Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-08-01
an Gntsrestiltg gtory,
From Appleton's Journal.
JOE GORTON's PASSENGER.
BY KATE PUTNAM osGooD.

BY KATE PUTNAM OSGOOD.
The day was drawing to its close,
chill and raw. Lake Village was al
most always gusty, but just now the
wind was having its own way more
than usual, and any passer through
the long, bleak street, happening to
glance in at the window of the little
water-side tavern, might we'll have been
tempted by the bright fire and good
company inside the bar.
They were the usual afternoon loaf
ers, with the exception of one small,
wiry-looking man, a stranger, who had
stopped to take a glass of something
hot, and who at the moment was evi-
IDENTIFY the center Of general interest.
':But what is it you know, anyhow,
stranger?'' asked one of the group
ssCome, now, among friends"
"Never you mind" answered, the
man addressed, "I know enough to shut
up John Sawyer pretty spell, if not
to make him swing, and I know how
to tell it when the right time comes,
don't you be afraid for that. The days
getting on,'' he added, abruptly, rising
and turning toward the window, "and
your duck-pond there don't look over
agreeable just now. ''Who's a good
boatman hereabouts? for if Pm split,
/ can't swim.''
'Joe Gorton's your man." was the
answer; she couldn't tip over if he
tried, couldn't joe"
"Why don't you wait till tomorrow,
stranger, if you're afraid O the wealth
er? and them clouds over there do look
kinder pesky," said.he landlord of the
Lakeside House, turning a practiced
eye on the gray mingling outlines of
lake and sky.
ssWell, fact il" said the other, s1'm
acquainted over in Millham, and if it's
all the same to you''-with wink
s.Pd rather be there than here; SO, if
,.zea lss.s l.-sf, siis Jee Wlllat'a-Eis-
name, I'll be obliged"
The landlord, resenting the wink
and the implied insinuation, opened
the door and called out rather huskily
to some one in the next room: OMAR
gy, run down to the water and tell Joe
there's passenger here"
In another minute the house door
closed, and tall, slight girls figure,
with a shawl over it's head, might have
been seen hurrying 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 cheeks 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 passenger
waiting up to the house," she laid her
hand on his arm, and glanced cauti-
ously round before adding, in whis-
per: HJoe, if once that man reaches the
other side, it's all up with. father"
aWhat's that, Margy?" said the boat
anan, looking wonderingly at her.
81 tell you I heard it; he'll bring it
home to him, he says so, he's come a.
purpose. It's fathers chance clean
gone if you take him across
hsDo you mean 1 should refuse to
take him Margy?" said Joe, slowly.
ssWhat good would that do?" said
the girl, impatiently. EKelley OF some
of 'em would take him fast enough
what's fathers life against fare? No,
it's you must take him, Joe, and then
anything happens" sinking her voice
to meaning whisper, nobody but you
and mes the wiser"
Joe started back.
"Margy, what's that you're think
ing?"
81 can't help it!' cried the girl pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in the
shawl-fringe SO that it snapped; "he's
my father, and never was a better but
for the drink-you know yourself eve
rybody says so-ands if you could hear
that man up there laughing and boast
ing he'll hang him! Joe, you'd find
it hard to keep your hands off Of him
but | don't ask you to do SO much a:
touch a 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 al
accident on asquall y evening like this. ,