The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-02-01

the old seaman, or to confess to him her
lack of courage to do so. Why should
she long to ring the death knell to the
first happiness that had come to her
after so many years of sorrow? OF one
thing she was thoroughly convinced,
however: No matter to whom the boy
belonged, he was no ordinary child; his
innate grace and gentleness, his In
stinctivc refinement, proved this, to say
nothing of his handsome, high-bred
features and honest, wide-opened eyes.
Molly was firmly resolved not to give
him up. What sunshine and joy would
he not bring to their home when once
the full gentleness and nobility of his
character had been brought out by their
love and watchful care? How could
John help loving such a frank, manly
sailor lad? Yes, Godfrey would take
Walters place in that fathers heart, he
would help John to bear the awful loss
which awaited him on his return home
to San Diego.
Mollys mind was fully made up. In
spite of the scowl which she knew only
too we'll would wrinkle the brow of
honest Zach French when he heard of
it, she was resolved to adopt Godfrey as
her son, as Johns and her son, educate
him as such and surround him with all
the luxury and refinement which her
great wealth justified. When evening
came she sat down and wrote few
lines to the captain Of the Brisbane re-
Questing him to send the sailor lad to
her in the morning. Summoning a
servant she placed the letter in his hand
and directed him to take it at once to
the captains hotel. The man turned
away and had reached the street door
when he was accosted by tall youth
dressed in the picturesque costume of
the Australian trapper, a corduroy
smock frock belted at the waist, trunks
of the same material, leather leggins
and a broad rimmed felt hat turned
gracefully up on one side. A rifle was
slung across his shoulder and revolver
and hunting knife suspended from his
belt. He rather timidly asked to see
Mrs. Allaire, and the man thinking him
to be some member of the expedition
sent.:with a message from Farina Town,
where the leaders of the search party
were engaged in completing their final
preparations, at once conducted him to
Molly's rooms AS he stepped into her
presence, it required a second glance to
recognize the sailor lad, such a COM
plete metamorphosis had his hunting
costume effected in his appearance He
seemed so much taller, so much older.
The boy of fifteen had suddenly become
a man.
Molly stood, half dazed, with her
gaze riveted upon the handsome youth,
and such tumultuous rush of thought
oppressed her mind as to rob her for
moment of the power Of speech. God
frey took her silence to mean disap-
prevail, and stammered out:
''Dear lady, don't be angry with me.
could not bear to let you go-alone-"
The stern-visaged Zach was not stand
ing there watching her; he was not
present to frown at what he deemed a
deplorable weakness at such time
when all her strength of mind and body
were needed to crown their labors with
glorious triumph. No, she was alone
with the boy, who had in so mysterious
manner reused all the mothers love.
crushed, suppressed, dormant for SO
many years. She was free to act out
her own tender, loving, impulsive self,
and with loud cry of Joy ahe sprang
forward and caught Godfrey in her
arms, and with the kisses she rained
upon him came a hundred pet names
which she had not dared to utter in
Zach's presence. And now, too. these