The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-21
A Singular Meeting.

roriginall

steamer crossing the Atlantic was /
lost by collision in 4 fog. Among the
passengers never heard from were q
lady and her little daughter.
Twenty-Five years passed. One snm- {:
mer a want ad-" appeared in a news
paper stating that a lady desired ne
position of chaperon TO young people
on trip to Europe. This led to the
engagement Of Miss Adelia Craven 10
take charge of two young girls. Teresa
Fay and Rachel Cunningham.
These three were one day visiting
one of the art museums in Dresden
Miss Fay stood looking at a picture
which seemed to interest her. and
while she was doing so Miss Craven,
the chaperon. came up.
"A copy of that picture is in fathers /
collection at home" said Miss Fay.
TT is also familiar TO me-" said Miss
Craven 1T has been part my sur
roundings at some time in my life, but
l can't recall when or where. l have
it. have or had an uncle who had a
copy Of the picture in his library"
why do you say have or hadY"
Because l have not heard OF my
uncle for years.
did he lose you. or did you lose
him?"
4 don't know. was quite young
when last saw him"
Whether there was something in the
picture connecting the two or what
was the reason, from the time of this
conversation about it there seemed TO
be something in the voice or the man
ner or the walk of her chaperon that
was familiar to Miss Fay. The Incl
dent led the two to chat upon family
matters connected with the past, and
there was a singular sameness in GER
tain events pertaining to both families
While there was some sixteen years
difference in the ages of the two, there
sprang up a lively friendship between
them. 1t became evident that instead
of a friendship during the trip they
would more likely be intimate for life.
Miss Cunningham met friends, Joined
them, and this left the other two alone
together
One day while travelling in railway
car a gentleman asked Miss Fay If
!
dow. She said she would not. Then he
asked If it would be disagreeable to
her mother, referring to Miss Craven.
The girl smilingly explained that Miss
Craven was not her mother or any re-
lation TO her, whereupon the gentle
man apologized, saying that he had
been uncertain whether they were
mother and daughter or an older and a
younger sister. He certainly saw re-
semblances between them, though he
could not define them.
Miss Fay had letters to people in
Rome, which procured her an entree to
the best Italian society there. A young
man of excellent family fell in love
with her and signified his wish to
make her proposition of marriage
Unfortunately there was no one on the
continent of Europe of whom he coulC
make a formal application except the
chaperon, who was not authorized to
give the family consent. The result
was that Miss Fay wrote her father
of the affair He took the first steam
er, travelling night and day till be
reached Italy.
what sort Of chaperon is this yoU
have" he exclaimed, ito permit you Il
Z receive attention to lead to such an I'm
fortunate result?"
There is no unfortunate result il
my case. papa" she replied, nor IL
, hers either"
What do you mean by her case?'
''She's engaged already, while In
waiting for your consent A membe
/ of the Italian parliament, widower
D wants her"
l "a fine pair to send abroad together
Both you and your chaperon receivin
: marriage proposals! However, 1 vii
look into this affair of yours
While Mr.. Fay's investigations wer
pending his daughter told him of til
picture that both had seen in Dresden
# a copy Of which was in both families.
There has never been but one cop
of that picture made" replied Mr.. Fay
d "and that was for me by special pei
I mission"
:. THAT proves it," replied the daugh
t, ter. 81 have known it all the while
d She is a relative of OURS
o There followed an investigation no
i Of mans family, but Of Miss Ora
If ven's. The next day Mr. Fay called
y upon that lady's fiance and said tt
If him:
4, Il understand, sir. that you are en-
-e gagged to Miss Craven and she has told
o you she has no relative Of whom you
4 may make formal application for mel
b hand. When she told you this she was
l. mistaken"
II The gentleman appeared much inter
N ested- Mr.. Fay proceeded:
Il Many years ago a ship was lost a.
j. sea by collision with another vessei II
Il fog. My sister and her niue glr
l. were passengers on the lost vessel.
" never had heard a word OF the motn