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

and at eighteen was tall handsome
woman. inheriting the beauty OF per.
son and purity OF voice OF her dead
mother. The little sprite however
from the day OF her rescue. insisted
upon being called Belle Percival 'ba-
cause that was her Uncle Guys
name
And now Presumed the old lady. as
II in reality she had been allowing
somebody else 10 TALK | may tell the
rest OF the story in my own way. be.
cause 1t concerns mo and mine.
There walking together as l re.
marked in the beginning. are brother
and sister, restored after all these
long years OF separation to each 9th.
er's arms How did it come about?
Well. in this wise and YOU will agree
with me that Providence performs its
wonders in mysterious way:
After my sons graduation from
Yale some two years ago when he
desired TO visit Europe. we accom-
panied him and made an extended
tour OF the Continent During our
stay in Rome we became acquainted
with tall handsome. dark eyed young
man. who, though looking every
inch an Italian spoke English with
perfect fluency. He was the protege
Of An American artist named Irving.
who had found him stray waif in
the streets when mere lad. taken
him 10 his home adopted him and
given him the family name His
first name is Vivian.
The acquaintance quickly rpened
into an intimate friendsh ip. and at
the solicitation OF my son Mr.. Irving
permitted him to become our guest
Thus he Travelled with us for several
weeks While in Florence we visited
among other studios that of Mr. Guy
Percival and my husband, impressed
by the beauty of his paintings be-
came an extensive purchaser.
Naturally this led TO reciprocal feel
ing and the result was that
that gentleman invited us to accom-
pany him on his usual annual jaunt
to his English home
1t is unnecessary 10 dwell upon the
hospitable character OF our reception
except in so far as it influenced the
destiny Of those three young people
so merrily walking back and forth.
The lovely hostess at her first glance
took possession of all our hearts, and
before the evening was spent | in
tuitively felt that both Vivian and
my son were desperately in love.
The end OF October was approach
ing and with it the time to start for
home. But at the solicitation of Mr..
Percival we agreed TO stay and par
ticipate in the pleasures OF Halloween.
And now came the unexpected climax.
We were all in the great library.
guests from within the mansion and
guests from without The evening
had been crowded with merriment,
and if there was a sad face present it
was that of Mr. Percival as he
thought perhaps OF the past. A
game OF blind mans buff was in
progress with Belle as the blind
man.. and cropping her way through
the throng she accidentally touched a
picture. There fell to the floor a
handkerchief rolled in ball and
covered with dust. Mr.. Perclval
spraug forward at tho same instant
and selling the ball began to unite it,
See here!" he exclaimed excltedly
rs he exposed one corner. Your
name-your mother-Belle Bruce.
threw it there when we were playing
together years and years ago this very
night" And tears filled his eyes
Belle Bruce! Belle Brucer' re.
peated Vivian Irving. That is the
name Of my mother. too who died in
Milan while ! was chic and left me
and my sister among strangers We
were stolen, and l have never seen
my sister since. p" Yes you have
for she is here by your side-Belle
Bruce-your own sister," again ex-
claimed Mr.. Percival. Thank God
The lost has been found" And while
he was yet speaking Vivian and Belle
were entwined in each others arms
and mingling their tears of JOY.
There were no more romps ana
frolics that night for the occasion
had become too sacred and when the
guests departed we sat around ant
listened to the whole story just as
have told it to you. The next day
Belle and my son had an interview.
and when it ended his eyes. too. con
tanned a new light. We shall all o
us remember the precious gifts tina
came to us from Halloween. -Phila
delphia Times