“I hear a rumor from time to time that he is back in the social world and that there may even be a lady in the picture. But don’t charge that to my account as I can neither affirm or disprove it.”
“What about the ship you are building here?” Harris asked.
“Oh he makes no mention of it and it appears that he still wants to avoid any association with it. But he still provides the funds needed to complete it. You know it’s just about finished.”
Anna looked puzzled at that statement and she turned to face Harris, with the question on her face. Harris took note and he asked Martin to tell the story again for her benefit.
“You see, my dear,” Martin began. Josias Lancaster had for many years a reputation as something of a ladies man. He never allowed himself to become rightfully involved with any one woman. Some would say he was a rake and not much of an honorable man with the ladies. Now some of that may be a stretching of the truth, but it was not too far off course.
“He met a lady who completely turned him around. The change in him was immense. One would have said that he got religion. Well, he did not exactly, but the change was great. He quit all of his wayward ways and rejected all other women. He became engaged to this one. The ship was a dream of his and we believe that he was thinking of retiring and spending the rest of his life in leisure and travel with her. He had the financial means to do so.
“So he laid the plans for the construction of the ship which is a lighter than air vessel. Not a Zeppelin dirigible, mind you but one with sails and a wooden hull which can also sail the oceans. He planned to use it for their honeymoon. But, tragically, before they could marry, she died suddenly and unexpectedly.
“Just as meeting her had changed him for the better, her death changed him in another way. No, he did not return to his old irresponsible ways but rather it was as though his soul was taken from him and he seemed to move about life as an empty shell, devoid of any spirit. Her death in a way killed his heart.”
Anna listened to this with eyes filling with sadness and she dabbed at the corners with her handkerchief. “What was the lady’s name?” she asked.
“It was Abigail,” Martin answered.
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