AFTER MANY YEARS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 4

AFTER MANY YEARS.

ROMANTIC INCIDENT IN WELLINGTON. Some weeks ago (says the "Dominion"), an Australian soldier who was visiting Wellington, found himself about halfway along Lambton quay at lunch! time, and, feeling peckish, he made to look for some place of refreshment. At the very moment of his decision his eye caught that of a young ladv, and, prompted by some instinct lie could nou explain, ho addressed her. Excusc) me, miss," he said. "I'm a 6trange£ here. Could vou tell me where I could! get a decent meal?" The lady, who was a little taken aback at first, being suddenly addressed by a' man m khaki, pulled herself together (as she afterwards explained it), and informed the stranger that if he continued down the street a little ho would find a taurant. "I don't know this town, said the soldier. '"Would you minder I walked with you as far as the place.'' The lady was beginning to think that) "the plot was thickening," but. consoling herself with the thought that it only meant a hundred yards' walk to the restaurant, she complied cheerfully enough. So they walked on. Tney had; not, however, proceeded more than ten yards when the soldier,' much to the lady's surprise, said, with some hesitation: "I hope you won't think I'm rudo, miss, but would you mind telling me your name?" After taking a moment to recover from her surprise, she gave him her name. "Do you know," ho said, "you must be my 6ister." The ; rest of tho little scene may well be left to the imagination. He was right—she was his sister. Years ago, when but a lad. he had run away to sea from his home in an Australian city. Ho remained away from Australia for some years, and when at last ho returned and attempted to find his family, ha found that they had cone away somewhere; nobody Knew where, and he had. never been able to find a trace of them until the psychological impulse seized him to speak to his own sister on Lambton quay. The family had come to New Zealand, and settled in Wellington.