Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-29
A Poor French Girls Romance.


ver,able romance in real life. the facts
of which are voucbed for by the attorney of
the Young LADY in the case, has been devel-
ooed by his efforts TO prepare the wav for the
admission to probate of a will by which she
was made Joint heiress of a valuable estate
upon conditions which are now in course of
fulfillment. The principal characters in the
story which might be named s'The Silver
King" THE Lost Heir" "a Tale of Two
Cities" or 1.-THE Romance of a Poor Young
Woman" are wealthy Wall Street operator,
a wayward youth who ran away from home
and made a fortune. and French young
lady, companion to a desolate but wealthy
widow. The story as related Yesterday to a
Tribune reporter by John S Griffith, law
yer. whose office is in the Garfield building,
No 26 Court st., BROOKLYN, is as follows:
In 1871 Joseph w. Walters, New York
broker. living with his wife and only son in
Greene ave-. near st. James-place, BROOKLYN
died. leaving a fortune of 500, 900 to his
widow. She was at that time about forty
e,ebt wears old. and her son, Lester.D Wal
,ers was sixteen. The boy was OF a rowing
di.position. and wearing of the strict disci.
Mine of his mothers household, he resolved
10 leave home and seek his fortune in the
West. Having saved a little money from the
allowance which Mrs Walters gave him, he
hacked his trunk one day, informed his
mother of his intention, and took sudden
departure. His mother thought he would
soon see the error of his WAYS, and was pre-
pared to kill the tatted calf as soon as the
prodipal should return Time passed on and
no tidings of the truant were received. After
a while the lonely widow inserted an
advertisement in a New York newspaper
calling for a Young lady companion. Among
IL,
Miss Marie De Lacy, Young French girl.
who had been brought I'D in Paris and found
herself without friends 10 this country. She
WAS of prepossessinp appearance and manner
was an accomplished reader and converse
tionalist. and was a fine pianist. She was en-
gagged and was soon the trusted friend of the
lonely occupant of the brownston mansion
in Green Avenue. They continued to live in
this home for several wears, and then nothing
having been heard from young Walters, who
was mourned as one dead they went to
Europe and spent two wears in travel, going
a. far AZ Palestine. Mrs, Walters became
strongly attached to the Young woman, and
treated her az daughter They returned to
this country where thew continued their tray
els. AT length 10 1882 Mrs. Walters died in
this city, where they were Temporarily living,
left a curious will.
''The W ill is at nv Office, said LAWYER
Griffith to a reporter who called upon him at
his home. No. 1888 Madison street, BROOKLYN.
"but its exact terms are nearly as follows;
Il give. devise and beoueathe all nv prop-
erty, both real and personal, of every kind
and nature. wheresoever the same NAV be
situated in trust upon the following condi-
lions: First. II is nv will and intention that
nv friend. Marie De Lacy. after NV decease
shall faithfully search for and find. if possi.
ble nv son. Lester d. Walters. and il the
said Lester d. Walters is unmarried it is NV
wish that he and nv friend Marie De Lacy
ioin in the bonds of holy wedleck If either
INV son or nv friend. Marie De Lacy shall
not consent to said marriage then the share
hereinafter mentioned shall revert to the one
who refuses TO abide nv nv wish second
If nv said son. Lester Walters. refuses
to abide nv wish I Give and devise and he.
onea,h to him one onarter Of NV estate bo,h
real and nersonal and tho remaining tbree-
quarters t give devils. and beoueatb to NV
friend Marie De Lacy. and If said marriage
takes nlaca I Give devise and neoneatb ali
NV nrnnartv hotb real and nersonal 70 nv
beloved son Lester u walters and nv he.
loved friend Marie De Lacv. to he divided