Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-01-10
A Singular Meeting.


In the latter part of the last century
steamer crossing the Atlantic was
lost by collision in n fog Among the
passengers never heard from were a
lady and her little daughter.
Twenty-Five years passed. One sum-
mer want adj" appeared in news
paper stating that lady desired the
position Of chaperon to young people
on a trip to Europe. This led to the
engagement Of Miss Adela Craven to
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.
at is also familiar to me-" said Miss
Craven. 1T has been a part my sur
roundings at some time in my life, but
can't recall when or where. l have
1t. have or had an uncle who had a
copy of the picture In his library"
"Why do you say have or hadP"
Because l have not heard Of my
uncle for years.
did he lose you, or did you lose
himY
II don't know I 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 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 q railway
car a gentleman asked Miss Fay if
she would object to his raising a win
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 we're
mother and daughter or an eide: 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 signifed his wish to
make her proposition of marriage.
Unfortunately there was no one on the
continent of Europe of whom he could
make 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 he
reached Italy.
what sort of chaperon is this you
have" he exclaimed, Ito permit you to
receive attention to lead to such an I'M
fortunate result?"
"There is no unfortunate result in
my case papa" she replied, nor in
hers either
"What do you mean by her caseY
"She's engaged already. while I'm
waiting for your consent. A member
Of the Italian parliament, widower,
wants her"
ga fine pair to send abroad together!
Both you and your chaperon receiving
marriage proposals.! However. / will
look into this affair of yours"
While Mr.. Fay's investigations were
pending his daughter told him of the
picture that both had seen in Dresden,
copy of which was in both families.
"There has never been but one copy
of that picture made" replied Mr.. Fay,
"and that was for me by special per-
mission"
"That proves it," replied the daugh-
ter. II have known it all the while.
She is a relative of ours"
There followed an investigation not
of mans family, but of Miss era
ven's. The next day Mr.. Fay called
upon that lady's fiance and said to
him:
81 understand, sir, that you are en-
gagged to Miss Craven and she has told
you she has no relative of whom you
may make formal application for her
hand. When she told you this she was
mistaken"