The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-13

''Ten me-about the Dreadnaught-
isn't II four years since she sailed?"
Andrew Hollister bowed his head
"You have had no news Of her for
four years-for four years. >
The merchants lips still remained
closed.
"fou look upon the Dreadnaught as
lost-and every one on board OF her?
And John will never come back to me
again2"
Andrew HOLSTERS eyes filed with
tears-they were his only response.
Mrs Allaire's hands flew TO her head,
she reeled and would have fallen had
not the merchant fastened TO her side.
He laid her tenderly upon the Sofa
She had lost consciousness. The jani-
tors wife was called in TO care for her
and messengers were dispatched in
search of DIR. Bromley.
Upon his arrival Mr.. Hollister In
few words explained the situation to
him. Accidentally or through some
lack OF precaution Mrs. Allaire had
learned everything. Whether it had
been at Prospect cottage or in the
streets of San Diego II made little diff
ference. The whole truth was known
to her now. She knew that four years
had gone by since little Waits death,
that during these four years she had
been out of her mind, and that for four
years no tidings had been received from
the Dreadnaught.
1t was only with the greatest difficulty
that DR.. Bromley succeeded in restoring
poor Molly to consciousness, and the
question which he now put to himself
was whether her mind would not be
shattered by this last and most terrible
of blows that had been rained upon it.
When Mrs. Allaire came TO herself,
she did SO with full consciousness of
what had happened. She had come
back to life again with unclouded rea-
son. Her eyes were bent inquiringly
upon Andrew Hollister who sat by her
side with her hands clasped in his.
"Speak, oh speak, Mr.. HOLSTER"
she murmured, and then her voice died
away.
The merchant obeyed, speaking slow
ly and tenderly but plainly and firmly.
He told her of their first anxiety con-
cerning the Dreadnaught-howl letters
and dispatches had been sent to Singa-
pore and to the Indies where the ship
had never arrived, how search had been
made all along the course traversed
by Capt. John and how no sign or trace
of the shipwrecked vessel had come to
light.
With parted and rigid lips, with
fixed stare, Mrs. Allaire listened, and
when Andrew Hollister had finished,
half groan, half sob escaped her, and
then like n wall came the words:
my child dead-my husband dead
Oh, why did not Zach French let me
die?"
Then suddenly her face lighted up,
and there was such wonderful display
of that energy and force of character
natural to the woman that DIR. Bromley
was fairly startled. With a strong and
steady voice she called out:
Then there has been nothing heard
from the Dreadnaught since you made
search for her?"
Nothing" replied Mr.. Hollister.
"And you look upon her as lost?"
cS-lOSb!
"Nor not word from John nor from
any man in his crew?"
''Not word, my dear Molly; we have
given up all hope"
"All hope?" she queried in n tone
that seemed almost tinged with irony.
AS she had uttered these words, she
had risen from the sofa and stood with
her right hand stretched out towards
the window through which the ocean
was visible. Mr.. Hollister and DIR.
Bromley followed her movements with
a secret dread, fearing that the worst
had come. But Molly's face was not
that of lunatic. II was lighted up
with a glow of her great soul
"All hope?" she repeated. "You say
you have given up all hope? But, Mr..
Hollister, if you look upon John as lost,
do notl Without him this fortune
will be but dross in my eyes. / shall
consecrate it to the search of John and
his companions of the Dreadnaughtl
And with Gods help shall find them:
yes, shall find them"