The Shasta courier., 1861-04-06


mained in the hands of Champion, the attor-
ney A short time previous to my release
Mr.. Wilson, the gentleman who hoaccompanied
Champion to the prison-President of the
bank whence the note was issued-was sit
ting in Champions Office, when some casual
remark recalled to the memory of the latter
the circumstances attending my conviction.
From mere curiosity he showed the note to
Wilson, and he, to Champion S astonishment,
pronounced it genuine!
And so had been guilty of no crime, Ell
ther in thought or deed. But where was the
redress? What redress could there be for
mother murdered and name dishonored?
You need not be told my reason for quit
ting Boston forever. came here after many
wanderings, and to this day no soul there
knows but l am dead
Once more the old man paused, relighted
his pipe, and in a more cheerful tone contin-
ued his story:
had lived mere with an old negro woman
for housekeeper for nearly four years, when
an unaccountable impulse prompted me to
visit New Orleans. There was no reason why
| should go or stay, except my own inclina-
tions; and so | went down to the bank,
hailed the first boat bound downward, and
took passage for the city.
1t was hot but beautiful day in June,
when the White 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 fleecy
clouds, that seemed almost melting into tho
distant blue, like little fairy barges, scudded
swiftly to the northward. Always silent and
abstracted, remember sat all day on the
guards, to all appearance looking on the bank
of the river, but really looking dreamily into
my hearts history, with that sort of pleasant
sadness which every meditatiye man too often
feels-that partial losing of ones present
consciousness in the cloudy living over again
the pleasantness of years a. gone
Late in the afternoon the sun disappeared
behind mass of leaden-blue clouds, gliding
its yolumed verge with line of dazzling
light. The wind ceased entirely, a sitting
closeness crept over the atmosphere; and to
an eye at all weatherwise, it was evident
that the armies of the air were mastering for
a conflict. By and by the thunder, which,
like the artillery on a distant battlefield, had
all the afternoon trembed along the horizon,
swelled nearer and more near the lightning,
fierce spirit of the storm, leaped from the
bosom of the cloud, and waved its flaming
banner in advance; few large drops, which
in tho oppressive stiffness, sounded like
shower Of shot, came Gathering upon the
deck, and with all the din of the summer
tempest, the elemental battle wbirled about us.
For more than three hours tho storm ragged
with qnabated fury, and even when its
fiercest rush had swept away to tha east, the
rained poured down in torrents, and except
for an occasional fash of lightning, the night
was intensely dark. During the whole of the
fret ~ of <bo .rhk foI II,
sleep, should | try ever so earnestly, and at
nearly two o'clock in the morning, l was
standing at one of the glass doors of the social
hall. do not know how long stood there;
only know that alone of all the passengers
was walking, and except for the escaping
steam, there was no sound on board. Sud-
denly was aroused by loud shoating with.
out. followed in quick succession by the hur-
ried tramping of feet, and a crushing shock
that made the vessel tremble to her keel As
| gained the deck, the air was filed with loud
screams and agoniged cries for help: The
next moment the rosin torches of the boat
flashed their light upon the darkness, and
there close before us lay disabled steamer
sinking rapidly. In the thick darkness the
eye could not properly measure the distance,
and in rash attempt to cross the course of
the White Cloud, she had been cut far below
the water line.
I had not dwelt so long ON the river
bank withaut familiarizing myself, with the
use Of the oar, and with the aid of two or
three of the first who recovered their self .pos-
session, launched one of the steamer boats,
and pushed off to the assistance of those who
were struggling in the water. ! shall never
forget the faces | saw that night; and l shud-
der even now as | recall their looks of de-
pairing supplication, as the turbid waters
closed over them forever, within sight, al
most within reach of helping hands.
was standing in the bow of the boat as we
were running slowly from long circuit
around the sunken steamer, l saw close be-
fore us the CLEAN of a white garment upon
the water, and faint. bubbling call reached
our ears. The boat shot forward under the
impulse of the rowers, but tho object was
gone. We were just turning to leave the
spot when the water parted again below us,
and the glare of tnrchas shone upon an up
turned female face. l needed no second
glance; my heart leaped into my throat, and
with a spring that carried me far over the
boats side, | grasped the white figure with
trembling fingers, and supported it until
strong arms in the boat lifted us from the
water.
ihS HcAt evening MAR AhirSIldll-l COuIu
not call her Mary Milton-and l sat together
in New Orleans. and talked hour after hour.
Let me make her story brief:
They had gone directly from Boston to New
Orleans, where Louis soon obtained employ
ment as book keeper in one of the banks of
the city. But the loss of his wealth and po-
sition had broken down his weak spirit. He
fell into habits of drunkenness, was rarely at
home, sometimes leaving her in their board
ing house for days together. He entertained
an insane hope of some day regaining his
lost wealth at the gaming table, and within
twelve months altar marriage he was brought
home dead, stabbed in drunken brawl in
one Of the gambling hells of the city. For
tunately for Mary, she had gained the affec-
ton and esteem of the wife of the President
of the hank where Louis had been employed,
who now offered her home, ostensibly as a
teacher of music for her daughter And
here she had been ever since, meeting moth
ing but kindness, and eontented with her lot.
She was accompanying tbs family on north
ern tour when the accident occurred which
brought us together.
More than thirty years, solemnly contin-
ued the old man, after pause, have rolled
away, and never, since then. for single day,
have Mary and been parted
Mrs. Elmore rose softly from her chair,
and kneeling beside her husband, hid her
face in his bosom and sobbed like child.
Silently went down the pathway, and
leaning upon the rustic oates look ed far down