ROMANTIC STORY FROM ORLEANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC STORY FROM ORLEANS.

A scandalous story is being circulaCedab Orleans, in France, regarding the Chatelaine of Villereau, a small commune about '20 kilometres from the city. Ib is like a chapter from a French novel, and brings the fair name of the Counts of Courcelles } who are related to the Princes de la Tour d'Auvergne, into question. The publication of the details has made, a great sensation both in Orleans and in Paris. The late Count of Courcelles married a very pretty girl, who sold gloves in the neighbourhood of the Paris Opera. She was Flemish by birth, and W ilbelmina by name. The Count was then of a certain ago, and his union with the fair glove-seller called forth loud protestations from his friends and relatives. But believing that he had found in Wilhelmina a veritable fountain of jouvence, he persisted in placing her at the head of the Chateau of Villereau. In due time a daughter whs born. Five years ago the Count died, and he left the whole of his property to this girl on condition thab she never married. Then there came to live at the chateau a certain ex-captain of Belgian Engineers named Impins, who made ib an excuse for his residing ab the chateau that he was a distant relation of the ex-glove-seller. Tongues, however, were soon busy, and rumours were soon rife as to the real nature of the intimacy ■> which existed between them. - Suddenly, three years ago, Madame de Courcelles withdrew Her daughter from the convent in which she had been placed, and insisted upon marrying her forthwith to the ax-captain, and this also very much against the wishes of his family. Strange stories were soon flying around as to theciroumstancea under which this union was made, and it is alleged that the whole of the property, which would otherwise have belonged to the young lady, had been turned into ready money. Mdme. Impins lived a very unhappy life, and determined to free herself from her mother and her husband, whom she charges with cruelty and all sorts of ill-treatment. She escaped on September 6 last, and came to Paris to seek refuge among her friends, bub her husband and mother soughb her out and took her back to Villereau. Then the girl alleges they tried to force her into a private asylum, and she made a complaint to the justioe of the peace of Neuville, who considered that she . was no longer safe at the chateau, and offered her the hospitality of his own house until be had investigated the case. Both Mdme. de Courcelles and M. Impins deny the charges of threata, cruelty, and sequestration, though M. Impins admits that he had struck his wife three or four times, and alleges, that her companionship is repugnant to him.