Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-11-17
VOL. 5 NO. 81

inclination to sleep. 1 rather felt as if 1 could
not sleep, should try ever so earnestly. and
at nearly two o'clock in tho morning I was
standing at one of the glass doors of the social
Hall I do rot know bow long had stood
tbere-I only know tia. l alone of all the
passengers vas waking, ard, except for the
escaping steann, there 1es nc sound on board.
Suddenly vas aroused by loud shouting
without, followed in quick succession by the
hurried tramping of feet aud crashing shock.
which made the vessel tremble to her keel.
As ,.sis.s tie siisa,., the ar vas flied with
loud. screams and agonized cries for help Tho
next moment the resin torches of the boat
flashed their red light upon thu darkness, aud
there close before US, lay disabled steamer,
rapidly sinking. In thick darkness the eye
could not properly see the distance, and In q
rash attaupt to cross the course OF the White
Cloud, she had BEEN cut far below the water
line.
l had net dneit so loog upon the rivers
bank without familiarizlng myself with the
use of the oar. and with the aid CT two or
three og the first who recovered their self-pos-
session, launched one Of the steamers boats
/ and pushed off to the assistance of those who
were struggling in the water. L shall never
| forget the faces [ saw that night; and L snud-
| der even pow as / recall their looks of des-
pairing suppicaiion as the turbid water closed
! over them forever, within sight, almost with
in reach of helping hands.
Il was standing in the bow Of the boat SIS
we we're returning slowly from long circuit
around the sunken steamer, when saw close
before US CLEAN of white garment upon
the water, and a faint bubbing call reached
our cars. The boat shot forward under the
impulse of the rowers, but the object was
/ tn lee the
SPOT. when the water parted again below Us.
and the glare of the torches skone upon al
pnturnei female face | needed 10 second
glance; my heart leaped iuto my throat, aud
with spring thBt carried me far over tho
boats side I graspeG the white figure with
trembling fingers, and supported 1t until
strong arms in the boat lifted Us from tho
water.
The next evening Mary Msrshall-1 could
not call her Mary Milton-and sat together
in New Orleans, aud talked hour after hour.
LET me make her story brief.
They had gone directly from Boston to
| New Orleans, where Louis soon obttained en-
ployment as book keeper in one of the banks
,5f th city, Bpt the less Of his wealth aud
position bad completely cast down his weak
spirit. he fell into habits Of drunkenness
! was rarely at home, sometimes leaving her il
the boarding house for days together. he
, entertained an insane hope of Tegaining his
, lost wealth at the gaming table. and within
Z twelve months from their marriage he wai
. brought home dead, stabbed in drpnker
u brawI in one of the gambling hells OF the city
! Fortunately for Mary, she had gained the al
: fectior and esteem Of the wife Of the Presi
y dent of the bank where Louis had been en-
N ployeI. who now offered Aer home ostensl
blv as teacher of music for her daug hter
= Here she had been, ever since, meeting moth
> ing but kindness, and conteuted with her lot
She was accompanying the family on nor
them tour, when the accident occurred |hic
= brought US together.
as More thsn thirty years." solcmnly con
'g tinued the old man; after pause, hay
rolled away, aud never, since then, for 4 sir
L gle day. have Mary and been parted
a Ms Elmore rose softly from the chair, al
re kueelnC beside her husband, hid hex face
his bosom, and sobbed Ike child.
- Silently I walked down by the pathr.,
= and leaning upon thu rustic gate, looked ia
down where the light of the new risen moo
O. slept upon the waters, and listened to th
e night-wind as il whispered softly TO The sluu
Us beriug flowers Presently I felt, rather tha
as heard, light footstep behind me. A litt
x white hand was laid upon my shoulder;
passed my arm lovingly around yleidIu
al figure, aud then, with spirits that melted iut
each other. Annette aud stood dreaming III
~ der the silent stars, until the old mau's roi
&c said:
-, ''Come children, It is late "
Il That little hand is not so fair sad plum
= now as then, and tho frosts Of age arc begi
. ming to silver iay hair, bat still the quick q
vs tumn evenings often fud Us standing at t
~ rustic gate. The same river hoss euchaE
-, ingly at our feet. and Annette and | are
Ia perfectly one spirit now then