Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-28
A FRENCH GIRLS ROMANCE.
To Marry Her Dead Mistress Son Who
Was Lost.
From the Ns,o York Tribune.

n NefiJhOle FOmauCe III AcoA nv bAS
facts Of which are vouched for by the at
torney ofthe 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 q valuable estate upon conditions
which are now in course Of fulhllment.
The principal characters IN the story,
which might be called The silver King
'Ihe Lost Heir" "a Tale Of Two Cities"
or "The Romance Of Poor Young
Woman" are a wealthy Wall street oper-
atOr, a Wayward youth who ran away
from home and made a fortune, and a
French young lady, companion TO desc
late, but wealthy, widow. The story as
related to a reporter by John S. Griffith, a
lawyer, whose Office is in the Garfield
building, No. 20 Court street, Brooklyn, is
as follows:
In 1871 Joseph W. Walters, New York
broker, living with his wife and only son
in Greene avenue, near st. James place,
BROOKLYN. died, leaving n fortune OF $780,
900 to bis widow. She was at that time
about 48 years old, and her son, Lester ID.
Walters, was Is. The boy was OF a rowing
disposition. and wearyng Of the strict
discipline OF his mothers household. he
resolved TO leave home and seek his for
tune IN the West. Having saved little
money from the allowance which Mrs.
Walters gave him, he packed his trunk
one day, informed his mother Of his inten-
ton, and took sudden depar-
lure. His mother thought he would soon
see the error OF his ways, and was pre-
pared to kill the fatted calf as soon as the
prodigal should return. Time passed on
and no tdIngs Of the truant We're received.
After a while the lonely widow inserted
an advertisement IN New York news
paper calling for a young lady cOmpan-
ion. Among those who applied for the
position was Miss Marie de Lacy, young
French girl, who had been brought up in
Paris, and found herself without friends
in this country. She WAS Of progresses
Ing appearance and manner, was an ac-
c0mplisAed reader and cOnYer5atiOnalist,
and was fine pianist. She was engaged,
and was soon the trusted friend of the
lonely occupant Of the brown stone man
sion In Greene avenue. They continued
to live in this home for several years,
and then, nothing having been heard from
young W alters, who was mOurned as one
dead, they went 10 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 this
city, where they were temporarily living,
and left a curious will.
"The will is at my office" said LAWYER
Griffith yesterday TO the reporter who
called upon him at his home, No. $50
Madison street, Brooklyn, "but its exact
terms are nearly as follows:
81 give, devise ana bequeath all my
property, both real and personal, of every
kind and nature, wheresoeYer the same
may be situated, IN trustupOn the follow
ing conditions: l. 1t is my will and
intention that my friend, Marie de Lacy,
after my decease shall faithfully search
for and find, il possible, my son, Lester
D. Walters, and if the said Lester y.
Walters is unmarried it is my wish that
he and my friend Marie de Lacy Join in
the bonds of holy wedlock. If either my
son OF my friend, Marie de Lacy, shall
not consent TO said marriage then
the share hereinafter mentioned
shall revert to the one who
refuses to abide by my wish. Second, il
my said son, Lester ID. Walters, refuses
to abide by my wish, l give and devise
and bequeath TO him one quarter Of my
estate, both real and personal, and the re.
naming three-quarters | give, devise and
bequeath 10 my friend, Marie de Lacy;
and if said marriage takes place. | give.
devise and bequeath all my property.
both real and personal, to my beloved
son, Lester d. Walters, and my beloved
friend, Marie de Lacy, TO be divided be.
tween them equally, share and share
alike. The expenses growing out of the
search for my son are TO be paid out of my
estate.'o
MIR. Griffith said that two years ago he
was introduced by q well-known Wal
street operator and owner OF silver mines
in Mexico who did not Wish his name e
be published, to Miss de Lacy, who was
living with friends in West Fifty-seventh
street in this city; that having learned
the facts OF the case, and having alsC
learned from a schOOlmate Of Mr.. Walters
that he was SAID to be in Mexico, he ad
Yertised for him in a Mexican newspaper
The advertisement was answered by MIR
Walters, who came to this city recently
BY precOnoerted arrangement the lawyer
took Mr.. Walters to the Bijou theatre one
night about six weeks ago, where Miss d.
Lacy and Mr.. Griftith's friend occupied q
box. The young lady was pointed out tC
Mr.. Walters, who Tell in love with her al
first sight. They were introduced after
the play, and the party went to Delmon
ico's. Mr.. Walters, who did not know
who she was, and knew nothing of the
terms OF the will. visited her afterward
and they became engaged to be married
Then the lawyer explained the little plot
to MIR. Walters by which they had beer
brought together, and told him about TIT
will. Mr.. Walters was pleased, and the
wedding will take place next Friday.