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

| told that she must never expect TO see zap
tain John again. But it seems that
after her interview with Mr.: Hollister,
Molly had resolved to leave the house with
out the knowledge of the attendants, who
naturally would have done everything to
dissuade her. Yet, even if this leaving the
house might not be in any way dangerous
considering the present state of her health,
| yet it might be followed by deplorable re-
suits should she accidentally learn the
truth without being in the least prepared
| for it. Mrs Allaire's intention in leaving
Prospect Cottage was to begin action with
regard to Zach French. Since she had
learned his name, but one train Of thought
| had filed her mind.
eyes, possibly, they did do something for
| him." she said to herself 'They gave him
a little money, but was not there to attend
| to it. And now Zach is away on a cruise,
he has been gone five or six weeks; but no
| doubt he has family, wife and children,
and they are poor people, you may depend.
It's my duty to 60 and find them out, to
| make it comfortable for them. Yes, must
see them, must look after them"
And even if Mrs. Allaire had consulted
| Andrew Hollister on this subject, how
| could he have brought himself to advise her
against this deed of gratitude, this act of
charity?
On the morning of June 81, towards 8
o'clock, Molly left the house without any
one seeing her She was dressed in mourn
ing for her child, whose death in her mind
dated back only two short months. She
was hurrying in the direction of the docks
when she conceived the notion of passing
in front of Lew Barker's house. It would
| only add little to the distance
Poor Kate" she murmured.
AS she reached the spot where the Bar
kers' house had stood she looked about her
| in half dazed and bewildered manner. 1t
was nowhere to be seen! An exclamation
of surprise escaped her, and her heart was
oppressed with vague and indefnable
| solicitude. In the place of the narrow
somber dwelling which she remembered
there was a large and imposing building
several stories in height, with lofty grated
windows on the ground floor. On the top
of the structure there was lantern tower,
from which waved flag bearing the in
itials II. w. Over the door there was a
| sign lettered in gold as follows: Harris,
| Washington & Co."
Molly thought she must be mistaken. She
glanced to the right and to the lift No,
this was the spot, on the corner of Fleet
| street, where she had come to see Kate Bar
ker. She passed her over hand her eyes. A
strange and mysterious presentiment flashed
upon her. She was powerless to explain
her own feelings. The offices of Hollister &
Co. were close at hand. A few steps further
brought them plainly in view. Her first
thought was to go there. But no, she would
stop on her way back, after she had the in
terview with Zach French's family. Her
intention was to get the sailors address at
the office of the steam launches near the
landing.
With throbbing heart, bewildered mind
and restless eyes Molly hurried along. She
now began to scan the faces of the people
she met, and an almost irresistible inclina-
tion came over her to accost some of them,
to question, to ask them-what? They
would have taken her for a lunatic. And
in fact she was quite sure that her reason
had not fled for second time? Gould it be
that there were gaps in her memory?
A few steps farther and Molly had
reached the Offices of the steam launches,
one of which was Just casting off and head
ing for Point Loma Molly followed it
with her eyes, listening to the steam escap-
ing in puffs from the black smokestack.
What sad recollections rose to her mind,
recollections of her child whose little body
the waters had been unwilling to surrender.
These waters drew her toward them with q
her ewes, the ground seemed to yield be-
meath her feet. A vertigo seized her, she
was upon the point of falling. Making a
great effort, she turned and entered the
Office.
Upon catching sight Of this woman with
the blsnched face and contracted features
the man in charge who was sitting at q
table, rose quickly, and placed chair for
her.
care you i'll, MADAME" he inquired.
'Oh, no, it's nothing, sir" replied Molly,
ga momentary weakness. I'm better now:
"Be kind enough to take seat. It will
| be ten minutes before the next boat
leaves"
Thanks" answered Mrs. Allaire IT
have only come to ask for some informa-
tion. Possibly, you may be able to give it
to me-"
'In reference to what, Madam7"
Molly had sat down and was holding her
hand pressed against her forehead as If to
collect her thoughts
"You had sailor in your employment, -
said Molly, "by the name Of Zach French,
did you not, sir?
the man didn't remain very long with us,
however L knew him very we'll"
'He was the one who risked his life to
save a woman, an unfortunate mother?"
eyes, yes, I remember; it was Mrs. Al.
laire-yes, he was the man"
"And he is at sea now?"
"Yes, madam"
'eWhat vessel did he ship on9"
''The three-master, Golden Gate"
| "Of San Diego?"
'eNo, madam, of San Francisco"
'eWhat port did he sail for?"
"Various European ports"
A feeling of exhaustion came over Molly
and she sat in silence for a moment or So
| 1,b;1o he amn1nua afood WAITING for hay %<
continue.
each French's home is in San Diego,
isn't it?"
''Yes, madam"
could you tell me where his family
live?"
GIVE always been told that Zach French
was alone in the world don't think he
has any relatives, either in San Diego o,
elsewhere"
'sThen he was not a married man?"
"No, madam.
| There was no reason for doubling the cor
rectness of the replies made by this man to
whom Zach French was SO well known. So,
| for the present, there was nothing to be
done, since the man had no family, except
| for Mrs. Allaire to await the return of the
Golden Gate to America.
"Could you tell me how long Zach
French's voyage will be likely to last?"
asked Molly.
81 could not, madam. The Golden Gate
was chartered for a long cruise"
'T am greatly obliged to you, SIR" said
Mrs. Allaire. 'I should have liked very
much to see Zach French, but it will no
doubt be long while"
eyes, madam.
"However, isn't 1t possible that there
may be news of the Golden Gate in few