The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-10
CHAPTER vI-continucd.

went there was no change, except that
khe window blinds of the ground floor
and first story were tightly closed. II
had the air Of an unoccupied house, si-
lent and mysterious looking.
Mr.. Hollister rang the bell of the
outer door and waited patiently for
some one 70 appear; but no one came.
In fact, IL seemed as if the caller had
neither been seen nor heard. Could it
be that there really was no one at home?
IA 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
khe 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 adj
mitting him.
SIS Mrs Allaire not at homep" he
asked.
"She has gone out, Mr.. Hollister,"
answered Nanny, with peculiar hesi-
nation in which there was q 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"
II 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
6or several days past we have COM
mcnced them again-they seem TO do
Mrs Allaire rood now"
s'Tm sorry that they should not have
notified me of this" said Andrew Hol-
lister. as Mr.. Barker at home?"
81 don't know"
go and see; and il he is, say to him
4hat 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 a frigid attempt at cordiality.
ain the absence of Kate, who has gone
out for stroll with Molly, shall have
10 do the honors myself" !
"How long before Molly win return?",
asked Andrew Hollister.
'sNot before dinner time, think, an
swered Barker.
Mr.. Hollister was evidently much dis
appointed, for it was absolutely neces-
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
Tor the better in Molly's condition2"
asked the merchant.
"Unfortunately none, Mr.. Hollister,
and I'm inclined to believe that this is
one of those cases beyond the reach of
Hll 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 it
MI is" continued Mr.. Hollister, "that
we must now give up all hopes of ever
seeing Capt. John again. His return
would, feel confident, have produced
a most happy effect upon poor Molly's
mental condition. l suppose you are
aware, Mr.. Barker, that we have given
mp all hope of ever setting eyes on the
Dreadnaught again?"
81 was aware ofit, Mr.. Hoflister. and
It Is still another and greater calamity
Adj od fa Haf
And yet even without looking to Prov
idence TO lend hand in the matter"
nc 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-
vleions have proven fruitless?"
but there Is nothing TO show tnat
the Dreadnaught went down i'm the open
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 desert
Island? And IL that is the case such
sturdy and stout-hearted men will find
some way of getting back horae again.
Might they not build boat with tho
fragments of their vessel? Would not
their signals be seen by any ships pass
ing near the island? And all these
things will take time, too. No. I for
one don't despair Of ever seeing John
ngain-if not in several weeks from
now, why, then, in several months. How
many times have shipwrecked crews
been given up for lost, and they have
come sailing into port after allr'
"Yes," replied Mr.. Hollister, 'T know
there have been rescues, miraculous
ones, and have argued the thing out
30 myself Just as You have done. But
have given up all hope, absolutely all
hope. In any event. and this is what
has brought me 10 you to-day, am un-
willing that Molly should become a bur
den % you"
"Oh, Mr.. Hollisterf''
mo, no, Mr.. Barker, and you must
permit me 70 continue the ravrncnf ~ |