The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-11-19
cJULESVERNE. {


had the air of an unoccupied house, 81
lent and mysterious looking.
Mr.. Hollister rang the bell of the
outer door and waited patiently for
some one to appear; but no one came.
In fact, it seemed as il the caller had
neither been seen nor heard. Could it
be that there really was no one at home?
A second pull at the bell was followed
by the noise of opening side door.
The mulattress came in sight and an
exclamation of irritation escaped her
the moment her eye had fallen upon
Mr.. Hollister, which, however, was un-
noticed by him.
The girl now walked towards him,
but gave no sign of any intention of ad-
mitting him.
sis Mrs. Allaire not at home?" he
asked.
"She has gone out, Mr.. Hollister,"
answered Nanny, with peculiar hesi-
tation in which there was visible ad-
mixture of fright.
"Why, where is Molly?" cried Mr..
Hollister in a tone of insistence.
''She has gone out walking with Mrs.
Barker"
81 thought they had given up those,
walks which only seemed to excite her
and bring on nervous attacks"
eyes, that's so," replied Nanny, "but
for several days past we have COM
menced them again-they seem to do
Mrs. Allaire good now"
"I'm sorry that they should not have
notified me of this" said Andrew Hol-
lister 'Is Mr.. Barker at home?"
ST don't know"
go and see; and If he is, say to him
that ! wish to speak to him."
Before Nanny could think Of what
sort of an answer she should make, for
she suddenly realized the difficulties OF
her position, the front door was opened.
Lew Barker stepped out upon the
veranda and came down the path to
meet the merchant.
"Please walk in, Mr.. Hollister," said
he, with frigid attempt at cordiality.
"In the absence of Kate, who has gone
out for a stroll with Molly, shall have
to do the honors myself"
"How long before Molly will return?"
asked Andrew Hollister.
mot before dinner time, think" an
swered Barker.
Mr.. Hollister was evidently much dis
appointed, for it was absolutely necess
sary that he should get back to the
office before the mails closed. Then
again, Lew Barker made no suggestion
that he should await Molly's return.
"You have not noticed any change
for the better in Molly's condition2"
asked the merchant.
"Unfortunately none, Mr.. Hollister,
and I'm inclined to believe that this ID
one Of those cases beyond the reach of
all remedies"
THAT no one can say, Mr.. Barker.
What may seem utterly impossible to
man is easily possible to God"
Barker gave one of those dubious
shakes of the head so common with
men who scout the idea of any inter
ference Of Providence in the affairs OF
| men.
"And the most distressing part of II
| all is," continued Mr.. Hollister, that
we must now give up all hopes of ever
seeing Capt. John again. His return
would, I feel confident, have produced
q most happy effect upon poor Molly's
mental condition. suppose you are
aware, Mr.. Barker, that we have given
up all hope Of ever setting eyes on the
Dreadnaught again?"
81 was aware ofit, Mr.. Hollister, and
1t is still another and greater calamity
added to those that have gone before.
| And yet even without looking to Prov.
idence to lend O hand in the matter, VI
he added in tone of irony sadly out OF
place at such a moment, "there would
be, to my mind, nothing extraordinary
| In Capt. Johns turning up again"
after seven months have passed
without any tidings of the ship and in
the face of the fact that all my investi'
cations have proven fruitless?"
"But there is nothing to show tina,
the Dreadnaught went down in the oper
sea-" resumed Barker. MAY she not
have been wrecked on some of the reefs
which are SO plentiful in those latitudes'
| Who knows that John and his crew
have not taken refuge on some deser
island? And II that is the case sucf
sturdy and stout-hearted men will finc
some way of getting back home again
Might they not build boat with thu
fragments of their vessel? Would no
their signals be seen by any ships pass
ing near the island? And all thes
things will take time, too. No. 70
one don't despair of ever seeing JohI
again-if not in several weeks from
now, why, then, in several months. How
many times have shipwrecked crew
been given up for lost, and they hav
come sailing into port after alll''
"Yes," replied Mr.. Hollister, 81 know
there have been rescues, miraculou
ones, and have argued the thing ou
to myself just as you have done. But
have given up all hope, absolutely al
hope. In any event, and this is wha
has brought me to you to-day, am ur
willing that Molly should become a bu,
den to you"
''Oh, Mr.. Hollister!"
mo, no, Mr.. Barker, and you mus
permit me to continue the payment c
Johns salary to his wife during her life
time"
''In her name thank you," reptile
Lew Barker. "Your generosity"
"I'm only doing my duty" interrupt
ed Andrew Hollister, ''and as it occurre
to me that the funds deposited by Joh
at the time of his departure must b
pretty well exhausted"
"Yes, that's SO, Mr.. Hollister," al
swered Lew Barker, 'but Molly has he