Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-12
Park. and the Chiids entered into pos,

II acter and was, moreover, improvident and careless, and he added to his re- sponsibilities by marrying n very pretty young woman, named Cray, who was a seamstress in one of those one storied shops on Eighth street, below Sansom. Each did their best to make a living, but the husbands health failed, and then poverty came. Mrs. Townley was delicate and could do little 10 support the household, now increased by the birth of siclly boy.
 Rachel Barron had known the elder Townley and nursed his son when i'll with n fever. and she came forward, took the stricken family to her own home at the Fourteen Chimneys" and cared for them. The husband was then dying from quick consumption and the wife failing in health, and both were in effect paupers.
 In the month of March, 1927, n small. ! thin man, evidently English and look ing ve-y much like n ferret, came to see James Townley. He was, he said. n friend of his fathers and had but re- gently heard of the sons affliction. He talked sympathetically, left several dol lars and promised to call again, and this he did several times, always giving Mrs. Townley money.
 Rachel watched him closely and be- came very distrustful. Mrs. Townley had told her something of her husband s history, and after many injunctions to | do nothing until she returned the reso- lute Rachel paid visit to the late Rich ard Mccall.
 He heard her story indifferently, but advised that Mrs. Townley should sign no papers without letting him know of it. The woman hurried home, and en- tering the house heard some one talk ing up stairs. She went at once to the TOwnley's room and peeped in. Two men were at the bedside. James, prop ped up by pill"r:s, had before him on n piece of board q paper. and his wife had just placed pen in his feeble hand. On the table was a pile of notes and gold.
 With rush the mulatto grabbed the paper. almost upsetting both men, who turned on her fiercely.
 Be careful what you re doing, wom- an. That is n legal document that Mir. Townley has received money to execute, | and I'll hold you responsible for dam- ages"
 "All right! This yer is my house. You get out and take yer money with you. We ain't signing anything today |" And the men were resolutely hustled down stairs In an hour after MT. Me Call and his clerk came walking in and heard the story.
 Let me see the paper. An, yes, a shrewd scheme to get Townley to con- vey his right to n magnificent estate for S250. We are just i'll time, it seems. Townley was almost unconscious, but he lived long enough to know that he was the owner of Apley Park. This freak of fortune came about in this | manner.
 Mrs. Childs' husband died before the baronet, and she was the head of the family. Shortly after coming to Apley Park the eldest son broke his neck in | the hunting field and was brought homo dead. His elder sister was in Germany | and her mother received q letter telling of her sudden illness, and with several children, n maid and man attendant started at once to cross the channel, posted through France and got safely to Germany, and with two carriages was | uIlNlHS dtlHS tiit NHCu llt Dlllh gave way and all were precipitatcd into the river. and the maid and postilion alone escaped. Thus the ChildS family was extinguishcd.
 The attorney for the heir lost no time in communicating with MT. Mccall, ap- prising him that one of their clerks had sailed for America, and that his CT rand Was to make some arrangement for his own benefit with the new heir and to warn that gentleman at once Thanks to Rachel Barron, no warn- ing was needed. James Townley died two months after hearing of his good fortune. and his wife, attended by Ra- chcl, started for England. Inside of two years both the widow and son died. Rachel married n very respectable white man in the ncichborhood, moved to Brighton and kept a hotel there. much frequented by Shropshire people. Her property hero was looked after by Rich ard Vaux. who was also n patron of her hotel at Brighton. She died in 1855. quite wealthy.
 The Foster family again came into ownership of Apley Park. and it is now one of the most beautiful places in Eng land. nd.-Philndclphia Times.