The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1892-08-25
------------------------
HIS REWARD.
A Gallant Young Fellow Showed the
Maiden Over the Boat and Escaped.

941aA1 IlIdCe lOuCuoO Dy the w aD2SD
railroad and the Missouri river. Be.
fore the railroad came it was the
place at which boats stopped to send
goods over the hill to the town OF
Liberty, in Clay county, the old home
of the James boys. OF course the
landing never amounted to very
much-those places never did, being
only depots for larger towns some
where back from the river from
which they got their names.
Our boat reached the landing one
beautiful June morning just after
sunrise, and there was a larger crowd
to greet us than usual.
Among the visitors who came on
board was pretty girl of twenty,
all spick and span in new calico of
modest design, while her sweet face
peeped out coyly from the great, old
fashioned bonnet that enveloped it.
She smiled. There was an instant
rush of all the young fellows on
board the boat to show her through
the steamer. Sylvester Cobb, OF
Louisville, wealthy youth of a
Weather father, a planter, was the
first to reach her side:
"Let me have the pleasure of show
ing you over the steamer he said,
raising his hat with much ceremony.
Il don't care" said the maid sim
ply. II believe I'd like to see how
she looks"
So they went on the upper deck,
where good view of the river was
obtained, then into the officers quar-
ters of 1.-The Texas" as the little COOP
under the pilot house is called, then
into the pilot house itself, where the
young Kentuckian explained the
workings of the big wheel. They
rambled about for more than an
hour, examining the engines, the
furnaces under the long boilers amid
ships, the long .'social hail." or
saloon, with its little doors opening
into staterooms, the piano was looked
upon wonderingly by the Clay
county maid-then the bell rang.
warning visitors to go ashore. -
Hope you enjoyed yourself" said
young Cobb, as he helped the girl
along the gang plank to the shore.
Il did, she said, and her eyes fell.
She had noticed some one she did
not care to see.
And when l come back next
month I'll likely be on another boat.
I'd like to show you over her too"
I'D like it" she said, "but reckon
we'll have to give it up"
Give it upl" Cobb was interested
"How's that2 I'd be delighted, I'm
sure. ="
"Oh, 1 can't tell" she said, with
something of a coyness in her smile.
The second bell was ringing.
well, goodby, Miss-ah, er-good-
BY" He extended his hand and she
took it.
Eyes, I'd like to look over the next
boat with you, butt and she
glanced under her lashes up the hill
to a little crowd that stood there
only-to tell the truth, I'm going to
be married next month"
'Ohi" exclaimed Cobb, land !
can't be here, Can't you put it off,
he laughed.
Not now, reckon" the girl an
swered, holding his hand and glanc-
ing up the hill again, 'but-but you
can s'lute the bride now if you want
to-"
The mate had given thu order to
hoist the gang plank, and already the
ropes were creaking, while the big
stern wheel of the boat began to turn
slowly. Cobb knew that everybody
on board was looking at him, and he
knew, too, that the lucky swain must
be in the crowd on the hillside. But
he saluted the bride. 1t was rous-
ing kiss. AS he stopped to imprins
it a young fellow dashed out of one
of the little groups ahead and bound
ed toward him.
A'Drop 'er!' he shouted.
But Cobb was away like the wind,
and as he sprang on the stage it swung
down so as to almost throw him in
the water.
The young man shook his fist an
grily.
Don't, pleaded the girl, laughing.
Didn't you know was only foo,in
all the timer,
"But he kissed you," yelled the
stalwart young man.
''Oh, John" she laughed, ''he was
only salutin the bride"
And the laugh that rang out from
deck and shore was echoed time and
again from the hills of old Clay.-De-
troit Free Press.
A Hot Land.