Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-03
THE CALIFORNIANS,
BY JULES VERNE.
Copyright 1891 by the Authors Alliance.
BY JULES VERNE.
CHAPTER ~.
ON BOARD THE FLYING CLOUD.


Allaire and the nurse, who was carry
ing little Walt, left Prospect cottage.
She passed quickly through the broad
avenues of the upper city, bordered
with villas having gardens inclosed by
ornamental fences, and soon reached
the narrow and more built-up streets
of the business portion. 1t was in Fleet
street that Lewis Barker resided, not far
from the wharf belonging to the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company. All in all,
nine o'clock when Kate opened the door
for Mrs. Allaire.
1t was residence plain almost to
gloominess. The blinds of the front
windows were almost always closed, as
Lew Barker received only business ac-
uuaintances and maintained no friend
ly relations with his neighbors. Peo-
pie knew the man very slightly, even
in Fleet street, as his business affairs
kept him away from the house from
morning till night. Besides he was out
of town a great deal, going most fire.
qucntly to San Francisco in pursuit of
schemes of which he said nothing to his
wife.
This particular morning he was not
in his office when Mrs. Allaire reached
the house. Kate made excuses for her
husbands not being able to accompany
them on board,the Flying Cloud, adding
that he would certainly join them at
luncheon.
I'm ready, my dear Molly" said she,
after having kissed the baby; "but
don't you want to rest for n moment?"
I'm not tired" replied Mrs. Allairc.
Nothing, Kate. 1 long to meet Capt.
Willis. Pray let's start at once"
Mrs. Bankers only servant was an old
mulattrcss, whom her husband had
brought from New York with him.
This woman, whose name was Nanny,
had been Barker's nurse. Never hav-
ing served in any other family except
ing his, she was completely devoted to
him and still called him by his first
name as she had done when he was a
child. This creature, gruff and dicta-
torial, was the only one who ever
seemed to exercise any influence over
Lew Barker and he intrusted her abso-
lutely with the management of his
house How often had Kate been made
to feel the weight of this dominecring
sway, which was pushed at times to
disrespect. But she bowed to this
tyranny on Nanny's part as she did to
that exercised by her husband. In her
resignation, which was but another
name for weakness, she let things go as
they might, and Nanny took no counsel
with her in relation to the management
of house affairs.
AS Kate turned to leave the house the
mulattrcss enjoined upon her the ne
cessity of reaching home beforemidday,
as Lew would soon return, and it would
not do to keep him waiting. Besides,
there was an important matter of
which he wished to speak to Mrs. AL
lairc.
what does she refer TOP" asked
Molly of her cousin.
GLOW should know" replied Mrs.
Barker. Como, Molly, let's be Off"
There was no time to be lost Mrs.
Allaire and Kate Barker, accompanied
by the nurse and child, turned their steps
toward the wharf which they reached
in less than ten minutes.
The Flying Cloud which had now,
passed through the formalities of quar-
antine, had not yet been docked, but lay
at anchor at the farther end of the bay,
a cables length inside of Iona point.
1t would, therefore, be necessary to
cross the bay to go on board the vessel,
| which would not be hauled up to the
dock until later. 1t was about two
miles across and the passage was effect
| ed by means of steam launches, which
made half-hourly trips.
Molly Allaire and Kate Barker took
| seats in the steam launch along with a
| dozen other passengers. Most of them
were friends or relatives of the crew Oh
| the Flying Cloud, who wished to avail
themselves of the first opportunity of
| fcred to visit the ship. The launch cast
off its lines, got clear of the wharf, and,
under the action of it's screw, took IN
oblique course across the bay, putting
steam at every stroke of its piston.
With its placid surface mirroring the
fleocy clouds and blue sky, the bay was
now visible its entire length, with the
houses of San Diego rising amphithea
ter like up the heights, and the old city
ut the bottom of the narrows lying be
tween Island point and Point Iona
the huge Coronado hotel standing ou
boldly with its palace-lil1e architecture
and the lighthouse whose lantern SHEDS
its broad glow over the sea after night
fall.
There were number of vessels an
chored here and there, of which tn,
launch skillfully steered clear, us sh,
did of the boats coming towards her
and of the fishing smacks that wer
hugging the wind to lengthen thei
tack.
Mrs. Allaire, with her cousin next her
was Seated on one of the deck benche
} while on the other side of her sat TIN
nurse holding little Walt, who, undo
the influence of the fresh sea air, wa
in the best of spirits, and followed
with wondering eyes the movements O
the sea gulls as they sailed over hi
head, uttering their shrill cries Hi
mother was delighted with the look o
perfect health stamped upon that swee
little face, and bent over several time
to kiss it, being each time rewards
with smile.
But Molly's attention was soon al
tracted by catching sight of the FLYNN
Cloud. Lying somewhat away fror
the other vaSsalS the fbrRamaSte