Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-17
A WHEELING ROMANCE.
a SUPPOSED HErREss FOUND.

| In part, reaos INV P'P''
nance
Reference has once or twice been
made in the Intclhgencer to the history
| of Mile. Paula de Branco, now the wife
of DR.. L. Z. Niles. Both the Doctor
and his wife are former Wheeling peo-
pie. DR.. Niles is pretty well known in
the city. Mile. Branco was for some
weeks early last summer teacher
Of her own language, the French,
at the Academy Of the Vista
ton, Mt. de Chantal, east of this city.
While she was still in Wheeling the
Inteliigencer learned something Of her
story, and investigated it with view
Of publishing so much Of it as proved
authentic and of public interest. This
purpose was abandoned for reasons
which may hereafter appear. Portions
of her story have been printed hereto
fore, but those episodes which occurred
in this city, and which form important
links in her career, have never been re-
lated.
wHoPAULA DE BRANCo is.
Mile. Paula de Branco is the daugh-
ter of French couple who were living
in Brazil at the time Of her birth. Her
father, Rodriguere d. 0liverra de Bran
co, was one of the wealthiest men in
Brazil, but suffering reverses, returned
to France to preserve the remnants of
his splendid fortune. To recover his
lost estates be entered extensively into
the gambling operations of Monaco, and
there lost all he had not parted with in
Brazil. Like many another sufferer
from the same cause, de Banco took his
life rather than return and face the fam
ily his recklessness had rendered penni-
less. This family consisted Of the wife,
Gabrielle de Branco, an older daugh-
ter and q son, besides Paula, then
little girl of seven years. They
were living in considerable style in
Toulouse. With the few remaining
francs left her, and by the sale of her
jewelry and costly effects, Madame de
Branco managed to make her way to
Geneva, Switzerland, where she took
humble lodgings, her elder daughter
aiding in the support Of the family by
singing on the Vaudeville stage. Here
she met rowing player who won her
affections, and with him eloped, leaving
her mother alone to battle with the
world, her son, young man, being a
worthless, shiftless character, given to
gaming whenever he could scrape to-
gether few coins.
In this strait, Madame de Branco
formed a discreditable alliance with a
member of the French legation at
Geneva, a man of whom her husband
had been suspicious in hislife. To this
man the young Paula took such dis
like that her mother, with the aid Of
Catholic priest, induced a wealthy and
philanthropic Englishman, resident at
St. Julien, in Savoy, not far from
Geneva. to care for the child. The boy
about this time came to An untimely
end.
PAULA COMES TO AMERICA.
The Englishman referred to, Mr..
Trafford, sent Paula to the st. Julien
Convent school, and bore the expenses
of her maintenance and education there.
Concerning this gentleman connection
with Paula's affairs there is difference
Of opinion. She herself avers-and
there is no reason to question ner SIM
cerity and honesty in making the state
ment--that Mr.. Trafford was her
guardian. NJ. Henri Blanc, of Gal
lipolis, Ohio, who claims to be the exc
, cutter and residuary legatee Of Mr.. Traf-
ford. says that the latter was only led to
do what he did on the girls behalf,
through his goodness of heart. In 1871,
NJ. Blanc says Mr.. Trafiord informed
= him of his intentions toward him, and
when, in 1878, Traford died, he found
that he had been named in the will as
testamentary executor and residuary
legatee. BY this will Trafford left Paula
> de Branco an annuity Of 1920 francs
(s24O) to be paid by Blanc yearly.
/ When the latter reached st. Julien in
: response to a cablegram which reached
= him at Gallipolis, announcing Trafford's
: death, he found that man calling him.
: self Francis Gillaume Trafford had set
S up claim to Trafford's estate, alleging
b that he was his son. The estate, NJ.
s Blanc asserts, is still locked up owing
to the litigation, which is very tedious,
Q many vexed questions of international
law having entered into the case.
There are dark hints of foul play at the
death of Trafford, but these have no
I thing to do with the present story.
n Paula being left without resources
o was obliged to leave the costly school
= at st. Julien. NJ. Blanc, moved, as hS
says, by her helpless condition, Offered
her home beneath his roof at CALI
polls, and she accepted. In 1881 sht
came to America with him. She her
I, self. as heretofore stated, asserts tina
II she was kept in seclusion for severa
=. months at Gallipolis, and finally es
y capped to the house Of Louis Baer, {
y neighbor. This story, however, NJ
1t Blanc ridcules, and the real truth cal
10 only be conjectured.
t, SHE COMES TO WHEELING.
d Mile. de Branco went to Detroit a
lie one time, where she taught French in
- Catholic school. Afterwards she wa
an inmate Of the family Of Congressmal
TO Hopkins, of Pittsburgh, acting as COVER
ness and companion to his daughter
From there she returned to Gallipolis
RS A lady at Gallipolis became interest
ID ed in the young lady, who is said to b
n. Of singularly guileless, frank, an
- :. winning disposition, and to make friend
~ wherever she goes. Through the in
70 strumentality Of this lady, who wa
also a Catholic, Mile. de Branco SC
at cured a position as teacher Of Frenc
% at Mount de Chantal. and she cam
~ here early in 1885 or late in 1884.
She made a favorable impression {
the Mount, being highly educated an
possessed of peculiar faculty for vii
ming the friendship of the pupils. St
is was apparently content, and the Sister
)" of the Visitation were disposed to col
=. graduate themselves that they hs
secured n prize in the new Frenc