Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-12
ANNA GOULD ENGAGED.
It Is Again Reported That She Is to Wed Actor Woodruff.
HER FAMILY APPROVES OF IT NOW.

 Young Woodruff Made Himself Acceptable as SuitOr by Leaving the Stage and Talk ing Up the Study of Law-story of Their
 First Engagement.
 NEW YORK, Jan. I2.-At Delmonico's 0 well known New York clubman promi- nent in society and Q friend of George J. Gould made the startling statement that the rumored engagement of Miss Anna Gould. youngest daughter of the late Jay Gould, to Harry Woodruff, the actor, was an assured fact and would soon be an- nounced, with the entire sanction of the Gould family.
 The statement was remarkable from the circumstance that since the rumored be- trothal of Miss Gould to the handsome young actor she has bceI1, engaged to Will liam Hartman. which contract was sud denly broken off last spring while the fair fiancee was abroad with MT. and Mrs. George J. Gould for the expressed purpose of purchasing a wedding trousseau.
 The facts of the first engagement are still fresh in the minds of most New York CTS Miss Anna Gould was at that time only IS years old and had not yet made her debut in society. On the morning of Nov. IS. 1893. the story of the resignation of Mir. Harry Woodruff from Charles Frohman's "Charley's Aunt" company, in which he had a prominent part, was published. His resignation, it was un- derstood at the time, was with the avowed object of giving up stage career for the purpose of studying law at Yale, and his engagement to Anna Gould was talked of in the clubs and about town, although the family strenuously denied any such con- tract.
 Romantic Story.
 A most romantic story was related at the time by the young mans friends. It told that the young couple had met when children, and that a strong and ardent passion had arisen between them; that means had been taken to separate them by sending Miss Anna of to a Boston boarding school. and that Superintendent Byrnes' aid had been invoked by Jay Gould to restrain the ardent young lover from his assiduous attentions to the young heiress.
 When Superintendent Byrnes was inter viewed on the subject, he declined to deny or affirm any of the statements made. There was one story told of a large sum of money that had been paid young Woodruff through the superintendent. in considera- ton of which the actor was to leave New York and cease his loverlike attentions.
 
 ever, was different He said that when Jay Gould became aware of the strong feeling that existed between his daughter and the actor he wrote to Superintendent Byrnes, asking his aid in ridding his daughter of her sutton
 Mir. Byrnes then wrote to Woodruff. who immediately replied that if Jay Gould wished him to cease his devotion to Miss Anna he should so request him personally. An interesting interview then took place between the multimillionaire and his young would be son-in-law, with the re- suit that the latter made a solemn prom ise to neither write nor see the young wo- man till she was of age.
 Jay Gould died Dec ?, 1899, and then 1t was asserted that the lovemaking of the impulsive young couple was resumed, with the result that on Nov. Is the young man ! resigned his position in Charles Froh, | mans company, some said by agreement with George J. Gould. to fit himself ir the profession of the law, that he might be more worthy of tho young heiress tC ] more than S15, GOO. 900.
 When this story became public, Wood | ruff denied it positively. He admitted the friendship that existed between him self and Miss Gould and said that he hat | first met Miss Anna at an afternoon tea I ter, but interviews with friends and fellow 1 clubmen of the actor confirmed the fact of an admitted attachment between thu | young folks
 | Has Many Admirers. She has had many admirers. and dur ing the Lakewood season one of the mos noticeable of her admirers has been tht Comte Castellane, who, during the New port season and at Lakewood, has been tn guest of Mir. and Mrs George GoulC and a social lion of great magnitude. II fact, society was almost preparing for fresh shock in the form of another an nounced engagement when the new went forth that the comte was preparinl to leave America and return to his nativ, shores once moro.
 The assertion made so positively Thurs day night at Delmonico's was @ decided surprise, therefore, to the little group O listeners. The Woodruff Gould engage ment was looked upon as @ thing of th past and had been entirely forgotten b many.
 At the Lambs club. where Mir. Wood ruff is very popular. a prominent membe was asked about the reported engagement He said II personally know nothin about tho matter. and of course If did would not feel at liberty to discuss Mir Woodruff's affairs. I think the youn couple were very much in love with eac other, and would not be at all surprise if their engagement were formally an nounced. But neither would be SUI prised if 1t were not Harry is @ fine manly fellow, and the girl that gets hiI will be lucky" Mrs. George Gould wa at the Hotel Waldorf last evening, but rs fused to discuss Miss Gould's affIirs.