The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-08-14
IoE GonTus,s rAssnsoEn

ebiland raw. Lake village was almost
always gas,g, bot, just uow, the wind
was bayinEi.s own way more lhan ususl
aud a1y passer through ths long, bleak
street. happening TO glance in 81 the win
dow oftEe little wster-sidc tavern, might
well have been tempted by The bright fire
ana good company inside the bar.
They were the usual afternoon i0ater,
with tie exception of one small, wiry-
looking mau, stranger, who bad stop
( ped 20 take a'glass Of something hot, aud
who, at the moment, was evidently the
I center Of the general interest
( But What is il sou know, anyhow
stranger, asked ono Of the group. Come,
now, among friends.
( Never vou mind, answered the man adj.
dressed; ] know enough to shut up John
Sawyer pretty SPELL ifnot to make him
swing, aud know how to tell IL when
the right time comes, don't you be afraid
for that The days getting on, be added
abruptly, rising and turning toward the
window, aud your duck pond, there,
don't look over agreeable just now.
7 Who's a good boatman hcreabouts; for,
4 II I'm split, can't swim.
| Joe Gorton's your man, was the answ-
eri be couldn't Tip over if he tried,
couldn't Joe.
/ Why don't you walt tin tomorrow,
stranger, ifyou'rc afraid o. the weather.
and them clouds, over there, do look
kinder pesky, said the landlord Of the
I Lakeside house, turning practised eye
on the gray, ningling outlines Of lake and
/ sky,
Well, fact is, said the other, rm ae-
quainted over in Milham, and, fits all
the same to you, with wink-Id rath-
er be there than here; so, if you'l hunt
Iup this Joe whats-his-name, IN be
obliged.
The landlord, resentiug the wink and
the implied insinuation, opened the door
aud called out, rather suikiy, to some
one in the nextroom; Marcy, run down
to the water and tell Joe there's passen-
ger here.
/ In another minute Che house door clos
ed, and tall, slight girls figure, with a
shawl over its head, might have been
seen marrying down to the water side,
| Joe Gorton, busy about his boat, heard
his name called, and, looking up, saw
the girl, Marcy. The sharp wind had
blown out stray locks OF her crisp, black
hair from under the red shawl, but the
hectic in the checks, and the feyerish
brightness IN the dilated eyes, were not
all the winds work. She came close to
the young boatman, who raised himself
up, facing her.
/ Joe, she said, there's a passenger wait
ing up to the house; she laid her hand on
his arm, and glanced cautiously around
before adding, in whisper: Joe, if
once that man reaches the other side, it's
all up with father.
What's that, Marcy? said the boatman
looking wonderingly at her.
| tell you heard it; he'll bring it home
to him, he says so, he's come purpose.
Its fathers chance clean gone if you take
him across.
DO you mean | should refuse to take
him, Margyf said Joe, slowly.
What good would that do? said the
girl impatiently. Kelley or some Of 'em
would take him fast enough; what's
fathers life against fare? No, it's you
must take him, Joe, and then if anything
happens, sinking her voice TO a meaning
whisper, nobody but you and mes the
wiser.
Joe started back.
Marcy, what's that you're thinking?
can't help it cried the girl, passion
ately, twisting her fingers in the shawl
fringe go that it snapped; he's my father,
aud never was better but for the drink
! YOU know yourself, everybody says so
and, if you could hear that man up
there laughing and boasting he'll hang
hint Joe, you'd find il hard to keep
your hands of Of him; but don't ask
you so much as to touch finger to him,
only. if the boat turns over, he can't
swim. heard him say so, and then
fathers saved, and nobody the wiser, for
the best boatman that ever was might
have an accident on a squally evening
like this.
There, there, Marcy, he still, poor girl
you don't know what you're saying, in
ierposed Joe,
Yes / do, said she passionaiely; never
you think that, Joe Gorton. tell you il
lays with you to save father or to Kill
him. Yes, and me too, for If they hang
him I'll never live over the day, that
swear, 10 YOU choose betwecu us. Hark
she turned to listen. l can't stay. sht
pressed her hand hard on bis shoulder
looking mp piioously iuto bis face. Joe
II sou ever esrcd for me save that poor
K old man, Aud before be could answer
she was gone, leaving him looking afteI
her Ike Que In a dream.
The clouds were getting lower aud
heavier az tie boa,maH set OF with BIZ
passenger.
I Looks as II we should have o spell o
weather, said the latter, CHANGING iron
j lhe lcadcn ssy 10 the leaden water
Hope you're what they cracked you ~
to be, for If / got a duekiag here
sbouldn'l aua myself sgaiu 10 5 hurry.
Well, I'm as good a. they'l average,
reckon, mister-i didn't hear your name
saii Joe, looking up iuquiringly.
pelrr Grnam / nv namc. anA one