The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-02-12
A Singular Meeting.
[Original.l


fact-it IS fact. only it is put in story
form and the names are fictitious
In the latter part Of the last century
steamer crossing the Atlantic was
lost by collision in Il fog. Among the
passengers never heard from were q
lady and her little daughter
Twenty-Five years passed. One sum
mer a ''waut 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 AdeIia 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.
ut is also familiar to me-" said Miss
Craven. 1T has been a part my sur
roundings at some time in my life, but
1 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 had?"
Because I have not heard Of my
uncle for years"
Ibid he lose you, or did you lose
him?''
81 don't know. was quite young
when I 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
matters connected with the past, and
there was q 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 II
she would object to his raising a win
dow. She said she would not. Then he
asked II 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 q proposition of marriage.
Unfortunately there was no one on the
continent Of Europe Of whom he could
make q 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 q chaperon Is this you
have" he exclaimed, Ito permit you to
receive attention to lead to such an un.
fortunate resultT
There is no unfortunate result in
my case. papa" she replied, NOR In
hers either"
What do you mean by her caser
"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 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
q copy Of which was in both families.
There has never been but one copy
Of that picture made" replied Mr.. Fay
land 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 a mans family, but Of Miss era