The morning call., 1894-10-30

Die can remember still now he used TO ride
out McAlister street on an occasional visit
to the children, rather than to her, and OF
the time he would keep the car waiting
while he tottered down the steps and OF
MS trembling efforts at opening the street
door at the house.
Old, feeble, homeless, there was still the
miner In him 10 sustain him-the quench-
less and alluriug miner that only the
miners know. The phantom of the North
ern Belle. some new and more radiant
Northern Belle, danced before him forever.
After each visit TO the McAllister-street
house. after the car had been stopped and
ne had been carefully assisted up the step
and seated. aud the car had clauged and
carried him away, his children were quick
to mingle with the other children OF the
neigh oorhood and tell them OF the new
gold mine that papa was going to dis
cover, and make them and mamma rich
again.
He became source of sympathy and
pity In Pine street, where he went every
day and leaned for hours against the door
way at 3lS Pine street, where he had one
day had his Offices, and could watch the
shadow of the Stock Exchange. and talk
and talk. to any one who would listen, a bout
the great mine The mine was not itself
wholly imaginary. 1t was located some-
where in Mexico. He called it the
Northern King-'still harping on his
aughter"-although it was very much
down south. With his reputation as
the founder of the great mines whose
offices were just upstairs" he found
many to listen, and 10 the course of long
time interested some people.
In the course of this long time Mrs.
Mason. his wife's mother. had become
Mrs. Dinsmore. wife of the well-known
foundryman. and Mr.. Dinsmore sent the
Holmes children to school. the girl to
Mills Seminary and the boy TO school at
Santa Cruz. Mrs. Holmes went away to
the north to try to better her condition.
There she had friends and prospered. and
after time she wrote to the old man here
that she was about to begin suit for
divorce.
Among the few papers that formed the
sum OF his treasures, made uD chiefly of
sffectionate little schoolgirl letters from
his daughter, dated at Mills Seminary,
which were found after his death at the
Aims house, is the following copy OF
letter which he sent In reply:
SAN FRANCISCO, June IT, 1892.
Mrs. Addie J. Holmes, Seattle, W0sh.-NlY
DEAR WIFE: Your letter of 10Th inst. is before
me, and in addition 10 what l have written in
reply TO IL l beg TO add the following sugges-
lions:
''Ftrst-That you Will have your attorney
draw up this the following stipulation: That
you Will ask no attorney fee. that you ask for
no aIimony, and that the children. Isabel AlsoD
and Robert Ellis shall remain here with me In
California. but that you have the legal right TO
yisit them when you choose"
This is about all 1 W mt you TO sign, and il
you don't then l shall be forced 10 take other
steps that may not be pleasant for both of us.
1 do not wish to put any obstacle in your way
to deprive you Of that happiness which you
hope 10 enjoy with another. and who hope
Will prove more worthy of you than have
been.
Nevertheless, when 1 had it-money-I did
all that man could do for you But at present
times look dark with me. Yet see brighter
ray of hope just beginning TO dawn for me
again. and those dark and gloomy clouds are
about 20 disappear, so that before long your
now unhappy husband will be himself again.
There is one thing that might say here-that
j have always been kind ana gentle to you, and
while I had it there was nothing that you
wanted that you did not get. Though In the
past lew years AnOuEu pOOi DCs away .
counted myself rich when | knew had your
affections and sympathy. But since those are
gone, no matter how wealthy may become, 1t
will not make up for that love and devotion 1
have lost In you.
But | am too sef-sacrifcing. remembering
that am now old and feeble. to put anything
in.the way where YOU. nv fond kind and true
wife. now wish to desert me.
This reminds me OF what l read when but a
boy:
So soon may follow where friendships decay.
When from Loves shining circle the gems drop
away.
In conclusion, all wish Is that your heart
Will never be as sad and as neavy as my poor
heart is at this moment. And when the pine
trees are singing my requiem at Lone Mountain
and the wind watts It's dying wall TO you. II may
ca1se YOU TO ask yourself If you have done
Justice 10 him who was always kind and true to
you. No more. Your unhappy husband,
A. J. HOLMES.
After his wife had secured her divorce,
and although she had made conquest in
Seattle, she returned to. her mothers
house in Oakland.
Before this, however, some friends who
had listened to old man Holmes tales of
the Northern King had made up fund
and authorized him to 60 to Mexico. look
up the property and report upon it.
He was gone for some time and the next
heard of him was a little squib in YER
denaPs Chat saying that A. j. Holmes of
the Northern Belle was in New York City
making up a company 10 develop Won
derful mine which he had located in
Mexico.
After awhile he appeared on Pine street
again. and while he leaned against the
building on ths sunny side of the street
and talked forever about this wonderful
mine in Mexco-you remember how con-
trolling To- the last minute was the gam
bling passion in Little NelPs grand
fatber?-the nap wore off his new travel
inc clnthes and the seams came shining
through He lived alone in little back
room on Third street, and as regularly as
he came out of il every morning he tot
tered down 10 Pine street. Then the door
was locked against him there for lack of
the rent money. A few DAYS before the
last act. and he was missed forever from
the fascinating vicinity OF the Stock Ex-
change, an old friend saw him making his
uncertain wav, apparently bewi!dered.
down Pine street, and crossing over he
| spoke to him.
The old man caught his friend by the
! hand and held il tightly.
~ to-. gnr ne htnY Jr