The morning call., 1891-07-26
CHAPTER vIII.ArCoxrrxuED.I

ceiyed from time TO time by MIS-. Allalre 10
give her any encouragement that the eXpeui-
ton would be crowned with success, ana
even the receipt of the letter announcing
the search about to be made among the
MoIuccas did not serve to raise her hopes.
The moment she learned that Captain
Willis had arrived, she proceeded on board
accompanied by Mr.. Hollister. A glance
at Willis face told her that the concluding
portion of the search among the Moluccas
had not been productive of any results.
Having giving a cordial grasp OF the hand
TO the captain, she advanced to ward the
crew which stood respectfully awaiting her
appearance on de k.
81 thank you, captain" she said calmly
and buoyanily, land 1 thank you, my
friends Your devotion touches me. You
have done all that l could expect You
have not been successful, and perhaps you
despair Of ever being so, but do not. No,
l feel confident that shall yet see Captain
Allaire and his companions. My trust is in
God. He will not let it come to naught."
There was wonderful tone Of assurance
in these words. They bespoke an extraor-
binary energy; they expressed so eloquent
ly the firm conviction of the speaker that
her husband would yet be found that their
tuttl WAS SAdtAliuSs duu lGts W llilC CNClN
person present listened with respect border
ing upon yeneTation to this rare woman, he
could none the less bring himself to think
that her SOULS yearning would ever be sat-
isiied.
And yet, perhaps, her audience would
have done better to throw itself with firm
reliance upon that instructive knowledge
with which nature often endowS woman.
While man IS unable or at least unwilling to
form deductions until ne has first subjected
facts 10 actual and logical examination,
woman, tn INKS 70 her powers of intuition,
is often enabled to make astonishing fore
casts OF the future. 1t is some kindly in
stinct which acts as her guide and impar,s
unto her prophetic lore. Who could say
that the captains wife would not some day
Ge right AID all the world wrong?
She and Andrew HOLSTER were now con-
LUctrd to the cabin of the Moly's Hope,
where Captain Willis gave them detailed
account of the expedition. Maps of Poly
mesa and MALAYSIA were unrOliei upon the
table. and he was thus enabled 10 trace ont
step by step. from island to island and port
10 port the route followed by the steamer.
Permit me, Mrs. Allaire," said Willis,
to draw your attention to this point. The
Dreadnaught was seen for the last time of
lie Scutherly end OF Celebes Island on May
IS, lSI5-that is, about seven weeks after
leaving san Diego. Since then we have had
10 tldings Of her. Therefore. as she never
reached Singapore, we are forced 10 the con-
cluSion that she was lost in the Java Sea.
How There are two theories. The first Is
that she went down in gale or after col
llslOn, leaving NO trace OF her existence !;
the second IS that she went ashore on the
reels and was completely destroyed by the
pirates TO cover up their crime. And YET,
IN either Of these last two cases it is impos-
Sble that there should not have been some
debris, some totsam, some bit or scrap of
Ier cargo TO survive her; but in spite of our
efforts we have not been able to find any
actual proof OF her destruction"
Hence Captain Willis inclined to the opin-
ION that the Dreadnaught had been struck
ana destroyed by one OF those tOTnadOes so
often let loose in irresistible fury upon
these waters, for as regards the theory of
collision II was very rare that both vessels
20 down-one survives to tell the story.
Captain Willis conclusion was, although
he DIDN'T express it, that all hope must be
abandoned.
50 thought Andrew HOLSTER, too. He
bent his head; he could not bear the inquir-
ing look which Molly fixed upon him.
Nh! n9!1 she exclaimed; the Dread.
lis men have not persisted"
And Molly continued to question Willis
concerning the mlnuteSt details of the
search. encouraging, discussing, combating.
IL vas not until after session of three
hours That she rose to take her leave.
shall proceed to put the MOlly's Hope
out OF commission" asked Willis.
by no means, captain" was the answer
81 lave 10 intention to discharge you OF your
crew. Who can say that another cruise
viii be AS barren OF results as this has been I?
VII you retain command Of the steamer ?"
Il would do so willingly, Mrs. Allaire,
lut l belong 10 the HOLSTER concern; pos
si3ly they may need my services"
Don't let that stand in your way, my
dear Willis" said AIR. HOLSTER. Il am too
happy to place you under Mrs. Allaires or
QerS.'
BE it SO then. Mr. Hollister; my crew
and will stick to the Molly's Hope"
And, Captain Willis" said Molly, "hold
yourself in readiness to sail at any mo-
mpnL"
In giving his consent the shipping mer-
chant had had no other thought than to de-
fer to M0lly's wishes.
Both he and Captain Willis mad imagined
that she would give up all ideas of a second
expedition after the absolute failure of the
first. II time was never to weaken her re-
memhrance OF her husband, at least it
would in the end destroy every shred of
hope Of ever seeing him again. In accord
ance with Molly's wishes. the steamer was
not lad up. Captain Willis and his crew
remained IN charge Of her, and their pay
went on just the same. But there were ex-
tenslye repairs to be made. She must 20
into dry-dOck; her rigging must be over
hauled, new boilers put into her, ana her
engines looked after. After all this had
thoroughly pr0viSioned and coaled.
Ms. Allaire'S life atProspect Cottage had
long since taken on its oid-time methods,
but with the exception of Andrew Hollister
and Captain Willis no one was admitted to
her intimacy. She lived entirely i'm the at
mosphere of the past, save as her unfalling
hope tempered the awful darkness The
dead was always with her, the lost forever
beside her. Little Walt would have been 7
years old now, an age when the young and
INN siaF1 ai ind
touch of reason; but Walt was gone for
ever! Molly's thoughts would often revert
10 him who bad been so devoted to her-to
That sailor, Zach French by name, whom
she was so anxious TO know personally, but
who had not yet returned from his cruise
1t could not last much longer, however, for
the shipping reports had on several occa-
sions made mention of the Golden Gate,
and no doubt he would be back home be-
fore 1881 had passed. The moment he ar
rived Molly was resolved to send for Zach
French and make good to him her indebt-
edness by providing for him in the future.
In tue meantime, Mrs. Allare did not
cease TO look alter the families who had
been affected by the loss of tile Dread
Daught. 1t was solely for the purpose of
visiting their humble homes, of providing
for their wants, that she now and then left
Prospect Cottage and went down into the
lower town. Her generosity showed itself
in many ways, busying itself with the
moral as well as The material needs of her
prOtegeS. 1t was during the first part Of
this year that she consulted Andrew Hol-
lister concerning project which she was
anxious 10 carry out. She was resolved to
establish and endow home for the care
and custody of abandoned and orphaned
children.
"Mr. HOLSTER" said she, sits as a
memorial Of our child that desire to erect
and endow this institution. Pm sure John
will approve OF it when he returns, for 10
what better use could we put our fortune pr
Andrew HOLSTER admirably seconded
Mrs. Allaire in the execution of her plans.
a hundred and fifty thousand dollars were
set aside for the purchase Of suitable prop
erty and for the payment of its running ex-
penseS.
The project was quickly carried into ex-
ecution, thanks TO the assistance afforded
by the city government. There was no
necessity to erect building. Purchase was
made Of large residence situated in most
healthful location near the old town. A
skillful architect was employed to make the
necessary changes, so that the building was