The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-13
CHAPTER TX.
REVELATIONS.

CHAPTER TX.
REVELATIONS.
Mr. Hollister and Dr. Bromley had
been careful TO direct the exclusion of
all papers and letters from the cottage.
But Molly was now quite strong enough
TO leave the house, and although the
doctor had not authorized her TO do so,
might she not leave Prospect cottage
without giving any warning2 Hence
it would nst do to put off the matter
any longer. All arrangements were
therefore made. Molly would soon be
told that she must never expect TO see
Capt John again. But it seems that
after her interview with Mr.. Hollister,
Molly had resolved TO leave the house
without the knowledge of the attend
ants, who naturally would have done
everything to dissuade her. Yet, even
If this leaving the house nigh. not be
in any way dangerous, considering the
present state of her health, yet it might
be followed by deplorable results should
she accidentally learn the truth without
being in the least prepared for it, Mrs.
Allaire's intention in leaving Prospect
cottage was to begin action with regard
TO Zach French. Since she had learned
his name, but one train of thought had
filed her mind.
"Yes, possibly, they did do something
for him." she said to herself. ''They
gave him little money, but was not
there to attend to it. And now Zach is
away on cruise, he has been gone five
or six weeks; but no doubt he has n
family, wife and children, and they
are poor people, you may depend. It's
my duty to go and find them out, to look
after their wants, to make IL comfort
able for them. Yes, must see them. /
must look after thern!'
And event il Mrs. Allaire had consulted
Andrew Hollister on this subject, how
could he have brought himself TO advise
her against this deed of gratitude, this
act of charity?
On the morning of June 81, towards
nine o'clock, Molly left the house with
out anyone seeing her. She was
dressed in mourning for her child,
whose death in her mind dated back
only two short months She was hur-
rying in the direction of the docks when
she conceived the notion of passing in
front of Lew Barker's house 1t would
only add little to the distance.
"Poor Kate!" she murmured.
AS she reached the spot where the
Barkers' house had stood, she looked
about her in a half-dazed and bewil-
dered manner. IL was nowhere to be
seenl An exclamation of surprise es-
capped her, and her heart was oppressed
with vague and indefiuable solicitude
In the place Of tho narrow, somber
building which she remembered there,
was large and imposing building sew
cral stories in height with lofty grated
windows on the ground floor On the
top of the structure there was lantern
tower from which waved flag bearing
the initials Ill. w. Over the door there
was sign lettered in gold rs follows:
Harris Waddington & Co."
Molly thought she must be mistaken.
She glanced TO the right and TO the left.
No, this was the spot, on the corner of
Fleet street, where she had come 20 see
Kate Barker. She passed her hand over
her eyes A strange and mysterious
presentiment flashed upon her She
was powerless TO explain her own feel
ings. The offices of Hollister & Co.
were close at hand. A few steps far ther
brought them plainly in view. Her
frst thought was TO go there. But no,
she would ss-p on her way back, after
she had had the interview with Zacn
Ercnch's family Her intention was 10
get the sailors address at the Office of
the steam launches near the landing.
With throbbing heart, bewildered
mind and restless eyes Molly hurried
along. Sho now bc@zn TO scan the
faces OF the people she met. and an al
most irresistible inclination came over
aer TO accost some of them, 10 question,
20 ask them-what? They would have
aiken her for a lunatic. And i'm fact
vas she quite sure that her reason had
lot fed for n second time? Could IL be
hat there were gaps in her memory
few steps farther and Molly had
cached the office Of the steam launches,
me Of which was just casting of and
reading for Point Iona Molly fol.
owed IL with her eyes. listening TO the
team escaping in puffs from the black
What sad rccollections rose In her
mind. recollections of her child. whose
title body the waters had been unwill.
ng 10 surrender. These waters drew
Ter towards them with strange fasci.
lation- II grew dark before her eyes,
he ground seemed TO yield beneath her
eet A vertigo seized her. she was
lpon the point Of falling Making a
Treat effort she turned and entered the
'filce.
Upon catching sight of this woman
Nth the blanched face and contracted