Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-07-31

was yoW age De stopped moUent-
Il don't 'spose you'd often see Der like.
rever did. There was q girl up at ibai
place. that tavern there, had q Kind oI
lock OF her about the eyes aud forehead
ts, nothing to compare bad friend
too-~ell. it ain't much Of story Groom
broke of with dry laugh. 'and / don'l
hardly know why tell il a, all, only.
maybe. it'll help you make out what seems
to puzsle you. The long and the short Of
It 10. that my friend-miud that, young
ster, my friend cheated me ou. of nv
s'<eetheart. I amt much to look at, I
know. never was. but could care for q
wo,usu jusE ~ much A. IL I'D been six foos
high. and fresh as Q rose. and I'd lsks M y
oath she cared for mo too, till he come
between ms with q false tongue enough tn
turn any girls head. Well. be came Of
first hest; she left me and went away him.
/ s~ore then. boy said Groom, looking
darkly in bis listeners earnest face. that
il ever my day come. Id be even with
John Sawyer; I never thought 'twouid.
but il has. and do you think I'll let my
chance slip now! No. by God;' and tho
man brought down his fist with q force
that shook the boat-side.
THAT was hard lines. sure enough
said Joe. thoughtfully. but. Mr.. Groom,
you was speaking jast nov of girl up at
the tavern there? She's my sweetheart.
and, added the ooatman. slowly, she's
Sawyer's girl. his only child
'No"exciaimed Groom. evidently moved
by the intelligence. 'Hc',y's child.' be
muttered to himself. 'Het,y's chiId!'
Yes. said Joe. eagerly. don't forget
whose child she is. and that you'll make
her suffer along with the old man.
.Ah. said Groom. that's all very we'll,
bu, don't forget. neither. whose child
she is on the other side. No I'm sorry
for the girl. and for you. youngs,er. since
you've an interest in her. but I'd have my
pay out Of John Sawyer now, if was to
die for it,
Joc's grasp frightened convulsively on
his oar. Was the man crazy thus to make
n boast Of the misery he would cause be-
fore one whose advantage aud opportuni-
~ il was alike to insure his silence? who
had him almost rs completely at his mer-
cy here on the unfamiliar element as If
they too had been alone in all the earth :?
IF he were to die for it! Every plunge
Of the dark water seemed to be repeating
those words. The boatman reused HIM
self with start at the sound Of his pas.
senger's voice
You're a pretty feller. ain. you. now
said the latter. resuming the subject in
lighter tone. wanting to persuade me to
cheat justice after that fashion p
AS for that. answered Joe. 'yoa said
yourself, If it had been anybody but Saw.
yer, you wouldn't have troubled to hum,
him down. and can't see as that's anv
better notion ofjusticc than mine. Be-
sides he added gravely. the old mans
got his death sentence already, il that's
what YOU want; what with the drink. he
ain't the man he used to be. and the nigh.
Of the quarrel he got cough that's tear
ing him all to pieces; the doctors say he
can't live long. nohow.'
He'll live long enough to make the ac-
quaintance Of ropes end. I reckon. said
Gr"om. with coarse laugh, and that's
all Care about %
The brutal words and manner reused
the lurking devil in Joe Gorton's heart.
He stammered out q curse, insr,iculate
for passion.
.Eh.? said Groom. catching the SQUAD ,
but not the words. what's that you say Z
The boatman stopped rowing. and leaned
forward till he almost touched Groom where
he sat.
.Just put yourself in the old mans place
for a minute he began. with an effort.
speaking quietly. 'S'pose there was some
body'd got the chance and the will to get
shat o you. just as you have Of old Saw
yer
What are you driving NJ now inter
rup'ed Groom. There amt anybody. as
know of. has got either--morc luck for
me-. he ended. with laugh.
'Ain't there 2 said the boatman, slow
ly. You talk about justice. Mr. Groom. ;
he resumed. but it amt justice you've Sc,
ont to dots murder. You've got the
law on your side. as i. happens. bu, all
the same. as Tar rs you're concerned. it's
oaH, tus Wuat coU see, rs
If somebody's it nigh, be me'-said
Joe. looking 6xcdly in the others face
through the growing dusk. 'sonebcdy with
Q nasive, no matter what. for wanting to
be rid of you. getting you ell aione-as il
might be here-out of sight or help.
should just put you quietly out o the
way
Hey! dye mean to threaten me 2 cried
Groom, springing up. just then the
breaking gus, struck sharply on the boat .
side that, left to her own guidance. had
dlilted round: she gave hrch and a
bound that sent Groom. who, Starting
back. had los, his balance, overheard like
\ shot.
Joe stared for an instan. at the empty
place opposite. hardly comprchending wha,
had happened $" quickly. sad then. sud-
den as the lightning dsrting through the
black sky above him. il flashed iuto his
mind that here we're silence and safety.
and that through no act Of his. .Why
not profit By the accident? Why not. in
the mans own spirit. in his very words,
leave him 10 sink or swim. as might bei'
but Joe could be no more deceived by his
own thsn BY others snphistries; q voice
within him cried: IL you leave this man
10 die. you are his bis murderer r A great
surge of horror and rpmo,~> fnr shs sf,o,,sr ht