Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-21

peared In the throng or passengers ana crew. French was not slow to guess the meaning of the troubled look that he now saw on Mrs. Allaire's face. Had Walt lived he would have been just Godfrey's age, and the sight of this tall, handsome boy filled the wretched mothers heart with sorrow too deep for words.
 'tZach," ," said she to French as the lat ! ter bade her good night at- the cabin door, Zach, want to know more about | that lad-who his family are and where he was born. Perhaps he may not be | English"
 'Perhaps not" replied Zach, "Tn in- | quire of the captain" As there was to be delay of thirty | six hours in Williamstown harbor Mrs. Allaire resolved to spend the time in the | city of Melbourne, distant about a mile. As she was leaving the steamer in com | pany with Zach, she caught a glimpse l of Godfrey leaning on the forward rail- | ing. His eyes were following her every | movement, and such look of sadness clouded his face and so involuntarily did he reach out as if tc hold her back that she was upon the point of calling out: "I'm coming back, my childr' but with an effort she smothered her feelings and turned away.
 When Mrs. Allaire returned on board the following day Godfrey was on the | lookout for her. He took up his posi- ton at the gangway and welcomed her with smile of almost girlish sweet ness. But Zach frowned grimly as his eyes fell upon the boy, for he was be- coming apprehensive lest the lads pres ence might exercise a dangerous inf1u- i ence upon Molly by reopening the ter rible wounds of past years. However, what excuse could he make for refusing to obey her request when on the fol lowing day Molly expressed a wish to talk with the sailor lad? Hat in hand, Godfrey came timidly into Molly's pres ence. Instinctively Zach felt that no good could come of these interviews, but he determined not to leave them alone.
 s'My boy" began Mrs. Allaire as the door of her stateroom closed behind him, ''I want to ask you some ques- tions about your family. I do so be- cause I'm interested in you, because want to know more about you. Are you willing to tell me what you know?"
 'Yes, lady, very willingr' replied the lad, as the color came into his cheeks, and he glanced nervously at Zach, who
 seemed to him like some terrible ogre
 ready to bounce upon him and tear him
 away from the presence of his fairy
 princess
 ''How old are you?'
 'I don't know, lady, exactly, but l
 think I must be about fourteen or fif-
 teen.'
 ''FourtSen or ffteenr' repeated Molly | nd Cr
 have you been following the sea?"
 II first entered the service when I
 was about eight years old as ship boy,
 but for two years now I've been regu-
 larly apprenticed."
 ''Did you ever make long voyage?"
 sYes, lady, on the Pacific as far as
 Asia and on the Atlantic as far as Flu rope"
 Are you English?"
 "No, madam; I'm an American" But how is 1t that you're serving on
 an English steamer?"
 , ''The vessel which had shipped on
 was sold when we reached Sidney, and, , finding myself discharged, took this billet on the Brisbane until should get a chance to ship on an American yes . | sell"
 "You did well, my child," said Molly | making sign to Godfrey to come closer . to her.
 And now tell me where you were
 born"
 ''At San Diego, madam"
 ''San Diego?" repeated Molly, withou
 manifesting the slightest surprise at thu
 boys answer. It would seem as if sh'
 had known intuitively what Godfrey
 answer would be.
 a With look of mingled surprise an' l. pain in them Zach French's eyes wan
 dered from the pale, beautiful woman a seated on the sofa before him to tn sweet, almost girlish face of the sailo 4 lad, whose dark olive skin glowed wit
 a rich color as he kept his gaze fastene
 upon the features of the lady in front O
 him. Something almost like a groa,
 escaped Zach's lips.
 o "Yes, lady, in San Diego" continue ,r Godfrey. ''Oh, I know you, dear lady II know you so wellI'
 Le "Know me?" repeated Molly, hal m starting up and leaning forward to sea l. the face of the youthful speaker le ''Know me, you say9"
 h "Yes, lady, for was brought up a D. the Walter home, I was sent ther f. when a mere toddler. Oh, often sav t. you there when you came to visit you or children, as you used to call then ,e Your hand has often rested on my heaG at dear lady; yes, many and many a tim' le But, of course, you don't remember ID CT one in the fifty or more who used
 stand up in long line in front of yo' ae but one day 1t seemed to me your eyt CT stayed fixed upon my face for a lon ,h time, oh, so long time, and then yo
 smiled and becSoned me to your sic CT and smoothed my hair and asked me m in name and told you, and then tried CT put my arms around your neck, for yo in seemed SO sweet and good, but the m
 tron pulled me away and whispere to No, no, child, don't do that; go back ly your placeI"
 to The tears had been gathering n- Molly's eyes as the sailor lad ran on tn in way with his "reminiscences of the We on ter home, and had not Zach's stern ia
 | '