The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-01-14
ROMANCE OF
A SHIPWRECK
Strange Meeting Of Relatives
After Many Years.

In the latter part Of the last century |
a steamer crossing the Atlantic was
lost by collision in a fog Among the
never heard from were =
lady and her little daughter.
Twenty-Five years passed. One sum.
mer ''want ad." appeared in "A 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 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 I'm 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 part my sur
roundings at some time In my life, but
I can't recall when or where have
or had an uncle who had copy OF the
picture In his library"
why do you say hive or had?'"
because have not heard Of my
uncle for years"
did he lose you, or did you lose
him?"
81 don't know. was quite young
when l last saw him. We drifted
apart, suppose"
Whether there was something In the
picture connecting the two or what
was the reason, from the time of this
conversation about 1t there seemed Ia
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.
One day while travelling in a railway
car a gentleman asked Miss Fay II
she would object to his raising 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
onn1Oni1nd Souinn that 70 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 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 could
make a formal application except the
chaperon. who was not authorized t.
! give the family consent. The result
was that Miss Fay wrote her father
OF the affair He took the first steam
err travelling night and day till hc
reached Italy.
"What sort of chaperon is this you
have" he exclaimed, Ito permit you t,
receive attention to lead to such an IN
fortunate resultY'
''There is no unfortunate result in
| h. L.
hers either"
what do you mean by her casei"
"She's engaged already. while I'm
waiting for your consent. A member
of the Italian parliament, widower
wants her."
"a fine pair to send abroad togeth
er! Both you and your chaperon re
ceiving marriage proposals! However
I 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
land that was for me by special per
mission"
"That proves it," replied the daugh
ter. 81 have known it all the while
She is a relative of ours"
There followed an investigation mo-
of mans family, but of Miss era
vens. The next day Mr.. Fay called
upon that lady's fiance and said Il
him:
81 understand, sir. that you are en-
gagged to Miss Craven, and she has tolt
you she has no relative Of whom yoI
| may make a formal application for he
, hand When she told you this she was
mistaken.
"NIany years ago ship was lost a
sea by collision with another vessel Ii
a fog Ny sister and her little cir
+, were passengers Oh the lost vessel.
never had heard word of the mothe
or of the daughter till yesterday. B!
l a remarkable chain of condolences
r has been discovered that Miss Cravel
a is my niece The child was rescued
a adopted and raised, growing up with
A out knowing who she was