The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15

| Paris, Dee. 1.-THE bruce claim TO the
dukedom OF Portland may be materially
strengthened. If the story related by a
woman Of sixty. now living in Paris.
can be verified. She is named Nine Va
lette. and she announces that she is a
j desendant-the granddaughter. in fact-of
the fifth duke Of Portland. who is al
legged 20 have masquerade as Mr.. Druee,
Of the Baker street bazaar.
/ Nine Valettes story is certainly an
/ extraordinary one. In the first quarter
] Of the last century there was a hotel in
the Champs Ulysses. which was fire.
quented by Mr.. bruce, as he was known
Druee fell desperately in love wi,h the
I iandlady OF the hotel. and. in course Of
time, son was born TO them. who took
I his fathers name. Mr.. bruce paid for
the boys education. and Tor many years
gave his mother a certain allowance.
/ DFuce's natural son married. and became
the fathe- OF Nine. VaIette.
a Remarkable story.
Druees son paid periodical visits to
Paris, and always called 70 see his son
ana his granddaughter. Nine VaIette
says that she remembers him distinctly.
on one occasion when he called the
father and son had a long interview.
bruce here handed his son q sum OF
money and directed him 10 90 10 Aus
tralia and seek the wherea bouts Of a
half-brother. presumably the father Of
the present claimant Nine Valette's
father carried out his mission. and re-
turned TO France after an absence of
nearly a year
Now comes the remarkable part OF the
whole story. The old woman. who claims
10 be the granddaughter Of the eccentric
duke. relates that shortly after her
/ fathers return 20 Paris. one dark night.
while going 10 his home in the Roule-
ward MOntparnasSe. he was waylaid by
three men. who fatally stabbed him. and
! carried on important papers relating to
his birth.
Mr.. bruce, OF Baker street. came 10
Paris soon after this. and was terribly
/ distressed at the news OF the death OF
his natural son He gave into the hands
Of Nine. Nalette n sealed envelope. which
he bade her guard carefully. Then he
went OF, and she did not see him again
FOR many years. IN the meantime she
I had heard Of the death Of Mr. bruce, %
the Baker street bazaar. and. naturally.
fully expected never to see her grand
father any more.
Duke Turns TT.
But one day-she is unable 10 FIX the
exact date OF the year. but says It was
about four years after the close of the
France-PruSsian war-the man whom she
thought was dead walked into the little
tobaceonist's shop which she kept in the
Boulevard Montparnasse. On her ex-
pressing establishment. the visitor replied.
mildly. Yes. Druce is dead. but Portland
IS stin living"
Nine Valette is living in a modestly
/ furnished apartment near the Care
Montparnasse. and she says that she has
still in her possession the mysterious en-
velOpe handed 10 her many years ago.
and that she is ignorant Of its contents.
She purposes forwarding this to-the legal
( advisers Of George HOIlsmby Bruce. She
is a sharp-lOoking clear-spollen woman,
and very vigorous, IN spite OF her years.
( Her husband died three years ago. She
has two daughters and a son. and the
latter is now performing his military
service.