Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-15
on foot upoh HshtnrtIvnl in Adelaras

NO Ht'u u lut NUN WoTNh. Ldcn
this child was raised in the Walter
home lie was born In San Diego; h,
Is fourteen or fifteen years OF age; In
features he bears strong resemblance
10 John. He has that same open, manly
bearing, that strong love Of the ocean.
lie must be a sailors son, Zach. Oh,
Zach, he Is Johns son-he Is mine. Tho
world thinks that the dark waters OF
the bay of San Diego swallowed up that
dear little baby, but no, oh, no, no, he
was not drowned. God knows he was
not; some one rescued him-some Low.
ing hands reached out for him as he
went floating along on the bosom OF
those dark waters; they didn't know
whose child he was-how could thew
They didn't know what mother was
stretching out her pleading hands 10
Heaven, but was there all the time,
my poor mind darkened and clouded
with not a faint glimmer OF hope to
save me from insanity. oh, Zach, my
friend, my dear friend, tell you this Is
my child-this is my little Walter, my
son. God has had mercy on me at last
lie has given him back TO me-"
Molly's voice died away. She could
not utter another word. Her transports
choked her, pressed the very life out Of
her. She could only hold out her hands
toward the honest seaman, her stanch
md loyal friend, as u imploring him TO
speak, 10 agree with her, 10 admit that
1t must be 30, that the proof was over
whelming.
Zach aton1 tor N ,,o.,o,,. L., ,.o-f...
silence, his lips closed. His eyes took
on hard and unsympathotic look, his
whole face and being underwent sud-
den and complete change lie stood
there like man resolved TO be honest
Mt all hazards, TO speak the truth, no
matter how II might stab n mothers
tender heart. lie had listened In silence
To all she had TO say. Possibly he should
not have done so, possibly he should
have stopped Molly at the outset. A
little cruelty ut first might have
prevented all this. However, II was too
late 10 speculate now as TO what he
should have done. What he should do
now was the question, and like man
who never shrinlSs backward when duty
bids him go ahead, he spoke out firmly,
plainly, almost cruelty:
Mrs. Allairc, you are dcceiving your
self cannot, | must not permit you
10 believe what Is not 50. This rcscm-
blancc between this sailor lad and Capt.
John is an accidental one, such rs often
happens in life. Your little Walt Is
dead-ycs, dead IIc persisted in the
nurbor that dreadful day. saw him
go down forcvcr Godfrey Is not your
SON"
"You say Walter Is dcad?" cried Mira
Allairc, starting forward with wild.
defiant look In her eyes. GLOW do you
know II? Who can say II of his own
knowlcdgc?'
81, madam"
"You?"
YES, madam. Listenl Eight days
after that terrible accident the body OF
an infant was washed up ON the beach
ut Point Iona. I-I-found II and
hastcncd TO inform Mr.. HOLSTER. lie
recognized little Walt, whom he caused
To be secretly buried in the cemetery Of
San Diego. We were the only MOURN
crs, the only ones TO strew flowers upon
that little grave"
walt, my little Walt, buried In the
cemetery" sobbcd Molly, piteously,
"and none ever told me Of it,"
mo, madam" said Zach, solemnly,
"for the time being you were out Of
your mind. When, four years after, you
recovered your reason, we dared not
MIR, llollistcr dared not tell you OF IL;
he WINS afraid to tear open your
wounded heart, and DIR. Bromley agreed
with him that 1t might be dangerous,
that once you had knelt by that little
grave you would hover over II day by
day, and your mind would gradually
give way, until n settled and incurable
melancholy had fastened itself upon
you. We did what we thought was the
best, dear lady. God help you, but be
strong, make up your mind that your
child is dead; that this sailor lad has
only the right which hundreds of other
children have TO call you mother"
Molly sank with long, deep, pitiful
Rroan upon the sofa. She hid her face
In her hands-she seemed TO be praying.
Zach dashed tear off his rough cheek,
and stood waiting for her TO speak.
With n suddenness that startled him,
Molly sprang up.
what Can II be-" she moaned, that
you, that Andrew HOLSTER were naru,
were cruel enough to lay that little
loved body away In the cold, damp
earth without taking from II any bit Of
ribbon, any shred Of his dress, and Of
his tiny shoes-to hand to me some day
when | should be well and strong
againp"
"Yes, dear lady, did even better
than that" exclaimed Zach, almost Joy
fully, 81 cut from his little head clus-
ter Of his silken curls."
And you have them, zach9" almost
shrielSed Molly, springing forward.
"Yes, yes, madam, here, on my heart,
where I've carried them many a long
year"
Zach unbuttoned his jacket and drew
forth large envelope Of strong paper,
soilcd and blackened by it's long and
rough passage on this honest breast,
and, placing II in Molly's hand, turned
and hurried out OF the stateroom.
When the door closed, Molly threw her
self on her knees In front OF the sofa
with this priceless packet clasped
against her bosom. Her hand seized
the stout Irvine, when n mysterious
prompting caused her TO hesitate. She
bowed her head until It rested full upon
the packet and there she remained, mo-
tionless, for nearly an hour in deep and
comforting prayer, When she arose,
the tears had dried. She walked stead
lily across the stateroom, opened one OF
the trunks and hid the package deep In
tho bottptn