Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-10-07
ING her caze urson Mrs. BARKER.

ing her gaze upon Mrs Barker.
Eyes, dear Molly" replied Kate, an
It will be John who will be standing o
deck TO receive us"
Mrs. Barker understood very wei
that vague anxiety oppressed he
cousins heart when she interrogate
the future.
1t had taken the steam launch a quar-
ter of an hour to cover the two miles be
tween the wharf at San Lego AM
Point Iona The passengers mad
their way to the landing from whicl
the Flying Cloud was lying scarcely
cables length away.
There was one of the ships boats "
ing at the foot of the stairway in charg,
of two sailors. Mrs Allaire made her
self known to them, and the men an
nounced themselves in readiness to row
her over to the ship. A few stroke.
were sufficient 10 do this, and Capt
Willis having recognized Mrs Allair'
stepped to the gangway TO receive her
The captain conducted his guests tc
the quarter deck while the mate con
tnued the necessary preparations tC
get the Flying Cloud at her dock in the
city.
Capt. Willis" said Mrs Allaire, I'm
informed that you spoke the Dread.
naught"
Eyes, madam" replied the captain,
land I'm able to assure you that she
was in good trim, as have already re
ported TO Mr.. Hollister"
"And you saw him, you saw John?''
"The Dreadnaught and the Flying
Cloud passed each other close enough
for Capt. Allaire and me to exchange a
few words"
"Yesi You have seen him." said
Mrs. Allaire in an undertone to herself.
as IL the keen eyes of love had seen a
vision of the Dreadnaught projected
from the captains face.
Mrs Baker then asked several ques-
lions, to the reply to which Mollie lis
tened attentively, although her eyes
were turned seaward-toward the
distant horizon
ION that day." continued Capt VIII
LIS, 'ithe weather seemed to be very
favorable, and the Dreadnaught was
scudding along with every sail set
Capt. John was on the quarter deck.
glass in hand. He had shifted his helm
TO come alongside of me, for coulda I
change my course, being already 90
close to the wind that my sails wore al
most tapping"
1t Was evident that Mrs. Allaire did
not understand the precise meaning of
these terms made use of by Capt.
Willis. but she was sure of one thing
that the man standing In front Of her
had seen John, had conyersed with him,
for one instant.
"As we passed each other" said the
captain, "your husband waved his hand
to me and shouted: Everything is going
all right, Willis; the moment you reach
San Diego give my love 10 my dear wife.
Then the two ships separated and soon
passed out of each others sight"
'fWhat day was 1t that you fell in with
the Dreadnaught?" asked Mrs Allaire,
March 23," replied Captain Willis.
"at twenty-five minutes past eleven
n m"
Mrs. Allaire was SO particular about
these details that the captain sent for
the chart aud designated the exact
point at which the two vessels had
passed each other. It was las degrees
longitude west from Greenwich, and 20
degrees north latitude. In other words,
seventeen hundred miles west of San
Diego. If the weather should continue
favorable, and there was every reason
to believe that 1t would ut this season
of the year, Capt. John would surely
make q quick and agreeable passage
across the waters Of the North Pacific
And, further, as he was to and cargo
awaiting him at Calcutta, his sojourn
In the capital Of the Indies would be
very brief, and his return TO America
would be accomplished without any
delay.
At this moment the mate made his
appearance on the quarterback and in
formed the captain that they were
ready to get under way. The sailors
standing on the forecastle were only
awaiting the signal to break anchor
Capt. Willis offered to send Mrs. AL
laire ashore unless she preferred to re-
main on board. In that case she could
cross the bay ON the Flying Cloud and
SO reach the city. 1t would take about
two hours for the ship to make her
docks
Mrs Allaire would have been very
glad to accept the captains invitation,
but she was expected at luncheon at
twelve. She felt confident that Kate,
after what the mulattress had said.
would be very anxious tozreach home
by the time her husband did, and she
therefore requested Capt. Willis to put
them ashore SO that they might be in
time to catch the steam launch
The necessary orders were given, and
Mrs. Allaire and her cousin took their
little Waits rosy cheeks
While waiting for the steam launch to
start, Molly sat watching with deep in
terest the movements Of the Flying
Cloud. Keeping time with the rudc
song of the boatswain, the sailors be
gan to break anchor, and the chaiu to
creak on the hawse, while the mate or
dered enough sail TO be set to carry
the vessel. with the help of the tide. to
her dock.
The steam launch was now about to
cast off, and gave shrin whistle to call
in her passengers, two or three of
whom quiclzened their pace, coming up
the point in front of Coronado hotel.
Mrs. Allaire, Kate Barker and the
nurse took seats on one of the star
board benches, while the other passen-
gers, about twenty in all, rambled about
the deck A final blow of the whistle
was sounded, the screw began to move,
and the launch put out across the bay.
1t was only half-past eleven, and Mrs.
Allaire would reach the house in Fleet
street in time, for quarter of an hour
was all that was required to make the
trip across the bay.
AS the launch steamed away Molly's
gaze remained riveted upon the Flying
Cloud The anchor was up, the sails
caught the breeze, and the ship began
to move ahead Once in her place
alongside the wharf Molly would be
able to pay as many visits to Capt
Willis as she might choose.
The steam launch shot along rapidly.
The houses of the city perched upon
the different terraces of the picturesque
amphitheater stood out more and more
plainly. 1t was only quarter of n mile
further to the wharf
Look out" suddenly cried one Of the
hands posted ut the bow of the launch.
as he turned TO the man at the wheel
who was standing on the little bridge