St. Landry democrat., 1885-05-23

highly elated, and, with a light heart
left the establishment.
His boat did not return until the |
next morning, hence he was compelled |
to spend the night in the city, and
evening was drawing on. Our hero |
wandered about, enjoying the sights |
until night. After a cheap supper, he |
thought he would go down to the |
wharyes and see some of the .big
steamboats," of the lower Mississippi.
Two were lying there ready for their
Southern flight. Huge volumes of
smoke were pouring out of the Chin
neys. and there was a great hurrying to
and fro on board each boat.
s"When does this boat leave, sir" said
Fun to a policeman, pointing to the
ocean Spray"
Gin half hour" was the reply.
Just then carriage drove down to
the wharf, and the liYeried coachman
opened the door. An elderly gentle
man and his wife alighted, and were
followed by young lady. Fun needed
no second look. It was Ellie Worth
with her father and mother
They walked up the gang-plank on
board the Ocean Spray" and were
lost to sight in the throng on the YES
sci. Fun, who had felt so lonely in
that big city all the day, now thought
how near he was to friends that he
knew. He resolved to go aboard and
catch one more glimpse of them-Effie,
! at least.
He joined the hurrying crowd on
deck, looking eagerly for a familiar
face. A deep, mellow note on the great
bell was struck another, another.
| Then the hoarse whistle followed. The
gang-planks were pulled in, and before
our now thoroughly bewildered hero
could rush forward, the great boat had
swung out into the stream, and was
gathering herself for swift flight down
the river.
Poor Fun stumbled past the piles of
freight in his haste to reach the rear of
the boat, for he, being an expert swim
mer, had determined to swim back to
land. Happily he was frustrated in
the daring attempt. A hand was laid
on his shoulder, and friendly voice adj
dressed him: ''Why, l declare; its
Fun! How do you do, sir? Which
way?'
1t was Mr.. Worth.
Fun soon explained his unfortunate
predicament to his friend.
ooh, we can arrange that very nice
Iy. You shall be my guest until we
reach NJ tomorrow morning. You
can take the cars there for st. Louis in
time to catch the evening boat for home.
NV wife and I and Fife are bound for
New Orleans and Florida. Come In and
see them.
Into the cabin they went and found
Mrs. Worth and Effie. Both seemed
pleased to meet Fun, and Effie told hel
mother of the visit to the printing OF,
flee.
what funny name you have, y
said Effie, sit isn't all the one you have,
, is it?''
ooh, no. responded Fun. My right
name is Alsfum Mills. I was nick
named Fun long ago, and have al
! ways retained it.
The conversation was here interrupted
by an unusual excitement on the boat
| Our little party went on deck, and seor
learned the cause of it. The other larg'
steamer, the s'Belle of St. Louis, (which
= had followed them out of that city, was
croWding on steam and coming up rap
| idly. Her decks were lined with pas
sengers, who seemed to anticipate al
exciting event.
Soon word passed from mouth t.
: mouth among the passengers on tn
: ocean Spray:
. "a race!''
ONLY too true. Orders were given b,
! the Captain to crowd on every poun'
; Of steam. The furnaces roared, and tn
| heavy, black smoke poured unceasingl,
E from the smoke stacks.
Meanwhile, the crew on the "Belle'
: were not idle, and, under their efforts
t that craft crept slowly up along side ne
Y rival.
The Captain of the Ocean Spray
: then became furious.
e "Throw in the turpentine barrels! J.
: with emf
t How the great furnaces Tapped U
. this liquid food! How the devoted YES
? sci groaned and trembled under tn
d burden she was carrying:
Many of the passengers now becam
], greatly alarmed and attempted to II
# fercede with the Captain But he wa
e furious with liquor by this time, an
It shouted his commands more fiercely.
d One poor lady who was accompany
: inc the body of her little child to som
& point down the river, bowed her hea
Q low on the little white casket an
o moaned:
n .sOh! why do they do this! Oh! m
Just then wild cry rang out:
J, s.Firer' ''The boat is on tire?, Al
e then there was a scene OF terro
e But that was not all. While the hal