Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
she smothered her feelings and turned

she smothered her feelings and turned
away.
When Mrs Allaire returned on board the
following day Godfrey was on the lookout
for her. He took up his position at the
gangway and welcomed her with smile of
almost girlish sweetness. But Zach frowned
grimly as his eyes fell upon the boy, for he
was becoming spprehensive lest the lads
presence might exercise q dangerous infu-
ence upon Molly by reopening the terrible
wounds of past years. However, what excuse
request when on the following day Molly
expressed a wish to talk with the sailor ladP
Hat in hand Godfrey came timidly into
| Molly's presence. Instinctively Zach felt
that no good could come of these interviews.
| but he determined not to leave them alone,
''My boy," began Mrs. Allaire as the door
of her stateroom closed behind him. 81
want to ask you some questions about your
family. 1 do so because I'm interested in
you, because want to know more about
you. Are you willing to tell me what you
know"
eyes, lady; very willingr' replied the lad,
as the color came into his cheeks, and he
glanced nervously at Zach, who seemed to
] him like some terrible ogre ready to pounce
upon him and tear him away from the pres
ence of his fairy princess.
Glow old are you?"
"I don't know, lady, exactly, but I think
I must be about IA or 16. p"
Fourteen or 15P' replied Molly with q
sob. "And how long have you been fol-
lowing the sea?"
81 first entered the service when 1 was
about years old as q ship boy, but for two
years now I've been regularly apprenticed- !"
"Did you ever make long voyage?
l,l,- h 80 70 QS Asia
| and on the Atlantic as far as Europe
care you English?"
"No, madam, I'm an American"
"But how is it that you're serving On an
English steamer?''
''rhe vessel which had shipped on was
sold when we reached Sidney and finding
myself discharged, 1 took this billet on the
Brisbane until 1 should get chance to ship
on an American vessel"
"You did well, my child, said Molly,
making sign to Godfrey to come closer to
her.
"And now tell me where you were born. !"
"At San Diego, madam"
"San Diego?" repeated Molly without
manifesting the slightest surprise at the
BOYS answer. It would seem as if she had
known intuitively what Godfrey's answer
would be.
With look of mingled surprise and
pain in them Zach French's eyes wandered
from the pale, beautiful woman seated on
the sofa before him to the sweet, almost
girlish face of the sailor lad, whose dark
olive skin glowed with a rich color as he
kept his gaze fastened upon the features of
the lady in front of him. Something almost
like groan escaped Zach's lips
"Yes, lady. in San Diego" continued
Godfrey. 'Oh, 1 know you, dear lady, I
know YOU so wellv'
"Know me?'' repeated Molly half start
ing up and leaning forward to scan the face
of the youthful speaker. "Know me, you
say?"
Walter Home. 1 was sent there when a
mere toddler Oh, often saw you there
when you came to visit your children as
you used to call them. Your hand has often
rested on nv head, dear lady, yes, many
and many time. But, of course you don't
remember me-one in the so or more who
used to stand up in long line in front of
YOU, but one day it seemed to me your
ewes stayed fixed upon my face for
I9ng time, oh, so long a time, and
then YOU smiled and beckoned be
to your side and smoothed nv hair, and
asked me my name, and 1 told you; and
then I tried to put my arms around your
neck, for you seemed so sweet and good;
In6 pulltU uc away
pered: "No, no, child, don't do that; go
back to your placeP'
The tears had been gathering in Molly's
eyes as the sailor lad ran on this way with
his "reminiscences Of the Walter Home, and
had not Zach's stern face been fixed upon
her she would most surely have reached out
and taken hold of the boys hands
"And oh, dear lady," resumed Godfrey,
"I can't tell you how glad was when they
told me that you were coming to Sidney to
look after Captain John Allaire. L have
tried to think out some good reason why he
doesn't come home, for | know he must be
alive somewhere. / know itlT
Molly started up as if awakening from
dream and caught the sailor lad by the
hand. For moment her lips moved, but
she was powerless to utter aword A deeper
pallor spread over her face, and she seemed
upon the point of falling in a swoon, when
suddenly slender but strong arm was
passed around her waist. 1t steadied her
and held her tenderly and firmly upright.
'tPoor lady, cheer up" said Godfrey,
don't worry, everybody says that Captain
John is living with the natives somewhere
In the Wilderness and that he is such a
brave and strong man that he'll get away
from them yet. Don't cry, mother!"
"Mother?" repeated Molly in a smothered
tone of Joy, as her hand passed caressingly
over the thick black curls that grew in wild
profusion on the lads head. ''Mother?''
"Why, yes, lady" said Godfrey, surprised
at the effects of his words that's what we
used to call you at the Home; our mother,
our dear mother to whom we children owed
everything in the world, our home, our
clothes, our food, our educationr'
Overawed by the stern look and wrinkled
brow of the seaman, who stood with twitch-
ing hand and trembling lips following every
changing phase of this strange and moving
scene, Molly drew herself in and showed
calmer exterior.
''My lad, she asked almost In a whisper,
''what is your name?"
"Why, I've told you, lady, Godfrey"
"No, no, your full name-the name Of
your family?"
''I have no other name, madam"
'But your parents-who were they7"
81 don't know, dear lady, can't remem-
Der them. can only remember my nurse,
and 1 wouldn't be able to do that only she
was so black, oh so black, and her teeth
were so big and white and sharp. Yes 1
remember herl''
''But who took you to the Walter
Home?"
81 can't tell you, dear lady. I only re-
member being there when 1 was little
toddler. / think L was The smallest one in
your family, mother!"
As this word again fell from Godfrey's
lips Molly lost all control over herself
Her bosom heaved convulsively as her
breath came ard went in sob-like catches.
She turned and throwing both her arms
around the sailor lads neck, drew his head,
with q wild and impassioned outburst of