Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-15
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boys answer. IT would seem rs II sne
had known intuitively what Godfrey's
answer would be.
With look Of mingled surprise and
pain In them Zach frenchs eyes wan
dered from the pale, beautiful woman
seated on the sofa before him 70 the
sweet, almost girlish face Of the sailor
lad, whose dark olive skin glowed with
a rich color as he kept his gaze fastened
upon the features Of the lady In front OF
him. Something almost like groan
escaped Zhch's lips.
"Yes, lady, In San Diego" continued
Godfrey. "oh, know you, dear lady.
know you 30 welll'
know me7" repeated Molly, half
starting up and leaning forward TO scan
tho face of the youthful speaker.
"Rnow me, you say7"
Eyes, lady, for was brought up at
the Walter home, | was sent there
when a mere toddler. Oh, often saw
you there when you came to visit your
children, as you used 10 call them.
Your hand has often rested on my head,
dear lady; yes, many and many time.
But, Of course, You don't remember mo
ono In tho fifty or more who used 10
stand up in long line In front Of You,
but one day IL seemed 10 me your eyes
stayed fixed upon my face for long
time, oh, 40 long a time, and then you
smiled and beckoned me 10 your side
and smoothed my hair and asked me my
name and told you, and then tried TO
put my arms around your neck, for you
seemed no sweet and good, but the ma
iron pulled me away and whispered:
NO, no, child, don't do that; go back to
your placer"
The tears had been gathering in
Molly's eyes as the sailor lad ran on this
way with his "reminiscences Of the Wal
ter home, and had not Zach's stern face
been fixed upon her she would most
surely have reached out and taken hold
Of the boys hands.
And oh, dear lady" resumed God
frey, 81 can't tell you how glad was
when they told me that you were com
ing To Sydney, 10 look after Capt. John
Allaire. have tried 10 think out Some
good reason why he doesn't come home,
for know he must be alive somewhere
! know III"
Molly started up as II awakening from
dream and caught the sailor lad by tho
hand. For n moment her lips moved,
but she was powerless 10 utter word. A
deeper pallor spread over her face, and
she seemed upon the point of falling
into n swoon, when suddenly slender
but strong arm was passed around her
waist. II steadied her and held her ten
derby and firmly upright
Poor lady, cheer up" said Godfrey.
Don't worry; everybody says that
Capt John Is living with the natives
somewhere In the wilderness, and that
he Is such brave and strong man that
he'll get away from them yet Don't
cry, mothcr!'
"Mothcrl" repeated Molly, In smoth.
cred tone Of joy, Us her hand passed
carcssingly over the thick black curls
that grew in wild profusion on the lads
head. "Mother2"
"Why, yes, lady" said Godfrey, sur.
prised nj the effect Of his words. that's
what we used to call you at the home.
Our mother, our dear mother TO whom
we children owed everything In the
world our home, our clothes, our food,
our cducation"
Ovcrawcd by the stern look and
wrinlSlcd brow OF the seaman who
stood with twitching hand and trcm.
bling lips following every changing
phase OF this strange and moving
scene, Molly drew herself In and
showed n calmcr exterior.
"My lad" She asked almost In
whisper, what is your name?"
"Why, I've told you, lady, Godfrey"
mo, no, your full namc-thc name
OF your family?"
~ have no other name, madam"
But your parcnts-who were they2"
81 don't know, dear lady, ! can't re-
member them. | can only remember
my nurse and ! wouldn't be able to do
that only she was so black, oh, so
black, and her teeth were so big and
white and sharp, Yes, ! remember
hcrl"
But who took You TO the Walter
homer"
81 can't tell you, dear lady, | only
remember being there when was
little fodder think was the small.
est one Of your family, motherl"
As this word again fell from God
frey's lips, Molly lost all control over
herself Her bosom heaved convulsive-
ms her breath came and went In sob
like catches. She turned, and throw
ing both her arms around the sailor
lads neck, drew his head with wild
and impassioned outburst OF feeling
close and tight against her bosom.
For few seconds there was a deep
and painful silence, broken only by
the sound of Molly's breathing, then
with little joyful cries mingled with
Unsurpassed sobs, that mothers
heart cmpticd out Its long pent up
grief In u shower OF kisses and ca
resscs, which Godfrey was neither loath
nor slow TO return. Zach looked on
with wide-opened eyes and parted
lips, seemingly paralyzed by { at was
being enacted before him.
"oh, the poor womanl the poor wom-
anr he groaned. "What will become
of her"
Suddenly Molly, with an almost SUI
pcrhuman effort, drew herself 10.
gcther and succeeded in checking this
outburst Of feeling, Then with her
arm wound aifectionately around God
frey's neck, she led him TO the door,
kissed him, and said:
go, my dear child go. need 10 be
be alone, I'll see you again soon
very soon"
The lad turned, and fixing his large
dark eyes inquiringly upon the beauti-