Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-06-02
New Orleans Picyune.]
THE PILOTS STORY,

THE PILOTS STORY.
We had grown up together, as it were,
Mollie and !, our parents being near
neighbors, and-which does not always
follow-frm friends as we'll. They were
poor, and l suspect that fact had much
to do with their friendship, for oppor-
tunities were always turning up for help
ing one another.
Our parents being such good friends,
it naturally resulted that Mollie and l
followed their example. We went to
school together, read together, and some
how, when Mollie was Is and I 20, we
agreed to travel together all our lives,
and were very happy in that arrangement.
In fact, no other would have seemed right
or natural, either to us or our parents.
From the earliest days of my boyhood
l had fondness for the water, haunting
the palatial steamboats, that foated on
the great Mississippi River, on whose
banks nestled the city in which we
dwelt, and, at the period to which am
about to refer, l had just secured a
position as pilot on a small freight
steamer.
II was not much of position, to be
sure, nor was there much of a salary at
tached to it; but, small as it was, Mollie
and decided that we could make it an
swer for two people, neither of them ex
travagant or unreasonable. So early one
bright morning, having obtained days
leave of absence, Mollie and were mar
ried, and stepping into carriage l had
hired for the occasion, we started off,
having decided on days excursion to a
celebrated cave near by, this being all
the wedding trip we could allow our
selves; not that we cared in the least.
however; we We're too happy to be dis
turbed by any shortcomings of sum or
purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our
own street, when we were brought to a
halt. A messenger, whom recognized
as belonging to our steamboat company,
| hailed me.
"Here is note for you from the
Superintendent" Thus it ran:
Am sorry to have to recall your leave
for to-day, but you must Immediately go
on board the AIobilia, which is ready to
start up the river. The pilot is too ill
to attend to his duty, and you are ap-
pointed to take his place for the present" !"
There goes our wedding trip all to
smash" said |, as Mollie read the order.
"Why 500 she asked.
"You see l must go into the pilot
house of the Mobila."
Very WELL" she replied. "We will
just go up the river instead of to the cave.
Drive on, Bob; let US 60 down to the
wharf in state.
"But you can't go in the pilot-house
with ME, little goose"
| "Of course not; but can sit on the
deck outside" laughed Mollie, ''and we
can cast languishing glances at each
other"
And so it came to pass that | tool
possession of the Mobilia's piiot-house
my heart glowing with love and pride
with love, for there, just below me, OF
the little forward deck, sat my swee
bride; with pride, because the Mobilis
was one of the finest of the beautiful
floating palaces of the Mississippi, anC
to pilot such an one had for years beer
the height of my ambition. l gave my
self up to my own happy thoughts, ant
looking up on the far distant peaceful
shores Of the river, over whose placi,
bosom we were moving 50 swiftly, then
rose from my heart a glad, silent hymn
of rejoicing.
But suddenly cry broke forth from
the cabin behind me that etfectuall
changed the current Of my thoughts:
"Fire! fire! fire" A horrible cry a
all times, but most horrible of all whel
it rings forth in the midst of gay, un
suspicious hundreds floating in fancie'
security in the midst of the waters.
Aye! there was no mistake about il
nor false alarm. No one could tell hoy
it had commenced, but there it wa
creeping along the roof of the uppe
cabin, with the deadly flames greedil
tapping up every scrap of awning an
curtain they could find upon their way
ever and anon darting long tongues @
flame down to the floor to clasp tn
light chairs and tables and settees i
their fiery embrace.
The people darted down from tn
blazing upper cabin to the forward dec
below, where a. yet the foe had mad
but little headway, and there our brav
captain-who was that rara avis 18th
right man in the right place"
ed in partially quelling the panic.
"Keep quiet!' he ordered-'kee
quiet, and stay just where you are, or
+, will not answer for the lives OF any
+; you. The steward will provide ever
one of you with life preservers; bu
2 there is 10 reason for any person to
overheard; not yet awhile, at any rat
unless suicide is desired. Keep quiet,
r saw! Pilot, head her straight for tn
r land, half mile ahead" (We were I
II least twice that distance from the mai
land ON either shore). Engineer, pl
y on all steam-crowd her on! We wi
|, run a race with the foul tiend who hi
boarded the Mobilia.'
Suddenly there was murmur anon
the people below, and the next instant
light form flew up the ladder leading
the little deck by the pilot-house, ant
before / could say word, my precio'
Mollie had thrown open the door, an
closing it again, stood at my side.
"Mollie, Moiliew ] cried. "Ft
heavens sake go back-go back! Don
you see how the flames are creeping t
ward us here? Go, so, my dearest, IA
own true wife! Don't unman me b
making me fear for you. Go dow
where can feel that you have chant
of safety"
"Rob Thornev'' she exclaimed, wit
her eyes looking bravely straight int
mine, fam your wife?"
"Surely, surely, thank God" ute
ed; "but go, go!''
"My post is here, just as much
yours is" she answered, firmly. II wi
,,o,, H. 7 mill n