The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-15
,er and make one more effort to win

Ine 0av before bis intended start he
met on the quay an American gentle
man Of his cquaintance-the same
who claimed to own the only copy Of
the 'St. John" In the Uf1zi gallery In
Florence.
mir. Gregory" said Winfield. ARE
you sure that you own the only copy
Of the st. John hanging in your draw.
ing room In New York;
Il certainly owned the only copy till
within few years. may not now.
Why do you ask?'
Winfield told him Of Miss SHADES i'm.
pressions concerning the picture.
"That's curious" remarked Gregory.
"Where do you 60 from hereT'
ITO Florence
II am going there myself. Sup.
pose we go together"
II shall be pleased to have your
company"
A few days later Winfield and bis
friend. n man double his age. stood in
the Uffizi gallery looking at the "St.
john when the former caught sight
OF Miss Slade in another part Of the
gallery.
'"There is the girl told you about.
who says she has been familiar with
this picture. III bring her here and
introduce you"
Winfield approached Miss Slade,
whose face lit up with pleasure at see-
ing him again. After a brief chat he
led her to the picture and introduced
Mr.. Gregory. At the mention Of the
name she seemed impressed.
"Mr. Winfield tells me that you have
formerly been familiar with this pic
ture or copy Of it."
II have. but 1t must have been when
I was very little girl. know
have seen IT. and seen It often. but
where I cannot tell"
"Where did you live when you were
a child?"
"From the time I have been old
enough to remember things have
lived with my adopted parents in Nova
Scotia"
Mr. Gregory regarded the girl thought
fully for a moment, then asked:
"Where did you live before that7"
II don't know"
Don't know?"
"Fifteen years ago the ocean steamer
A. was lost. was picked up by a
boats crew while I floated in the
water buoyed by life preserver. The
boat succeeded In reaching the ca.
madam shore. fell into the hands of
a fisherman and his wife, who. being
poor and ignorant. made no effort to
find where or to whom belonged.
After awhile they sent me to an asy-
lum, from which was taken by
couple living in Halifax. This cou.
pie. Mr.. and Mrs. Slade. brought me
up"
From the moment the girl began this
brief narrative great change came
over Mr.. Gregory. he listened to ev.
cry word with eager attention. and
when she bad finished he rniscd his
eyes and muttered:
my God. | thank thee!''
Meanwhile Marcia. who obser, ID his
emotion. had hurried ON with her story
and when she heard his words of
thanks knew something OF moment had
happened.
"What Is it," she asked.
"You are sure you have seen this
picture?" he asked instead Of replying.
YES"
''And you were on the steamer \.
when she was lost? ?"
YES"
"Then 1t must he So"
"What must be soy
"You are my daughter"
A few months later. when Marcia
Slade. or. to call her by her real name
Evelyn Gregory. entered her fathers
house in New York and looked nj his
"St. John" little by little. not "ny
the room 10 which 1t hung. but others
of the house. gradually came back T."
her memory
Soon after the discovery of ,!p re-.
lationship between Mr. Oregon, ans,
his daughter Winfield. sitting in the
celebrated medieval Boboii gnrtlens. ~.
newed his suit. He found the Indy IN.
decided.
1T seems to me-" said Winfield.
that since you have found Your fn-
Their and know that you are American
born this matter between US appears
in different light"
"How different"
"Why. the disposal Of your hand I.
not with the SHADES. but with yonr IN,
ther."
1T IS with neither. It is with MY.
self"
II mean that you should aim to
please your natural parent as we'll as
those who have brought you up
"Those who strive to please every
one please no one"
Winfield was not making Roadway.
He concluded to try another tack.
you will henceforth live With your
father. take IT."
II thought you wished me to live
with you"
SsTYynn soc. I'LL - = ~lAa..-