The morning call., 1891-06-21
CHAPTER IL
some FAMILY MATTERs.

In view of her Importance as a leading
character in this story it will surely not
seem out of place at this point TO fill in the
mere outline sketch Of Mrs. John Allaire al
ready made.
Molly was q years of age. She was Of
American extraction, but il would not have
been necessary TO trace her ancestry back
10 a very remote period 10 strike on the
generation which linked her TO the Spanish
or rather Mexican race-a race from which
sprang the leading families of this section
of the repub ic. Her mother had been born
in San Diego and the city was already in
existence at the time California still con-
sttuted part of Mexico.
This large harbOr, discovered about three
and a half centuries ago by the Spanish
navigator, Juan Rodriguez CaDril0 had
first been called San Miguel. It's present
name was given to 1t in 1902. In 1916 this
province exchanged its trl-colOred flag for
the stars and stripes Of the Union, at
which date it became one of the sister
hood of States.
OF medium height, a countenanCe lighted
ND by large and expressive dark eyes, warm
olive complexion, a luxuTiant growth of
very dark brown hair, hands and feet lit
tie larger than common with her race, a
carriage full of decision, but not lacking in
grace, a strong face, aud yet one radiant
with kindness of heaTt-Such was Mrs.
John Allaire. She was one of those women
who force you TO take second look at
them, aud before her marriage Molly had
| Justly been reputed as one OF San Diego's
beautiful daughters-a genuine compliment,
inasmuch as beauty is no rare thing in this
part of the world.
She was nothing Of q triter; on thu con-
| traTy rather deliberate, endowed with good
| sense and a bright mind-mOral qualities
| which marriage would very certainly bring
| to greater development. Yes, under cir
! Gums tanceS of what gravity sOever, once
| Mrs. John Allalre, Molly would never fail
! to do her duty. She had faced the problem
! of existence frankly and honestly, her
! views were not the result Of any deceptive
! prism. She was a woman OF lofty soul and
| strong will The love which her husband
! would inspire in her would only serve to
| increase her devotion to her duty, and il
necessity demanded it-and this assertion as
| applied to Mrs AllaiTe is something more
| than mere wOrdy nplace-and she
| would lay down her life for her husband as
! be would his for her and they beth would
! theirs for their child. They wOrShped
| this infant son who had just learned to
| lisp the word papa at the moment when
| the young captain was parting with him and
! his mother. In features little Walt resem-
! bled his father very strongly, but IN his
| brilliant cOlorng favored his mother. R0-
! bustly built, there would be no cause to
! dread the diseases of childhood. Besides,
would not the most watchful care attend him
! at every step?
With what dreams Of happiness for this
! little creature just budding into life had the
| maginatiOns Of these parents already stored
The future. Assuredly Mrs. Allalre would
! have been the haDpiest OF women If her
! hus band had been IN position TO abandon
! calling whose greatest drawback was that
| it kept them separated. But how would it
| have been possible for hertO interfere when
| the command of the Dreadnaught was
! offered him? Was it not imperative that he
I should provide for the necessities of his
! household, lay up store for a family which
WOuId Dp Increase A
| MOlly's little fortune, it only yielded her
| comfortable allowance Of pin money. at
| this conjuncture OF circumstances 1t was
| natural that hllaire's thoughts should turn
| to the fortune which his wife's uncle would
| leave to her, for nothing save the happening
| of something extremely untOward and I'M
probable would defeat this inheritance.
EDWARD MansOn's age was three score and
| Molly was his only heir, for MOlly'S cousin,
Kate Barker, belonged to the maternal
| branch of the family and there was no tie
| of consanguinity between her and Edward
| Manson.
| Therefore was it safe to predict that Molly
| would be rich woman, but ten, yes, twenty
| years might so by before her uncle'S de-
| cease would put her in possession Of this
| property. Hence the present condition of
| affairs, TO say nothing Of the future, called
| upon John Allaire To bestir himself, and in
/ the choice of employers none in his mind
! was entitled to precedence over Andrew
! anteed to Captain Allaire an interest in the
| ventures Of the DTeadnaught. There was,
| therefore, good reason to assume-now that
! Allalre was enacting the double role Of
! seaman and ITader-tbat his labors would
| result in amasslng competence while he
was waiting for The last will and testament
| of Edward Manson to become operative.
One word concerning this most American
| of Americans. He was a brother of Molly's
| father, Thomas Manson, and cOnseqentIy
| the own uncle Of the girl, who had married
| John Allaire. 1t was Moly's father-Ed-
wards senior by five or SIX years-whe had,
| 50 to expressed it, raised him. for their par
| ents had died young and Manson the younger
! had always sought by means of affection
| and gratitude TO repay this debt. Fortune
! had favored him and he had reached the
| wiShed-for goal. while the elder brother had
| gone astray in the side paths. While his
! successful speculations and enterprises in
| clearing and opening up vast tracts Of wild
| land in Tennessee had separated the two
| brothers, for Molly's father had remained
! in New York, vet they had frequently ex-
changed letters Upon the death of
Molly's mother, her father had taken up
a permanent residence in San Diego,
his wife's birthplace, aud had died
there about the time that Molly's marriage
| with John Allaire had been decided upon.
| The solemniZation of the marriage had taken
! place few months after bis death, and the
| young couple had begun life with no other
| invested funds than the slender fortune left
| by the elder Manson.