The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-23
BROKEN HEARTS.
Ihe Romance of the Prince Imperial
of France.


of Franco.
From The New York Sun.
The following is the substance of a ro-
mantle tale which is running through the
French ana English papers:
when the prince imperial was twenty
years of age he was a student at Wool
wich. One day he made the acquaintance
OF young lady whom he admired and by
whom he was admired. A love affair was
started Immediately, and in due time there
happened what too often happe,.s in such
cases; the lovers told their affection and
proved it, At this time the young woman
was ignorant of the rank and title of her
lover. AS the empress was very close
nSted, almost miserly she gave very little
money to her son. He was kept down to
certain small allowance, and he passed
himself off as a young man whose family
had small resources. It was under these
conditions that the first chapter of the
romance opcned The prince imperial was
bright, educated. and very cordial when
he met this young woman. She was a
governcss named Mary Watkins and was
the daughter of the head gamekeeper of
Chiselhurst. AS long as possible she kept
her love affair a secret, and at last went
to HVe at SO Jermyn street, London, where
the prince sent her numerous letters and
tes~gra.ns .,nder the rane of Watkins. He
gave her in all 1895 sterling. On his
She did not at first know who he was. but
one day she was greatly surprised at seeing
her lover chatting Familiarity with Lord
Beaconsf1eld al the entrance of the Bromp-
ton oratorio on the occasion of the marriage
of the duchess of Norfolk. Some time after
ward she found his photograph, with the
ribbon and the cross Of the Legion Of Honor
Her affection for the prince was genuine
and clear of all spirit of speculation. Their
correspondence was of the usual affection
ate nature and some of the letters have
been published in Galignanis Messenger.
N. FrancescninI Pietri and the Marquis de
La Nalette. the son-ln-iaw Of NJ. Rouher
attempted to deny the authenticity of these
letters in January, 1897, pld in the discus
sion which followed their authenticity was
made perfectly clear Since then it tlpued
out that the rN-emnress purchased the
documents from the person who held them.
Never. hec.ls, sire oNidentl' did not get
possession of them all, and the following
advertisement, which appe;>reu in the Lon
dor papers nf lsS7 Went &C snUN thai some
nilssIlt st!ll bc n.';:sll.e.
The Prince Imperial-Persons possessing
dIrect information respecting the late prince
and tile younr English woman, recently
referred 10 in the English and continental
press, are requested to communicate with
Mr. Henry Slater, manager, 5latel's detec-
tive Offices = Basiugnai street, London
In due time a baby appeared and brought
a heap Of trouble in this imperial love affair.
The empress was made aware of the fact,
and was greatly shocked. AS she was
then, and is still, on The best of terms with
the queen, she hoped to bring about the
marriage Of her son to the youngest
daughter OF rer majesty. She resolved to
breah off his attachment Tor Mary Wat
kius and advised or ordered him to depart
at ohce for Huluiand The prince obeyed,
and the rest is known.
After his death. Mary Watkins with her
son presented herself at Canden house, but
the empress would not see her She did
not want anything, ana never asked any
thing OF the empress. She went to Paris
left the child with friend III Bercy, and
set out for Melbourne, where she is still
earning her living as governess. Princess
MatEiide WAS the first to become Interested
in the child. and afterWard perhaps the
eX-empress herself. At all events, if one
wished h ind ont why the empress comes
50 often TO Paris, and is frequently
seer. III lonely parts of the Bois de Bou-
losne in company with a young colIegian,
the mystery might easily be cleared up
7 he police authorities i'll Paris have record
of aP these visits, and are aware of all
the facts IN the case.