Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-10-28
CHAPTER VIII
A DIFPICUIT SITUATION


dead. The very first question which
fell from Molly's lips was how long she
had been out of her mind.
For two months" replied DR.. Brom-
ley, who was expecting the question.
1.-TWO months only!' she murnured
For it seemed to her as il a century had
gone by.
1.-TWO monthsr' she continued. John
can't be back yet, for it's only two
months since he sailed. Has he been
told that our poor little babe"
"Mr. Hollister has written him." an
swered DR.. Bromley, interrupting her.
"And have they heard from the Dread
naught?"
She was told that Capt. John was
to write from Singapore, but that the
letter had not yet arrived. But anyway,
according to the maritime reports, the
Dreadnaught ought to reach the Indies
very soon, and that they were now look
ing forward for cablegram to that eff
feet.
Then came an inquiry as to the
absence of Kate Barker, to which the
doctor replied that Mr.. and Mrs. Barker
were out of town and it was not known
exactly when they would be back.
To Andrew Hollister was assigned
the difficult task of informing Mrs.
Allaire of the loss of the Dreadnaught,
but it was agreed that he should wait
until her mind had become strong
enough to bear the blow. For the next
ensuing fortnight Mrs. Allaire was not
permitted to hold any intercourse with
the outside world. Above all, were
they in her presence to avoid every al
lusion to the past, every word or ex-
preston which might lead her to dis
cover that four years had elapsed since
the death Of her child, since Capt
John had sailed away. For awhile,
anyway, it was necessary that for her
the year 1879 should be 1875.
1t was quite natural that Molly should
feel longing, mingled with impatience,
to receive Johns first letter As the
Dreadnaught was upon the point Of
reaching Calcutta-if she was not al
ready there-the captains wife was con-
stantly expecting to hear that Hollister
& Co. had a cablegram to that effect.
Then the eastern mail would soon ar
rive and she, the moment her strength
would permit, would write to John.
Alas, how could she bring herself to
tell him what had happened, and that,
too, in the very first letter which she
had written to him since their mar
rage, as they had never been separated
before the sailing of the Dreadnaught.
All, yes, this first letter would be ter
ribly sad onel
Mrs Allaire's condition, mental and
physical, continued to improve rapidly.
1t would soon be time for Andrew Hol-
lister to act.
Molly now began letter to John.
She could no longer keep from talking
to him of their child which he was
never again to set eyes upon. She
poured out all her sorrow in a letter to
her husband, letter which he was
never to receive.
NJ. HGnister took this letter, promis-
ing to put it with his own mail for the
Indies, and when this had been done,
Mrs. Allaire became somewhat calmer,
living now only in the anticipation of
speedy arrival of tidings, direct or in
direct, of the good ship Dreadnaught.
could not last. Sooner or later, posi-
bly, through their abundance of eau
ton, Molly would learu what they
were concealing from her. The more
she gave herself up to the
thought that she would soon re-
ceive a letter from John, that every
day that went by shortened just SO
much his absence from her, the more
terrible would be the fatal blow. A
conversation which Molly and Mr.. Hol-
lister had on June 20 only served to con-
firm this opinion For the first time
Molly had walked out into the little
her seated on bench in front of the
cottage steps. He sat down beside her
and taking her hands in his pressed
them affectionately. Mrs. Allaire's
strength had returned rapidly of late.
Her old-time deep rich coloring had
shown itself once more, although her
eyes were often wetted with tears.
81 see that you are getting well fast,
my dear Molly" said Hollister; you are
really doing finely"
Eyes, Mr.. Hollister," replied Molly,
''but, oh, it seems to me that have
grown terribly old in these two
months! My poor John will find me
greatly changed And then there will
be no one but me to receive him-no
one but me-"
Courage, my dear Molly, courage.
You mustn't give way In this manner,
you know; you're my daughter now and
you must obey me-"
Dear Mr.. Hollisterl"
"Ah, that's something lil1e!'
"You have sent the letter which
wrote John, haven't you?" asked
Molly.
Certainly! and you must wait re-
ply with patience. The India mails are
often delayed There, Molly, you are
crying again; now please stopr'
'How can I, Mr.. Hollister, when
think of everything2 And was l not
the cause of it, too?"
mo, no, poor little mother, no! God
hath chastened you severely, but he will
put an end TO your sorrowl'
''Godr' murrnured Molly, "God will
bring back my John to mel"
Have you had a visit from DIR.
Bromley to-day, Molly?" asked Hollis
ter.
Eyes, and he seemed satisfied with
the progress I was making. My
strength is increasing. I shall soon be
able to go out"
mot until he gives his permission,
Molly"
''Of course not, Mr.. Hollister.
promise you not to do anything rash"
"And / rely on your promisel"
"You have received no news of the
Dreadnaught yet, Mr.. Hollister?"
mo, but it doesn't surprise me, for
it's long voyage from here to the
Indies"
John may have written from Singa-
pore. Didn't he touch there?"
''He was to do 50, Molly, but if he
missed the mail even by a few hours it
would occasion delay of a fortnight"
'Then you are not the least bit sur
prised at not having received a letter
from John up to this time?"
"Not the least" answered Andrew
Hollister, to whom the conversation
was becoming very embarrassing.
''And there is no report in the mari
time journals Of his having been
spoken?"
mo, not since he fell in with the Fly
ing Cloud-about-"
1.-TWO months ago." interrupted Mol
ly. "And oh, why did those two YES
sells fall in with each other? Had they
not done so, would not have zone on