Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-12

with the outside world. Above all, were
thev in her presence to avoid every allusion
To the past. every word or expression which
might lead her to discover that four years
had elapsed since the death of her child,
since Captain John had sailed away. For
awhile, anyway, it was necessary that tor
her the wear 1879 should be 1875.
1t was quite natural that Molly should
feel longing, mingled with impatience to
receive Johns letter. As the Dreadnsught
was upon the point of reaching Caicutta-if
she was not already there-the Captains
wife was constantly expecting to hear that
Hollister & Co. had cablegraR to that ef-
feet Then the Eastern mail would sool
arrive, and she, the moment her strength
would permit. would write 70 John. Alas,
now could she bring herself to tell HIN
what had happened, and that, too, in the
very first letter which SIZE had written to
him since their marriage, as they had never
been separated before the sailing of the
Dreadnaught. All, yes, this first letter
would be a terribly sad one!
Mrs. Aliaire's condition, mental and
physical, continued to improve rapidly 1t
would soon be time for Andrew Hollisterto
act.
Molly now began letter to John. She
could no longer keep from talking to him of
their child, which he was never again TO set
ewes upon. She poured out all her sorrow
an a letter to her husband, letter which he
was never to receive.
Mr.. Hollister took this letter, promising
q nut it with his own mail for the Indies,
md when this had been done Mrs. Allaire
became somewhat calmer, living now only
1n the anticipation of 2 speedy arrival of
gidipcs direct or indirect of the good ship
DreaGnaught.
However. this condition of affairs could
Rot last. Sooner or later, possibly through
their abundance of caution, Molly would
learn what they were concealing from her.
The more she gave herself up to the thought
that she would soon receive a letter from
John. that every day that went by short
ened lust so much his absence from her, the
more terrible would be the final blow. A
conversation which Molly and Mr.. Hollister
had on June 20 only served to confirm this
opinion. For the first time Molly had
va .ked out into the little garden, and there
Mr.. Hollister found her seated on bench
iu front Of the cottage steps. He sat down
beside her and taking her hands in his
pressed them afectionately. Mrs. Allaire's
Strength had returned rapidly of late. Her
Cld time deep rich coloring had shown
itself once more. although her eyes were
onen wet with tears.
- see that you are getting we'll fast, my
really doing finely"
Yes Mr.. Hollister," replied Molly,
''but. oh, ii seems to me that I have grown
terribly old in these two ponthsl My poor
John will find me greatly changed And
titaa there will be no one but me to receive
.EIu-nO one but me.
Courage, my dear Molly, courage. You
mustn't give way in this manner, you know;
you're my daughter now and must obey
iae."
Dear Mr.. Hollisteri''
"Ah. that's something like"
You have sent the letter which wrote
John, haven't vou7" asked Molly.
Certainly! and you must await a reply
with patience The India mails are often
DELAYED. There, Molly, you are crying
e~ain; now please stop!"
How can [, Mr.. Hollister, when think
6 everything? And was not the cause of
g.. too?'
No. no, poor little mother, no! God hath
end 10 your sorrow!'
.'Godp' murmured Molly, Goodwill bring
back nv John TO mei''
Have YOU had a visit from DR.. Bromley
TODAY, Molly?" asked Hollister,
Eyes, and he seemed satisfied with, the
progress 1 was making Ny strength is in.
e-easing, shall soon be able to go out"
mot until he gives his permission,
Mollyr'
''Of course not, Mr.. Hollister. Ipromise
you not to do anything rash.
"And l rely on your promlse'
''You have received no news of the Dread
nsught vet Mr.. Hollister?"
mo, but it doesn't surprise me, for it's
long VOYAGE from here to the Indies"
John may have written from Singapore.
Didn't he touch there?'
"He was to do so, Molly, but if he missed
the mail even by few hours it would oc-
cas1on q delay of a fortnight"
Then YOU are not the least bit surprised
at not having received letter from John
up to this lime?'
'eNot the leastp' answered Andrew Hol.
lister, to whom the conversation was becom-
gng very embarrassing.
nAnd there is no report in the maritime
Journals of his having been spoken?"
''Sot since he fell in with the Flying
Cloud-about-"
1.-TWO months ago." interrupted Molly.
"And oh, why did those two vessels fall in
with each other2 Had they not done so, I
would not have gone on board the Flying
Cloud. and nv baby" A change came
over Mrs. Allaire's face, and the tears burst
forth.
'Mouy, my dear Molly" pleaded Mr..
Hollister, 'don't weep. l beg of you don't
weep"
"Ah. Mr.. Bollister, 1 don't know-but q
presentiment comes over me at times. It's
very strange. 1t seems as if new misfor-
tune-oh, I'm so worried about JohnI''
''You shouldn't be, Molly. There is no
reason for itr'
"Mr. HoIister, couldn't you send me
some of the shipping journals in which
there are marine reports; I would like to
read"
Certainly, my dear Molly, I'll do so.
However, if there were anything concern
ing the Dreadnaught, either that she had
been spoken at sea or hao safely reached the
Indies, would be the first to know it, and
1 would at once
But it now became necessary to change
the conversation. In the end Mrs. Allaire
might have noticed a certain hesitation in
the replies made by Mr.. Hollister, whose
ewes could not bear unflnchingly the steady
honest look fixed upon them. The mer-
chant was upon the point of broaching the
subject of Edward Manson's death, and the
large fortune which he had left his niece,
when Molly put this question:
tsThey telt me that Kate and her husband
have gone travelling. Have they been gone
long?"
'iNo, two or three weeks"
"And they'll be back soon, I suppose"
81 can't saw" answered Andrew Hollis
ser 'We have not heard from them"
'Isn't it known where they went?"
'tSo, my dear Molly; Lew Barker was en-
gagged in some important schemes Of q very
speculative nature. 1t may have been nee
essary for him TO make long trip, very
long"
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