The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-03

many wanderings; and, to this day, no soul
there knows but that ain dead"
Once more the old man paused. relighted
his pipe, and In = more cheerful tone con.
tinued his story:
:" had lived here with All old negro
woman for housekcepcr for nearly iour years,
when an unaccountable impulse prompted
mo to visit New Orleans. There was no
reason why should either 20 on. or stay.
except my own inclination; and 30 ! ran
down to the bank there, hailed the first boat
bound downward, and took passage for the
city.
at was hot but beautiful day in May
when the Whns Cloud swung out into the
current, and steamed calamity down the
river The heat was tempered by . strong
breeze from the south, before which, small
tleecy clouds, that seemed almost melting in.
to tho distant blue, like little fairy barges,
scuddcd swiftly to the uorthward. Always
silent and abstrnctcd. was that day unu-
sually thoughtful | remember | sat oil
day on the guards, to all appearance looking
at the banks OF tho river really looking
drcamily into my heart history, with that
sort OF pleasant sadness which every medi.
tative man sooiten feels; that partial losing
living over again the plcasantnoss Of years
agone.'
Late In the afternoon the sun diaap
pcarcd behind a mass Of leaden blue clouds.
gliding iA volumined verge with . line Of
dazzling light. Tho wind ceased entirely. q
sitting closcness crcpt through the stmos
pherc and TO M eye at all weatherwise II
was evident that the armies Of the mir were
mastering for conflict. By and by the
thunder, which. like the artillery on y dis.
tant bsttle field. had oil the afternoon trem-
bled along the horizon, sweled nearer and
more near; the lightning, fierce spirit Of the
storm. leapcd from the bosom OF the cloud
and waved his flaming banner 10 advance |;
u lew large drops, which IN the oppressive
Stiffness sounded like shower Of shot, clnt
tered upon the deck and then, with oil ths
din OF the summer tempest, the elemental
battle whirled around US.
For more than thrce hours tho storm
ragged with unabated fury aud even when ito
fcrcsst rush had swept away 10 the east, the
rain poured down In steady torrents. and
except for an occasional pale flash Of light
ming the night was intensely dark. During
the whole Of the first hall Of the night, ] Elt
no inclination 10 sleep, should ] try ever 40
earnestly, and at nearly two O'Clock in the
morning, was standing ri one Of the glass
doors oi the social hall. do not know how
long had stood there only know that
alone Of all the passengers was waking, and
except for the escaping steam. there was no
sound on board. Suddenly was aroused
by loud shouting without, followed In quick
succession by the hurried trAmping OF feet,
and crushing shock, that made the vessel
tremblc 10 her keel As gained the deck,
the air was filed with loud screams and
agonlzod cries for help. The next moment
the rosin torches Of the boat flashed their
RID light upon the darkness, and there, close
before us, lay disabled steamer, sinking
rapidly. 10 the thick darkness the eye
could not properly measure distances. and in
q rush attempt 10 cross the course Of the
IFhas Cloud sbe had been cat far below the
water line.
"I bal moi dwelt 10 long upon the river
bank, without famlliarizing myself with the
use Of the oar, and with the aid nj two or
three Of the first who recovered their self.
possession, I launched one OF the steamer q
bOats, and pushed on to the assistance oi
those who were struggling in the water ]
shall never forget the faces ] saw that night;
and shudder even now NJ recall oil their
looks Of despairing supPlicstion ~ the tur.
pid waters closd over them forever, within
sight, almoe, within reach Of helping hands
al was standing In the bow Of tbs boat ~
We were returning slowly from q long circuit
arousd the sunken steamer. when ] saw Close
before M the CLEAN Of . white garment upon
the water, and faint bubbing call reached
our ears The boat shot forward under the
impulse oi the rowers. but the object was
gone. We wUe just turning TO leave the
spot when tho water parted again below
~, and the glare Of the torches sh0ne upon
an upturned female face. needcd no
second glance my heart leaped ints my
throst, and with spring that far carried
me over the boats side, grasped the white
6gure with trembling fingers, and supported
| Il until strong arms in the boat lifted Us
/ from the water.
The next evening Mary Msrshall-I
could not call her Mary Mlltoa--and I sat
together 10 New Orleans, and talked hour
after hour.
Let me make her story brief.
"They had gone directly IRON Boston 70
New Orleans where Louis soon obtained
employnen, as book.kceper in one of The
banks in the city. But the los Of bis wealth
and position had completely CAS-. down his
weak spirit Heisll into habits Of drunken
nsss, wss rarely st home, sometimes leaving
her 10 their boarding hoos ior days together
lie entertained an insane bops Of rsgsining
bis Ios, wealth st the gaming table. and
within twelv. months from their marriage
be- ". bpaght home dssd, stabbed in .
drusksn Srsvl 10 ooe Of tlA gambling h' Ils