The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-01
MYSTERIES or MApAME.
An Old French Woman and In. ou..,

AN OAd french Woman and tE1e Ouee
Tales Told About Her.
i Somewhat back from the street
hear the outskirts of RoseIle, N. j.,
stands the old white house, small
and simple.looking enough, about
which has hung for years halo 81
romance and an air of mystery.
There for years lived alone Mime.
ho Y 81 Charlier, an old French Wo-
man, to whom the nelghbors at.
trlbuted. supernatural gifts, and. ia
whom they came in times Of trouble
and perplexity for counsel and adj
vice. == |:.x -.
Many stories are told of this old
woman's wonderful power-how she
healed the sick; and it was told on
cold winter nights, when the. wind
blew and. the children chrouched
close to the open fire, that in one
instance she brought the dead to
life. This story is not often told,
but when it is it is told with bated
breath and hushed tongue. So
For years the old woman lived
alone. She saw almost no one save
those who needed her advice. To
such she was always accessible;
others were apt to have the door
shut in their faces when they called.
,, vi course, gossip about madame
was rife. No one knew how she
lived, for she never took money for
her services, her invariabIe reply to
all such offers being:
"Give to the poor, give to: the
poor"
In no way was Nine. Charlier more
marked than in heE dress. She still
chung to the fashions Of fifty years
ago. Her hair was parted in the
middle and drawn down over the ears.
On her head was an old poke, bonnet
trimmed with gay flowers. Her skirts
spread about her IN a. fashion which
years ago was termed "outlandish, ;"
but which is to-day termed t.too
sweet for anything.' She wore no
wrap save a plaid shawl of red and
yellow. The old woman's face was
clear cut, and wrinkles which came
with old age could not conceal but
rather emphasized the beauty which
had been hers.
Sometimes the old woman would
become garrulous and then she would
tell strange stories of her life How,
because of her royalistic tendencies,
she and her husband had been ban
ished from their home in France;
how all their property had been con-
fscated by the French governm eat
and they had to come to this country
with what money they could hastily
collect, bringing it with them in an
old oak chest.
All, that chest! What stories have
been told of it. What rumors have
gone abroad concerning it.
Everyone near Roselle. had heard
Of the old box. The whole place
knew that Mime. Charlier cared more
for it than for all her earthly pos
sessions beside. No one knew it's
contents although many efforts were
made to discover the secret of the
oak chest, says theNew York Herald.
When the old woman died, week
Or more ago, tbs neighbors grieved
but soon curiosity got the better of
grief and they began to wonder when
speculate as to it's contents.
The box was opened lately by the
lawyer who had charge of Nine.
Charters estate. When the, lid was
opened there was a murmur of dis
appointment. Lying on the top of the
contents of the box was a piece con-
tanning about twenty-five yards of
black silk. The murmur soon changed
to one of awe-struck amazement;
under the silk was m ass of glitter
ing jewels.
There they lay in shining heap,
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, opals,
pearls, and amethysts. Rich in pro-
fusion. Gems of untold value.
There were diamond rings galore.
two diamond necklaces, brooches and
bracelets, and any quantity Of unset
stones. Then, too, there was lnys-
terious black belt, covered with
mystic signs and held together with
buckle containing twenty-six large
diamonds of the first water.
The contents of the box were esti-
mated to be worth at least $4,000.
The box has been placed at the Ma
tional State bank at Elizabeth, where
it will be kept until the court decides
upon a proper custodian for the