The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-15
SISTER BITIANRS PRAYER
For the Long-Lost Playmate
Of Her Youth.
HER HOPE NEVER FAILED.
Searching fer a Sister Named Isabella vii
kinson After Thirty Years Of Separation.
Will They Ever Meetl

u hdAC-ldtcus lntSlcCkQol WIN
hair once like the night, but now streaked
with silver tints-with eyes large and dark,
through which, in their subdued calm depths.
one sees the noble souI-bows nightly be-
fore the altar in the little chapel at the st.
Vincent School, Oh Mission street, in charge
Of the Sisters of Charity, and prays. oh, so
sincerely.
Il is for a sister-a long-lost sister-that
she prays; one whom she does not know is
among the living or the dead, but one whom
memory holds as treasure.
The one who prays is a nun, Sister of
Charity. known as Sister Biviani. The sub
jact Of her prisons is a sister she has long
sought, and yet not found after thirty years
searching Now that the sunset is coming
en- and the lights growing dim, she is more
than ever anxious to see and clasp again
form once so dear,
Sister Biviani is one of the best known
nuns at the asylum. She is a scholar of
more than ordinary attainments, the mis-
tresS OF many Languages. musician and Tan
artist Her life from childhood has been
one devoted 10 the nO5lest purposes. Yet
all through the years she has been wearing
a crown OF the WbiteSt womanhood, there
has been one shadow on her lite, an that
WAS tie disappearance of her sister.
The story of their separation is a roman
tic one, and goes back to the early history
Of San Francisco. About thirty-seven
years ago, a man named Thomas Wilkinson
married q widow whose name was M0ley.
Mrs Moley had one child named Annie.
The family lived near John COmmerlord
after whom the present suburb of CONNER
f0rdyille was named.
In time n child was born, and was named
Isabel. who became the chief attraction
and delight Of Anne. When Isabel was i
years old. Mrs. Wilkinson died. The father
not being able to take proper care of the
children placed them in the ST. Fincents
Catholic Orphan Asylum, which was stu
a-ed where tie Palace Hotel now stands.
For some years the two children were
reared in the asylum Then Wilkinson too K
unto himself another wife. Anne had no w
grown 10 be a girl OF 10 years, while lit lie
Isabel was z. The two were inseparable
and loved each other devotediy. After
Wilkinson remarked he took the beautiful
little Isabel home. while Anne remained al
the convent to continue her studies, as she
had resolved on leading p religious life.
Finally she took the veil and was sent to
Virginia City. Since that time she has
never seen her sister.
Anne Moley took the name of Sister
Biyani, and became a teacher Of more than
usual ability While in Virginia City she
learned that her little playmate and sister
hsd been given by her father TO some parties
for adoption.
she has never been able to learn who those
"
golden-haiTed Isabel was adopted.
Sister Byiani wrote to her stepfather nu-
Y0eTOus letters asking what had become Of
Isabel but no answers were ever returned.
She now believes that he never received the
il ttels though she does not accuse Mrs Viii
kinson with having kept them. All that
Sister Biylani could learn was that Isabel
had been adopted. Years passed by and
size still in her clustered life dr. AIMED Of the
child with the golden eufls and the blue eyes
} k stars set In its white crown OF brow. the
child that had so often played upon her
knee.
After eighteen years of residence in
y fginiS City Sister Biviani came To San
Francisco, but il was oily to dnd her father
lead.
Thomas Wilkinson had prospered and
accumulated quite litIle money, which
ne inves ed in property on Golden Gate
avenue. near Scott street Here he resided
with bis second wife with no thought of
lis former child At this place be died
about SIX years ago. In his VIII ne left all
bis property to his surviving widow.
after Der fathers death Sister Biviani
went 10 Mrs. Wilkinson and desired to
know hat had become of Isabel. Mrs.
Wilkinson denied that her husband had
ever had sucn a child. Size said ne had
told her that Isabel was no child of mis-.
Isabel size finally stated had been taken by
some parties and adopted in Oregon.
Where the child was taken and who the
parties were she could not tell SO she in
formed the grieYing little woman who
pleaded for some clew to the playmate Of
hpr youth.
Sister Biviani produced the proofs Of
Isabei's paTentage, the baptisma1 record,
which IS stiil preserved in the old Mission
Church, but this did not tell her where the
long-lOst sister was. Mrs. Wilkinson. after
breaking a silence Of eighteen years, could
lot form her where Isabel had gone.
With an uneasy heart Sister BviaDi re-
sumed her life Of instructlng young girls IN !
mind and heart. About two months ago
she went to a friend, a daughter Of old John |
COmmerfOrd, and asked her to see If she |
could not get Mrs. Wilkinson t. tell more |
about Isabel. This lady put of the matter |
for a week.
When she started to see Mrs. Wilkinson |
that lady was dead. She died just three /
weeks ago, and with her she took the secret |
Of Isabels adoption to the grave.
Mrs. Wilkinson left all her property to
sister
IrIsabel can be found she will have some
claim to the property. a strong effort will
be made to locate her. and that is why
personal was published in yesterdays
CALL asking for information concerning
lsabeI Wilkinson. adopted in this city in
S63, and that such information be sent to
II3 Duncan street
The lady at that address is a daughter Of
John COmmerford. is much interested in the
case. as her family and the WilkinsOns re-
sided SIDE by side forty years ago.
10 the meanwhile the patient Sister OF
Charity, with the long-held-bac tears in
their dark depths and the sweet voice
tTemuious with years Of disappointed
hoping. still bends nightly before the little
chapel altar with her life wish in her teart
struggling 10 the lips for consummation.
VIII she see her sister after so many years
Of waitIng? GEORGE j. DURAIND.