Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-30
CHAPTER II.
SOME FAMILY MATHIS.

aot seem out Of place at this point TO
III In the mere outline sketch Of Mrs
John Allaire already made.
Molly was now twenty-one years OF
go. She wns Of American extraction,
ut II would not have been necessary
o trace her ancestry back 10 very re-
ote period 10 strike on the generation
hich linked her TO the Spanish or
lther Mexican race-a race from which
rang the leading families Of this sec
On Of the republic. Her mother had
zen born In San Diego, and the city
as already In existence at the time
alifornia still constituted a part Of
dexico..
This large harbor, discovered about
three and half centuries ago by the
Spanish navigator, Juan Rodriguez
Cabrillo, had first been called San
Miguel. Its present name was given
10 II In 1000. In ls46 this province ex-
changed its tri-colored flag for tho
stars and stripes Of the union, at which
date II became one Of the sisterhood Of
states.
OF medium height, n countenance
lighted up by large and expressive dark
eyes, warm olive complexion, luz
uriant growth Of very dark brown hair,
hnnds and feet little larger than com.
mon with her race, carriage full Of
decision but not lacking In grace, n
strong face and yet one radiant with
lsindliness OF heart-such was Mrs.
John Allaire She wns one OF those
women who force you TO take second
look ut them, and before her marriage
Molly had Justly been reputed as ono Of
San Diego's beautiful daughters gen.
uine compliment, inasmuch rs beauty
Is no rare thing In this part Of the
world.
She was nothing Of trl1er; on the
contrary, rather deliberate, endowed
with good sense and II bright mind
moral qualities which marriage would
very certainly bring TO greater develop
mcnt Yes, under circumstances Of
what gravity soever, once Mrs. John
Allaire, Molly would never fail TO do her
duty She had faced the problem Of
existence frankly and honestly; her
views were not the result of any dccep.
tive prism. She was woman Of lofty
soul and strong will The love which
only serve TO increase her devotion To
her duty, and, II necessity demanded J.
and this assertion as applied 10 Mrs
llairc Is something more than mere
wordy commonplace, she would lay
down her life for her husband. us he
would his for her, and they both would
theirs for their child. They worshipcd
this infant son who had just learned TO
lisp the word papa" at the moment
when tho young captain was parting
with him and his mother, In feature
little Walt resembled his father very
strongly, but In his brilliant coloring
favored his mother. Robustly built,
hero would DO no cause 10 dread the
diseases OF childhood. Besides would
not the most watchful care attend him
at every step2
With what dreams Of happiness for
this little creature just budding into
life had the imaginations Of these
parents already stored the futurel AS
suredly Mrs. Allaire would have been
he happiest OF women II her husband
lad been In position to abandon q
'hlling whose greatest drawback was
hat IL kept them separated. But how
would II have been possible for her &c
interfere when the command OF the
Oreadnaught was offered him2 Was II
not imperative that he should provide
or the necessities OF his household lay
up store for family which would bt
pretty sure to increase9 As for Molly''
little fortune, II only yielded her com
Portable allowance Of pin money. Al
this conjuncturc Of circumstances II wal
natural that Allaire's thoughts SHOULD
turn TO the fortune which his wife,
uncle would leave TO her, for nothing
save the happening OF something ex
tremely untoward and improbabl,
would defeat this inheritance. Edward
Manson's age was three-score and Mol,
was his only heir, for Molly's cousin
Kate Barker, belonged TO the materna
branch Of the family and there was NJ
tic Of consanguinity between her an,
Edward Manson.
Therefore was II safe 10 predict tina
Molly would be rich woman, but ten
yes, twenty years might go by befor
her uncle's decease would put her !
possession Of this property, Hence tn
present condition Of affairs, to sa
nothing Of the future, called upon job
Allnire TO bestir himself, and in Oh
choce of employers none in his min
was entitled TO precedence over Andre'
Ilollister, especially as the house hn
guaranteed 20 Capt. Allaire an interes
In the ventures OF the Dreadnaugh
There was therefore good reason to n
sume-now that Allaire was enactin
the double role Of seaman and trader
that his labors would result in amas
ing competence while he was waitin
for the last will and testament Of FL
ward Manson to become operative.
One word concerning this most Anne
lean Of Americans. lie was broth,
If Molly's father, Thomas Manson, an
consequently the own uncle Of Il
young girl, who had married job
Allaire. II was Molly's father-E,
wards senior by Eve or six years-wl
had, 80 10 express II, raised him, Il
their parents had died young, and MAJ
son the younger had always sougl
both by means Of affection and graf
Jude 10 repay this debt. Fortune hi
favored him and he had reached II
wished-for goal, while the elder brot
or had gone astray In the side path
While his successful speculations III
enterprises In clearing and opening
vast tracts Of wild land In Tenness
had separated the two brothers,
Molly's father had remained in M
York, yet they had frequently {
eh1pged letters Upon the death
Aloiiyh mother, her firtlfur had tult
up q prtinauvnt residence In Sun Dfug