Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-09-06
THE CALIFORNIANS,
BY JULES VERNE.
Copyright 1891 by the Authors Alliance.


to Prospect cottage, where Kate and
Lew Barker took up their residence
that same day, which action on their
part called forth general approval.
1t is easy to guess what motive was
actuating Lew Barker. The fact should
not be lost sight of that on the very
day of the disaster he had intended to
confer with Molly concerning a certain
business matter, which was nothing
more or less than proposition for her
to loan him n certain sum of money.
But since then the situation had
changed completely. 1t was more than
likely that Barker would in his capacity
as guardian of the person and estate of
his relative have full control of her
property, and in that case he would be
able to provide himself with funds
illegally, it is true, but it would enable
him to gain time. Kate had already
had presentiment that such would be
his course, and while she rejoiced at be-
ing able to devote herself wholly to her
cousin, she trembled at thought OF the
projects which her husband, under
cover of benevolcnce and humanity,
would attempt to carry out
Such were the conditions under which
a new existence now began at Prospect
cottage. From now on Lew Barker re-
tanned his customary business habits,
going down to his office every morning
and applying himself to schcmesin hand;
but close observer might have noted
that he never failed to return to Pros
pect cottage for the evening, and that
it was not long before his absences
from the city became rarer and rarcr
and bricfcr and briefcr.
1t need hardly be added that Nanny,
the mulattrcss, had followed her master
to his new home, where shcrwas des-
tined to become, what she had been
everywhere and at all times, to wit, n
creature upon whose devotion he could
depend in the most absolute sense of
the word. Little Waits nurse had been
discharged although she had offered to
devote herself to the care of Mrs. AL
laire. The other servant was provis-
ionally retained at the cottage, for Nan
ny would have found it quite out of the
question to do all the work of the house
hold.
Lew Barker no doubt had in mind the
fact that all those who were interested
in Mrs Allaire's condition would con-
slider it most fortunate thing that she
should be in her cousins care. Mr.. An
drew Hollistcr himself was forced to
acknowledge that she could not be in
better hands. Whenever he called he was
careful to note whether there was any
tendency to improvement, for he still
INDUCED the hope that he might not be
called upon to announce to Capt. John
by cable to Singapore or to Calcutta the
double misfortune-the death of his
child and of-for was she not dead, too?
And yet five weeks had now gone by
and there had not flashed single glim-
MGR of intelligence through that men
tai gloom. In the presence of this calm,
mild, indifferent condition, UNMARRIED by
any physiological disturbance, the ply
sicians seemed to lose all hope, and it
was not long before they discontinued
their visits
Whenever Lew Barker for some rea-
son or other was obliged to be absent
| for day, the mulattress had orders to
| keep Il close watch upon Mrs. Allaire.
Without appearing in any way to inter
| ferc with Kate, she took good care to
| leave her rarely or never alone with
| Molly, and to report faithfully to her
| master whatever sho had observed in
| Mol1y's condition. She showed great
| ingenuity in getting rid Of people who
came to inquire about the captains
| wife. She assured them that the doc.
| tors had ordered that no callers should
| be admitted, that absolute quiet was
| necessary, that the sound of n strange
| voice might bring on n fit of violence
| And Mrs. Barker herself was inclined tC
| side with Nanny when the latter thus
| got rid of callers whom possibly nothing
but idle curiosity brought to Prospect
| cottage. In tlis way the captains wife
| gradually became isolated from the
| world.
poor Molly" thought Kate eff hc1
condition grows worse, if her lunacJ
| loses it's mild character and she becomes
subject to outbursts, they will take hel
away from me, they will shut her up il
an asylum and she will be lost to me
Oh, no. God grant that this may no
happen. Who could possibly care TO
her with the same devotion as I?'
During the third week of May Kat,
proposed that they should try an oc
casional walk in the neighborhood, hop
ing that her cousin would gain SOM
benefit from them. Lew Barker mad
no objection, merely directing tina
Nanny should go along with them.
Mrs. Allaire therefore left the cottag
one day, Kate's arm being affectionatel.
entwined in hers. She permitted her
self to be led forth like a person withou
wish or will, going whittier she wa
conducted without taking any interes
in anything.
At the outset these walks had no az
probable effect upon the patient. How
ever, the mulattress soon began to oil
r serve that Molly's emotion gave ev
0 dent signs of modification. Her habi
ual composure was interrupted b
symptoms of mental excitation, whic
, might be productive of harmful results
On several occasions the sight of littl
children whom she met in the stree
threw her into n state of violent ner'
Gus excitement Did they not awake
in her n recollection of the one she ha
i lostP Did not thought of little Wa
flash across her mind? However tn