Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-01-31
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A Singular Meeting.
[Original.]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
[Original]
This story is not only founded on
fact-it is fact, only it is put in story
form and the names are fictitious.
In the latter part of the last century.
q steamer crossing the Atlantic was[
lost by collision in fog. Among thei
passengers never heard from were al
lady and her little daughter.
Twenty-Five years passed. One sum
mer a want adj" appeared in news |
paper stating that lady desired theI
position of chaperon to young peoplel
on trip to Europe. This led to the
engagement of Miss Adelia 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.
1T is also familiar to me-" said Miss
Craven 1T has been part my sur
roundings at some time in my life, but
can't recall when or where. have
It. have or had an uncle who had
copy Of the picture in his library"
''Why do you say have or hadT"
because I have not heard Of my
uncle for years.
did he lose you, or did you lose
him?"
II 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 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. It became evident that instead
Of 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 a railway
car gentleman asked Miss Fay II
she would object to his raising 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 were
mother and daughter or an older and
younger sister. He certainly saw re-
semblances between them, though he
could not define them.
Miss Fay had letters to people ip
Rome, which procured her an entree to
the best Italian society there. A young
man of excellent family fell in Lover
with her and signified his wish tot
make her proposition Of marriage |
Unfortunately there was no one on thel
continent Of Europe Of whom he could
make formal application except the}
chaperon, who was not authorized toI
give the family consent. The RESULT
was that Miss Fay wrote her father
Of the affair. He took the first steam
f,sox {~hk H.
reached Italy.
"What sort Of a chaperon is this you
have" he exclaimed, Ito permit you to
receive attention to lead to such an un~
fortunate resultY'
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, a widower,
wants her,
"A fine pair to send abroad togetherI
Both you and your chaperon receiving
marriage proposals! However, 1 will
look into this affair of yours
While MIR. rays Investigations were
pending his daughter told him of the
picture that both had seen in Dresden
copy Of which was in both families.
'"Therc. has never been but one COPY
Of that picture made,' replied Mr.. Fay,
land that was for ne by special per
mission"
'"That proves it," replied the daugll-
ter. II have known it ali the while
She Is relative of ours
There followed an investigation not
Of a mans family, but OF Miss era
ven's. The next day Mr. Fay called
upon that l0dy's fance and said to
him:
II 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
ofcfo |