The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-06

shin Of which he was destined 20 DC
the commander. With what zeal, yes,
almost affection did he supervise the
work even TO its smallest details. 10
was like the loving care OF the man
who is engaged in building home In
which TO end his days But IL was
even more than this, for n ship Is not
only house, il is not only an instrn-
ment of fortune. it is fabric OF wood
and iron to which precious human
lives are TO be intrusted. Moreover
IL is not. as it were, a detached frag-
ment of native soil, which is borne
back home by wind and wave only to
be carried away again, and which In
the end destiny unfortunately does not
always permit to return to the port
out of which il first drifted.
Molly had very frequently accom-
panied Captain John to the shipya-d.
These timbers resting upon the incliced
keel, these ribs so like the skeleton Of
some vast marine mammal, this plank
ing already in position, this hull with
its complex outlines, this deck pierced
by the broad matches for loading and
unloading, these masts lying on the
ground biding their time to be placed
in position, the interior arrangements,
the crews quarters, the quarter deck
and its cabns-was not all this suf-
fcient TO interest her? Was IL not her
husbands life and the life of his COM
panions which '.he Dreadnaught would
shield from and defend against the gales
of the Pacific? Hence there was not
single plank which in Molly's imagina-
ton JohE night not in some emergency
stand ia need of for the safety of his
life; nor did blow of a hammer re-
sound amidst all the noise and turmoil
of that shipyard which did not find an
echo in her heart.
John took pleasure in initiating her
In the mysteries of the work, pointing
out the destination of each piece of
metal, explaining to her the vessels
speed as indicated by the plan of con-
struction. Molly learned to love this
ship of which her husband was TO be the
soul and next to God the master!
The house occupied by John Allaire
stood upon one of the loftiest terraces
of the heights which shut in the north
side of the bay. II was sort of Swiss
cottage. surrounded by garden contain
ing orange and olive trees and shut in
by plain wooden fence. A ground floor
with veranda in front, upon which
opened the front door and the windows
of the parlor and dining-room, second
story with balcony extending it's en-
tire length, and above this the gable
end, the sloping rafters Of which were
richly carved-such was this very sim
pie but very attractive habitation. The
parlor and dining-room, modestly fur
nished, occupied the ground floor, above
them were two rooms, Mrs. Allaire's
and one devoted TO the comfort of little
V's.t; in the rear there was small an
mex used for the kitchen and the serv-
ants. This was the home in which the
captains wife must now face the long
hours of absence The baby's nurse
and one servant were its only other oc-
cupants. The only visitors were Mr.
and Mrs Barker, the husband rarely,
the wife frequently.
Mr. Andrew Hollister, as he had
promised, often called to see the youay
news of the Drendnaught which might
reach him directly or indirectly. Before
any letters can reach their destination
the maritime journals contain lists of
vessels spoken, their touching at this
port or that or any other happenings at
sea which might be of interest tc ship
pers. Molly would therefore be kept
well posted.
The first few days were specially
heavy and sad. Molly could not bring
herself to leave the house. Kate Barker
went daily TO visit her, and the two
women lavished their attentions on lit
tie Walt and talked about Capt. John.
Ordinarily, when she was alone. Molly
passed part of the day on the balcony
of her cottage. Her gaze was turned
seaward over the bay and far beyond
the Coronado islands. The line of the
horizon did not limit her vision; she
saw beyond il, for had not the Dread
naught already passed far beyond it? In
thought she passed on board the ship,
she stood by her husbands side. At
this moment vessel appeared in the
ofling and stood in towards the bay
and Molly thought to herself how the
Dreadnaught would be sighted in this
way some day and how she would loom
up as she neared land, and how John
would be standing by the ships side,
glass in hand.
The time now came when little Waits
health might suffer from his being kept
cooped up too much indoors. The
weather became particularly fine the
second week after Capt. Johns depar.
ture, and n cool breeze tempered the in.
creasing heat. Mrs. Allaire brought
herself to emerge from her retirement,
and ON these little excursions was ac.
companied by the nurse carrying the
Sabv.
IN this way on ono sccnsi. n thJt maj
an excursion 10 Knob hill, the site Oh
many villas, from which point one may
look ont 10 sea far beyond the islands.
At another time they betook themselves
TO Coronado beach, where the sea rolls
In angrily and breaks on the shore with
tha nciea q, thunder md how. fhpty vie