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

H-f Z" +sfsf
new turned ups
/ should rather think 50; something
uisgli make a ease'll bold John Sawyer
IS tight as Bis coffin
Joe ciiuehed Bis hand on bis oar He
was beginning 10 understand Marcy
batred for this man, with Bis opcu exnl-
lailon in the ruin be was going to work.
I'm sorry for the cld man, be said, aft
er a pause, aud so are most folks about
here. Wilson was known for bully,and
IL Sawyer really done il twas tbal--lhat
and the drink, for when he's himself be
wouldn't hurt y worm
You've no need to tell me what John
Sawyer ia, said the other, shortly.
knew him before you was born, before
ever be came into these parts.
Wei, said the boatman, you've a queer
notion of old acquaintance sake then
that's all.
III give him a swing for old acquain-
ance' sake, II I can, replied Groom with
Il gcOwl.
Joe drew quick breath.
Can you do that, he said,
That or a liler, tell YOU, my man,
saw it done,
You saw Sawyer kiIl Wilson, ex-
claimed Joe, stopping short on his oars.
/ saw him strike the blow that killed
him, aud that comes TO pretty nigh the
same thing, take it.
But how is il you've kept back oil
along.
Well, it's like this, said Groom, who
appeared to be in more communicative
mood than a while before. The day OF
the murder-to begin at the beginning
happened to be passing through Milharn
aud stopped over a train there to see a
man had dealings with. He lived a
little out of the town, a lonesome road,
part Of the way across some fields. did
my business, and started back again
alone, as ! had come. Hallway, or
thereabout, heard kind OF cussing and
quarreling in the next field--right close
to my ear 1t sounded, only couldn't see
anything for the high hedge. What's upl
thinks |, might as well take u peep.
Twas an uncommon fine evening; moon
light you could almost see to read by,
and knew Sawyer as soon sci eyes on
him. His face was turned exactly to me,
and ugly enough it looked then. The
next minute | saw him strike out, and
the other man went down like a log.
And you let him lay? interrupted Joe
in excitement. You never called for
help nor nothing?
What for? said Groom, carelcssly. !
thought twas just drunken quarrel-l
knew what Sawyer was-and | left 'em
to settle it between themselves. ] had to
look sharp for the next train, so hurried
back TO the hotel, and none too soon eth
er. never thought again about the mat
ter, till the other day happened to hear
that John Sawyer was going to be tried
for murder, and talking this way and
that, found the time and the gen'ral
circumstances agreed with that evening
so, then, ! knew ! had seen the thing
done.
Groom paused moment, and when he
resumed it was in an distracted tone.
'Twasn't particularly convenient for
me to leave my business just then; if it'd
been anybody else, I'd likely have left
the poor devil to sink or swim, as might
be, but John Sawyer! | tell you, he
continued, through his set teeth, as
catching the boatman's eye, he appeared
suddenly conscious of a listener, I'd lei
all I've got go to rack and rum for the
pleasure of seeing John Sawyer stand
there, disgraced and convicted man,
and saying to him that it was me that did
it!
There was something in Joe Gorton''
breast on which the fierce words and
manner Jared painfully. He was nc
preacher, this poor, uutaught boatman
be did not know how to tell the man be
fore him that his promised revenge was
cruel and cowardly; bat yet he felt that
even setting aside Margy's interests, there
was something in it which aroused all hii
instincts Of resistance. lie shook hii
head as he thought about it.
That's a feeling cant make out, ht
said, half aloud.
Can't you? said Groom, shortly, sup
posing the remark addressed to himself
Have you got sweetheart, young mani
he added, abruptly, after a short pause.
A sweetheart? repeated Joe, starting
at the association connected with tht
question, and the man who put it,
Wei, you've no cause to be shy o
owning it, said Groom, who had noticed
Ihe movement. A sweetheart, when she'i
The right sort, is what no man need b,
ashamed Of. had one, myself, when
was your age he stopped a moment --
don't s'posc you'd often see her like,
never did. There was a girl up at tina
place, that tavern there, had a kind o
look Of ber about the eyes aud forehead
but nothing to compare--l had a friend
/ too; well, il amt much Of a story
Groom broke OF with dry laugh, and
don't hardly know why | tell il at all
only, be,it'li help you make out wha
seems to puzzle YOU. The long and th
short Of il is, that my friend-mind tia
youngsier! my trieHd-cheated me on
Of my sweetheart. | aia't much to looI
at, know, never was. bat ! could car
/ for a woman just as mHch as If I'd bee
six foot high, aud fresh "a arose; aud II
+ take my oath she cared for me, too, I'll