The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-07-18
JOE GORTON,s PASSENGER.

JOE GOkION'S fASSENUEh'
The day was drawing toward its
close, chill and raw. Lake Village was
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-slde
tavern might we'll have been tempted
by the bright fire and good company IN
side the bar
They were the usual afternoon loafers,
with the exception of one small, why
looking man, stranger, who had stop
ped to take glass of something hot,
and who, at the moment, was evidently
the center of the general interest.
"But what is it you know, anyhow,
stranger ?" asked one of the group.
"Come, now, among friends"
Never YOU mind, :" answered the man
addressed, 81 know enough to shut up
John Sawyer, pretty spell, if not to
make him swing, and 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, land your
duck-pond there don't look over-agree-
able Just now. "Who's good boat
man hereabout for, if I'm split, L can't
swim.
"Joe Gorton's your man., was the
answer; "he couldn't tip over if he
tried, couldn't Joe"
"Why don't you wait till tomorrow,
stranger, if you re afeard o the weather?
and them clouds over there do look
kinder pesky," said the landlord of the
Lakeside House, turning practised
eye on the gray mingling outlines of the
lake and sky.
"Well, fact is" said the other, Elm
acquainted over i'll NIilham, and, if it's
all the same to you"-with wink
"I'd rather be there than here so, if
you'll hunt up Joe What -his-name, I'll
be obliged.
The landlord, resenting the wink and
the implied insinuation, opened the
door and called out, rather sulkily, to
some one in the next room Marcy,
run down to the water and tell Joe
there's passenger here.
In another minute the house-door
closed, and a tall, slight girls figure,
with shawl over its head, might have
been seen hurying 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 fever
ish brightness in the dilated eyes, We're
not all the winds work. She came close
to the young boatman, who raised him.
self up, facing her.
Joe" she said, "there's passenger
waiting up to the house " she laid her
hand on his arm, and glanced cautiously
round before adding, in a whisper :
"JOe, if once that man reaches the
other side, it's all up with father"
What's that, Marcy ;" said the boat
man, looking wondering at her.
90 tell you 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"
"Do you mean / should refuse to take
MIN, Margy?" 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 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, every
body says so-and, 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
L don't ask you to so much as touch a
finger to him, only if the boat turns
over he can't sOtm. 1 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, be still, poor
girl, you don't know what you're say
ing, " interposed Joe.
Yes L do" said she, passionately I;
"never you think that, Joe Gorton. 1
tell you it lays with you to save father
or 10 XIII MIN yes, ana me TOO, Tor III
they hang him III never live over the
day, and that L swear so you choose
between us. Hank ~ she turned to
listen. 81 can't stay" She pressed
her hand hard on his shoulder, looking
mp piteously in his face. "Joe, if ever
you cared for me, save that poor old
mani" And before he could answer she
was gone, leaving him looking after her
like enc in dream.
The clouds were getting lower and
heavier as the boatman set off with his
passenger.
=" Looks as if we should have a spell
OF weather" said the latter, glancing
from the leaden sky to the leaden water
Hope you're what they cracked you up
to be, for if l got ducking here /
shouldn't find myself again in hurry"