The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-18
A sHOP GlRL'S FOkTUNF.
How the Daughter of a Celebrated
Actor Got 8 Hush and in Paris.
From the PhRG6elphi1 Times.

Actor Got 3 Husband in Paris.
FSom the PhlGGelDhi1 Times
When the Walnut street theater main-
tanned a stock company one Of its number
was an Englishman named Radcliffe. He was
well connected at home. but had ouarrelled
wsth his relatives, and wien his health
mated his resources we're very
limited. In addition to his own
family be had taken charge of an orphan
niece, Lucy Burton. At his death, Lucy
entered tue family Of Mr.. Sedgwick, who
treated her as daughter. She grew up to
be very pretty girl, with great energy of
character and decided faculty for getting
along, and she became an excellent sales
woman in a Market street cloak store.
One of her companions was French girl,
and from her she learned TO speak the
language fluently, and in 1870 she was
offered position in the "Bon Marche,h the
largest retail dry goods house in Paris. 1t
was her especial business TO deal with her
own oountrywomen. The novelty Of the
position made the labor light, aud Lucy soon
came to like the French women, and, as does
every foreigner, to recognize their vast
superiority 10 the men.
Miss Bentonis extreme beauty began TO
attract attention, and her easy manner and
kindiiness made her a favorite with the
patrons Of the place. Among these was an
English major and his wife. He was
a Jolly old soldier, who watched
over bis Old wife and Obeyed her
implicitly. She bought frequently
and largely, and was pleasant 10 serve but
for one infirmity-a most annoying Stutter
The other girls would invariably avoid her,
but Lucy lad patience and liked the old
lady, and Mrs. VaeBce duly appreciated her
kiudiiness, and one day surprised the girl
by an invitation to spend sunday with her
and the major.
They lived on the first floor of a fine old
hotel overlooking the Gardens OF the Tuil-
leries, and for the first time Ia her life Lucy
Burton came in contact with the luxurious
mapniicence with which birth and fortune
surround their possessors in the gay capital
of the world, aud she thoroughly enjoyed it.
This visit was repeated for many successive
SUNDAYS, and one day the girl was surprls
by AN offer from Mrs. Nalehce that she
should quit the Bon Marche and become her
compa ZION on terms SO liberal that Lucy did
not hesitate to accept. Visitors to the house
were al people OF position and culture, and
in familiar intercourse with such society
Lucy Burton acquired that ease Of manner
and address that seems the inheritance of
the higher class in Eng land and France.
Mai, Valence had "a brother, IN elderly,
childless widower, who became aresdent Of
Paris about this tiRse, and was a frequent
visitor at the Hotel Dunont. He was a man
of quiet manners and scholarly tastes, and
it was the dearest Wish Of his sister~in-law
that he should marry an intimate friend of
hers. MADAME c6s Sabran. This lady
was OF excellent family aud about
40, and Mrs. Valence frequently talked with
Lucy about the many reasons that made
such a match most desirable. But Philip
Valence was very cold wooer, and treated
Madame de Sabran precisely as he did the
other ladies that camezto the salon. On the
other hand he took quite fatheTly interest
in his sister-in-law's Beautiful companion
corrected her French, loaned her books to
read and assisted her in such studies as Lucy
had time to pursue. o. 5..sa.
His brother, the major, was a shrewd old
| fellow, who had seen much of the world
and he seemed recently TO have found a great
| source Of amusement in his wifes daily
speculations as TO the probable union be-
| tween her friend and her husbands brother.
| One day he said to his wife: u 'AAE.yra
my dear, think you will be saved much
| vexation and disappointment IL you give
| up all expectation of Philips marrying
| Madame de Sabran. l believe he has an
| idea of what's going on and has rather al
| aversion to the lady and, in fact am sure
that his inclinations are in different direc-
| ton, Have you never suspected that be
was in love with Lucy .--and small blame tC
| him, for there is not az more beautiful
woman in Paris. Remember, we aided il
promoting his first marriage. He got both
| birth and money and his wife's evil temper
made him miserable. Now / am resolved
that we will not interfere with any choice
| he may make, and, frankly, l don't think
| he can do better than marry our beautiful
| American-that Is, if shs'il have him"
Mrs. Valence was amazed beyond meas
ure but she knew her Husbands cha racter
| and SO made up her mind etO ohsy his in
| functions. She became convinced thai
| Lucy was entirely Unconscious oil
! love making, and she WIS not suRpriseC
when one day Philip q Valeuce tolc
her that he would on that day make
Miss Burton an offer a his hand anC
heart. Lucy could scarcely realize wha
| she heard when this stately gentleman
bending over her head, told his story anC
advised her to consult his brother and give
him speedy answer. Then he left her
trembling with apprehension as she thought
| of Mrs Valence When she entered the
room the major at once broke the ice.
"My dear, we know what you would say
| and If you can love my brother your future
happiness will lie assured. He has been d
| good brother and was good son, and there
| is not truer gentlemen in Europe"
Lucy Burton was too sensible to be In
| huenced by any weak sentlmentallty. She
was 26, and might at any moment fiud her
self friendless and compelled to return tC
the precarious drudgery at the counter, and
after a nights deliberation abe told Mr.
Valence that she would do her best to make
his life happy.
Her husband was an enormously ricf
man had beautiful villa In the Riviera
and here the honeymoon was spent, and
Philip Valence never had cause to regret
his union wi h the American girl who had
made his life happy.