Mystics of the Tuolumne

Evanescence #

Albert went through a difficult time with his abstinence from alcohol.  He participated in talks with one of his professors three times a week.  He was becoming the man he wanted to be all along.  He was rising in e=the esteem in which he was held by Dahlia. 

"Marie, could we talk privately?"  Albert was a little timid as he did not know  how that would be received.  

"We surely can.  Would you like to go on a walk?  It is such a nice day."  Marie was her usual sweet smiling self. "I'll get my things."

Albert stepped to the curbside of the sidewalk to shield her from any dirt from the street.  That is what gentlemen did.  He offered his arm to his sister-in-law.  "Does Robert seem stand-offish late;y?"  Albert was sure that she had noticed.

"Yes, I don't know what's wrong.  He has not been himself since I got back from my parent's home."  She knitted her brows and gave a sideways glance to Albert.  "He leaves for the evening, is at work all day. At supper, he just nods and mumbles when I try to engage him."

"I think something happened between him and Dahlia while you were gone and I was drunk."  Albert looked down at the ground with shame written all over his face.  "I tried using the gifts but I can't get through a wall Dahlia has put up."

"Do you think it was something between them?"  Marie was wide-eyed and innocent hoping against the truth that she knew was there.  "Dahlia seems unaffected."

"Yes, I do think something happened.  Dahlia is affected.  She has thrown up a wall."   Albert was in a confused in a miasma of jealousy, concern, love, and anger.  "I don't know how to broach the subject but I think head-on is best."

"It is heartbreaking to me.  I see the way Dahlia looks at Robert with contempt.  I am sure you have seen that."  Marie was speaking with concern and new she was on the edge of horror.

"What do we do?  It affects us all.  Where does Robert go at night?"  Albert had a quizzical expression on his boyish face.

"I have no idea, he tells me one lie after another."  You could hear the exasperation in her voice.  "I had hoped to be able to start a family by now."

"My heart bleeds for you Marie.  I hope I am wrong in what I see."  Albert had all his gifts back since he quit drinking.  He saw a horror that terrorized him.

Marie turned and Put her head on Albert's shoulder and cried while Albert held her tightly.  He dearly loved his sister-in-law.  They slowly separated.  Marie controlled her crying and took Albert's arm for the walk home.

"Marie, thank you so much for taking Albert out for a walk.  I got so much accomplished without him bothering me and trying to break into my mind."  Dahlia was laughing as she welcomed them.  "Wash up and supper will be on the table when you come down."

"Where is Albert?"  Marie was looking around as she thought he would surely be at the supper table.

"I haven't seen him since breakfast."  Dahlia was matter-of-fact and she continued to manage the house staff to have supper served.  Only the three of them ate.  Then retired to their separate rooms.

At breakfast, there was still no Robert Jr.  Albert and Dahlia went to their campuses.  Marie busied herself with the house staff.  She continued to worry about Robert Jr.  She was scared and she was worried sick.  Dahlia went to the library at !0 AM and sent her automatic writing message to Robert Sr. in Modesto telling him Robert Jr. had been missing for two days.  She had told neither Albert nor Marie Therese

"Have you heard anything yet, Marie?"  Albert was becoming increasingly concerned.  He did love his big brother.  There was a knock at the door.  The Western Union messenger was at the door with a telegram.

"You open it, Albert.  I am afraid."  Marie was now shaking.  Dahlia breezed in the door and walked over to them not understanding them at all.  Albert's hands were shaking so bad he could not open the envelope.  Dahlia took it from his hands.

"It is from your father.  He is replying to my message to him this morning."  She was confident and the only one not near hysteria. "I sent him a message this morning.

"You sent a telegram to my father?"  Albert was astonished.

"No, don't be dense, I  sent him an automatic writing message."  Dahlia was a little too flippant in her reply.

"He writes that he hasn't seen him or heard anything and he will be here in the morning."  Albert and Marie were so thankful for Dahlia's maturity and calm demeanor.

After breakfast, Albert announced that he would be staying home and meet his father with Marie.  "You go ahead and go to school.  It is more important that you attend classes than me."

The knocker on the door sounded and Marie rushed to let Robert Sr. inside the house.  Albert gave him a hearty handshake. "Sit down, I'll put your valise in the guest room."

"What in the world is going on?"  Robert Sr. was all business at this point.

"We don't know any more than you do, sir."  Marie sat leaning forward her hands shaking.  "It has been three days now and still no word."

"His law office sent word earlier that they have not seen him for three days either,"  Albert added to the mystery.

"Tommorrow, I will contact the police agencies and the local hospitals.  Your mother is beside herself, but Oramil is taking care of her."  Robert Sr. was already bringing order to the chaos.  "Where is my other daughter." Robert Sr. was looking around for Dahlia.

"She will be home this afternoon."  Albert and Marie were obviously lost without her.

"If she hadn't the presence of mind to send me one her mental messages, who knows?"  Robert Sr.  Started sending messages via runners all over the San Francisco Bay area.  He settled into the parlor as his command center.  "When Dahlia gets home, send her to me."

"I doubt she'll miss the immense operation you have going on here."  Albert quipped.

"My son is missing with no explanation.  You'd have me do less?"  Robert Sr. stared down his youngest son.  Marie Therese pulled at Albert's arm and escorted him to the dining room before he crossed his father any further.

"Father, would you like to have tea or bourbon wit Albert and me in the living room?"  Marie Therese could always tame these McKinley beasts.

"I would love too."  Robert Sr. arose and gathered his children in the living room.  "We are going to have some of our questions answered before we go to bed tonight.

At the supper table, Robert Jr. absence became even more noticeable.  "Dahlia that was very cool-headed and mature to send me that message this morning,"

"Thank you, sir."  Dahlia turned a little rosy at the compliment.  "We have a serious situation here and we must not dally and wish we find a solution.  We have to provide our own solution.  Before going any further, I have something to say."  Albert and Marie both sucked in their breath they knew this would not be good.  "When everyone was gone, Robert Jr. propositioned me. I rejected him and he was a little tipsy  and fell down the stairs.  I helped him to his room and put compresses on his injuries."

"I knew it was something like this, I am so sorry that he did this to you, Dahlia.  He always talked so lewdly about you.  It was disgusting me."   Marie Therese started crying. 

"He did before I ever married you." Albert was in shock.  

"Please, all of you.  I only said this in case it helps solve the riddle of Robert Jr.'s disappearance.  Let's use it to clear the air and get down to the business of bringing Robert Jr, home."   Dahlia was clearly in command of the situation.  Robert Sr.  Started applauding her.