
WHO applied for the position was Miss
Marie De Lacy, 4 young French girl
who had been brought up In Paris, and
found herself without friends in this
country. She was of prepoSSesslng APP
pearance and manner, was an accom-
pliShed reader and conversatIOnalist,
and was fine pianist. She was ell
gagged, and was soon the trusted friend
of the lonely occupant OF the brOwl-
stone mansion III Greene avenue. They
continued to live in this home for sew
eral years. and then, nothing having
been heard from young Walters, who
was mourned as one dead, they went to
Europe and spent two years in travel,
going as far as Palestine. Mrs. Walters
became strongly attached to the young
woman, and treated her as a daughter.
They returned TO this country. where
they continued their travels. At
length in 1882 Mrs. Walters died in
tl.is city, where they were temporarily
living, and left a curious VIII.
The will is at my Ciiice,n ~ said Law
yer Griffith to the reporter who called
upon him at his home. No. 333 Madison
street, Brooklyn, "bIt its exact terms
are nearly as follows:
81 give, devise and bequeath all my
both real and personal, of
every kind and nature, wheresoever the
same may be situated in trust, upon
the following conditions: First, 1t is
my will and intention that my friend,
Marie De Lacy, after my decease, shall
faithfully search for and find, if pos
sible, my son, Lester ID. Walter, and
if the said Lester d. Walters is unmar-
ried it is my wish that lie and my friend
Marie De Lacy. join in the bonds of
wedlock. If either my son or my friend
Marie De Lacy shall not consent to
said marriage, then the share herein
after mentioned shall revert to the one
who refuses to abide by my wish. See
ond, if my said son, Lester ID. Walters;
refuses to abide by my wish, l give and
devise and bequeath 10 him one-quarter
of my estate, both real and personal,
and the remaining quarters Igive
devise and bequeath to my friend,
Marie De Lacy; and if said marriage
takes place, l give, devise and bequeath
all my property, both real and personal
to my believe dson, Lester ID. Walters,
and my beloved friend, Marie De Lacy,
to be divided between; them equally,
share and share alike. The expenses
growing out of the search for my son
are to be paid out of my estate"
Mr.. Griffith said that two years ago
be was introduced by a well-knewn
Wall street operator and owner of
silver mines in Mexico who did not
wish his name to be published, TO Miss
De Lacy, who was living with friends
in West Fifty-second street, in this city;
that having learned the facts of the
case, and having also learned from a
schoolmate of Mr.. Walters that he was
said to be in Mexico, he advertiZed for
lim In a Mexican newspaper. The
was answered by Mr.. |
Walters, who came to this city recently.
By preconcerted arrangement the lawyer
.ook Mr.. Walters to the Bijou Theatre !
about six weeks ago, where Miss De |
Lacy and Mr.. Griflith's friend occupied
. box. The young lady was pointed
,ut to Mr.. Walters, who fell In love |
With her at first sight. They were |
introduced after the play and the party |
vent to Delmonico's. Mr.. Walters. |
Who did not know who she was and |
Knew nothing of the terms of the will, |
Tisited her afterward and they became
Engaged to be married. Then the |
awyer explained the little plot to Mr..
Walters by which they had been brought
ogether and told him about the will.
dr. Walters was pleased and the we'd
ling soon followed.