The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-19
CHAPTER IX-CoNr1NuEp.

CHAPTER IX-CoNTINUED.
March. 1871 They had deceived her. 1t
was four years since her child had been
drowned, four years since John had set sail
for the Indies He had, therefore. been out
of her mind for these four long years. And
II Mr.. HOLSTER and Dr. Bromley had
allowed her to believe that she had only
been deranged for the short space of two
months it must have been for the purpose
of concealing the truth about the Dread
naught-it must be that for four years they
had had no tidings of either Captain John
or his ship.
To the CONSERVATION of the employees,
Mrs. Allaire seemed about to Sueeumb to
some sudden ailment; but with super
human effort she recovered possession OF
herself, and. dashing out of the Office. hur-
ried along from one street 10 another.
Those who met this woman with her Wild
eyes and pallid face could not do otherwise
than regard her as an escaped lunatic.
And if she was not what they thought her
to be, would it not be a mere question of
timeP Whittier was she hurrying? 1t was
in the direction of the offices Of HOLSTER &
Co.. where she arrived III few minutes
without knowing how. She crossed the
outside office, fitting by the astonished
clerks, who had no chance to detain her,
and pushed open the door of the shipping
merchants private office.
Andrew HOLSTERS establishment at see
ing Mrs. Aliare quickly gave place TO dis
may upon Glancing at her drawn features,
her deadly pallor.
u know ali! know alp she exclaimed
wildly, before he could find time to utter
syllable. You have deceived me I've been
out of my mind tor four year"
My dear Molly, calm yourself"
Tell me about the Dreadnaught; isn't
it four years since she saied"'
Andrew Holhster bowed his head.
You have had no news Of her in four
yearS-iOr four years ??
The merchants lips Still remained closed
You look upon the Dreadnaught as lost
and every one ON board of her? And John
will never come back to me again ,"
Andrew HOLSTERS eyes filled with tears;
they were his only response.
Mrs. Alaiie'S hands flew TO her head, she
reeled and would have fallen had not the
merchant fastened to her side. He laid her
tenderly upon the sofa. She had lost con-
seriousness. The janitor's wife was called
in to care for her, and messengers were dis
patched in search of DR.. Bromley.
Upon bis arrival Mr.. HOLSTER in few
words explained the situation to him. Acct
denlally or through some lack of precautiOn
Mrs. Allaire had learned everything.
Whether it had been at Prospect Cottage
or in the streets OF San Diego 1t made little
difference. The whole truth WAS known to
her now. She knew that four years had
gone by since little Waits death, that dur-
ing these four years she had been out of her
mind, and that for four years no tidings had
been received from the Dreadnaught.
1t was only with the greatest difficulty
that DR.. Bromley succeeded IN restoring
poor Molly to consciousness, and the queS-
ton which he now put TO himself was
whether her mind would not be shattered
by this last and most terrible of the blows
that had been rained upon it.
q III, 49,. II -l.. i
so with full consciousness Of what had
happened. She had come back to life again
with unciouded reason. Her eyes were bent
inquiringly upon Andrew HOLSTER, who
sat by her side with her hands clasped in
his
Speak, oh, speak, Mr.. HOLSTER" she
murnured, and then her voice died away.
The merchant obeyed, speaking slowly
and tenderly but plainly and fairly. he
told her Of their first anxiety concerning the
Dreadnaught; how letters and dispatches
had been sent to Singapore and the Indies
where the ship had never arrived, how
sec7ch had been made all along the course
tTaNersed by Captain John and how no sign
or trace of the shipwreek vessel had come
to light.
With parted and rigid lips. with fixed
stare, Mrs. Allaire listened, aud when An
drew Hollister had finished half groan.
half sob escaped her, and then like wall
came the words:
MY child dead-my husband dead. Oh.
why did not Zach French let me die ?"
Then suddenly her face lighted up, and
there was such a wonderful dislay of that
energy and force of character natural to the
woman, that DR.. Bromley was fairly
startled. With a strong and steady voice
she called out:
Then there has been nothing heard
from the Dreadnaught since you made
search for her?"
Nothing" replied Mr.. HOLSTER.
- And you look upon her as lost?"
Yes-lostP'
And not word from John nor any man
in his crew."
Not word, my dear Molly; we have
given up all hope"
IAN hope?" she Queried, in a tone that
seemed almost tinged with irony
As she had uttered these words she had
risen from the sofa and stood with her right
hand stretched out toward the window
through which the ocean was visible Mr.
HOLSTER and DR.. Bromley follow her move
ments with secret dread, fearing that the
worst had come. But Molly's Ease was not
that of lunatic. 1t was lighted up with
the glow of her great soul.
All hope?" she repeated. "You say you
have given up all hope? But, Mr.. HOLSTER,
if you look upon John as lost l do not
Without him this fortune will be but dross
in my eyes. l shall consecrate it to the
search of JOHN and his companions of the
Dreadnaugnt. And with Gods help shall
find them; yes, shall find them"