Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-01-13
BROTHER AND SISTER.


tries Halloween has been deemed a
time when the fairies hold their grand
anniversary and spirits detached from
corporal restraint are free to roam
through space and read their own or
the future OF others Hence it is the
occasion for divining the answer to
that momentous question which alb
serbs so large q share OF the thoughts
OF romantic young men and maidens
Whom am to marryp"
Naturally. such an occasion is not
devoid OF romance, and Hallowe en-
rarely recurs without reminding me
OF story that was related to a party
OF friends few years ago while home
ward bound across the Atlantic. The
center of the group was handsome
matron. and promenading the deck
was beautiful young girl of twenty,
accompanied by two gentlemen.
Pointing to them the old lady proud
ly said:
One of those gentlemen is my son.
who is returning to America with his
English bride; the other is her broth
err who is making a visit TO our coun-
Try for the first time II you dom t
mind listening to bit of romance it
may while away pleasant half hour
and I'll tell it to you as it was told to
me- The mother of my new daughter
when a child resided in one of the
most beautiful parts Of England. Her
parents were wealthy and all that
heart could wish was at her COM
mand. Adjoining their estate was
that OF Squire Henry PercivaL whose
only SON. Guy was pledged almost
from birth as the husband of the
young heiress the two mothers hav-
ing been schoolmates and the two
children having been born on the
same day. They thus grew up to-
gether with tastes in common and to-
gether they enjoyed all the sports Of
young people.
And now began the strange series
Of incidents that were narrated to me
while in England by Uncle Guy. as
we used to call him. who still lives
and is the adopted father OF yonder
happy bride. l forgot to tell you
that her maiden name like that of
her mother is Belle Bruce.
Il remember" said Uncle Guy.
that when we were about fifteen
years of age Halloween arrived and
all the young people Of the neighbor-
hood assembled In the big library OF
Percival Hall TO take part in the
games and WOO our sweethearts.
During the evening Belle and l en-
gagged in a romp with her handker-
chief which she had tied In a ball,
and by accident threw il behind one
OF the large pictures hanging in the
librar.
Time wore on, and Belle went to
Paris to engage in study, and especial
ly to cultivate her voice which was
a contralto of great compass while !
was sent to Italy to pursue my bent in
painting.
During the next few years !
worked assiduously at my profession
as an artist and won my share OF its
honors and wealth. One day while
sauntering through the streets oil
Florence with an old English friend,
we were accosted in our own language
by handsome little fellow who
stopped in the midst of a singularly
familiar English air and begged us
; to buy some OF the music he had for
sale. We both quickly became in.
terested and l said. Youngster.
where did you learn that song, and
how is it you speak English SO well?
- My mother was an English lady.
was the reply. and she taught it tc
me; it was her favorite song. Blu,
I'm no youngster; I'm a girl she
e added.
becoming still more interested.
made inquiries concerning her his.
= tory. She told me that her mother
had died long before and left hel
brother and herself in charge OF 1
kind lady who was TO send them tC
their relatives in England as soon q:
she could find a way; that while play,
ing in the street an old woman from
whom she had run away, had stoler
them from home and taken them t.
other cities. 1t was a very, verl
long time. she said. since her mothe
died.
"What was your mothers namep
inquired. She had two names
was the answer but she told me t,
always say to English people that he
name was Belle Bruce and that il
my name She told me- too tina
sometime l might meet a man WHIT
would be good TO me for her sake
Guy Percival-and l have Away
been looking for him When l an
nounced that was Guy the little cir
threw herself into my arms cryin,
with JOY. and together we hurried t.
my residence where as quickly a
possible garments were provided be
fitting her sex aud position.
st MY next step was to find the fam
= fly to whom little Belle had been lef
by her mother, aud by dint of nue.
questioning | was at last enabled t
locate them In Milan and to lear
that the name was Valerie. Thithe
NO journeyed as rapidly as possible
aud l was soon possessed OF all tn
desired information. She had bee
one Of the favorite pupils OF Professo
Valerie. and having a magnificen
voice easily secured position on tn
operate stage making an instant sue
cess In Paris or Brussels she fell i
love with an Italian tenor and the
were married A boy aud girl re
suited from the union. but the brutt
nature OF the husband forced her {
leave him. Subsequently he died
and her own health failing she re
turned to the home OF the Valeries
Milan where she too. passed away
One morning while the children wer