Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-23
JOE GORTON'S PASSENGER.
BY KATE PUTNAM OsGOOD.

BY KATE PUTNAM OsGOOD.
The day was drawing toward its close.
chill and raw. Lake Village was almost
always rusty, but just now the wind was
having It's 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 well
have been tempted by the bright fire and
good company inside the bar
They were the usual afternoon loafers,
with the exception of one small wiry-
looking man, stranger, who had stopped
TO take glass of something hot, and who,
at the moment, was evidently the center of
The general interest. ssasrs al
"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 a pretty spell, ffnot 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 to-
ward the window, eand your duck-pond
there don't look over-agreeables just now.
Who's a good boatman hereabouts for,
If I'm split, can't SWIM"
''Joe Gorton's your man." was the an
swer; "he couldn'tstip over if he tried,
couldn't Joe"
tWhy don't you wait till tomorrow
stranger, if you're afeard o. the weather?
and them clouds over there do look kind
O. pesky," said the landlord of the Lake
side House, turning q practised eye on
the gray nlingling outlines of lake and
sky. ssss
DWELL, fact is" said the other, 'I'm &C
quainted over in Milham, and, if it's all
the same to you''-With wink-'I'd
rather be there than here; so, if you'll
hunt up this Joe What's-his-name, nj be
obliged''
The landlord, resenting 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
d over its head, might have been seen hur-
Tying down to the water-side.
aH 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 cheek s. and the feverish brightness
In the dilated eyes, were not all the winds
work. She came close to the young boat
man, who raised himself up, facing her.
@Joe,' she said, ''theres passenger
waiting up to the house, she laid her
hand on his arm, and glanced cautiously
round before adding. in whisper: ''Joe,
If once that man reaches the other side,
M'ssan pewith father
whats that Margy?" said the boat
man, looking wonderingly at her.
<sI tell you I heard It; he'll bring it
home to him, he says so; he's come a-pur-
pose. It's fathers chance clean gone if
# you take him across"
i "Do you mean | should refuse to take
him, Margys'' said Joe, slowly.
sWhat 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 any thing
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 ?"
II can't help it!'' cried the girl, pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in the
shawl-tringe SO that it snapped "he's my
father, and never was better but for the
dripk-you know yourself, everybody SAYS
s0-and, ifyou could hear that man there
laughing and Boosting he'll hang him.
Joe, you'd find it hard to keep your hands
off Of him; but | don't ask you to so much
as touch finger to him, only, if the boat
tarns over, he can't saoi11. Iheard him say
so, and then fathers saved and nobody
3 the wiser, for the best boatman that ever
was might have an accident on a squally
evening like this"
E'There, there, Marcy, be still, poor girl,
you don't know what you're saying" in
terposed Joe.
eyes | do" said she, passionately;
never you think that, Joe Gorton. I tell
you, it 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, and that [ swear; SO you choose
between US. Harky' she turned to
listen. Il can't stay" She pressed her
hand hard on his shoulder looking up
piteously in his face. ''Joe, if ever you
cared for me, save that poor old man ~
And before he could answer she was gone,
leaving him looking after her like one in
a 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 | got a ducking here | shouldn't
md myself again in a hurry"
Well Pm as good as they'll average,
reckon, mister-I didn't hear your name, "
Said Joe, looking up inquiringly.
reeer Groom is my name, and one |
an ashamed of; it'll be pretty well
s nnown IN these parts by this day week,
not pleasant to see.