River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-19
From Appleton's journal.
JOE G0RT0N'S PASSENGER,

Inc gay was drawing toward it's
close; chill and raw. Lake Village
was almost always gusty, but just now
the wind was having its own way more
than usual, and any passer through the
long, bleak street, happened to glance
in ut the window of the little water
side tavern, might well have been
tempted by the bright fire and good
company inside the bar.
They We're the usual afternoon
loafers, 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 mo-
ment, was evidently the centre of the
general interest.
" But what is it you know anyhow,
stranger F" 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 agreeable Just
now. Who's a good boatman here
abouts for; ii I'm split, Ican'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 to morrow.
stranger if you're afeared o. the wealth
er and them clouds over there do
look kinder pesky," said the landlord
of the Lakeside House, turning q prac-
tieal eye on the gray mingling outlines
of the lake and sky.
Well, fact is, said the other, I'm
acquainted over in Milham, and, il it's
all the same to you with wink
" I'd rather be there than here; SO, if
you'll hunt up this Joe Whet's-his.
name, II be obliged.
The landlord, resenting the wink and
the implied insinuation, opened the
door aud called out, sulkily, to some
one in the next room Marcy, run
down to the water and tell Joe there's
a passel ger here.
In another minute the house door
closed, aud a tall slight girls figure,
with shawl over its 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
terverish 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, "there's a passen.
ger waiting up To the house," she laid
her hand on his arm, and glanced can
tiOusly round before adding, in ia whis.
per: Joe, If once that man reaches
the other side, it's all up with father. Z"
What's that, Marcy ~ said the
boatman, looking wonderingly at her.
II tell you | heard it; he'll bring it
home to him, he says SO, hes come a
purpose. It's fathers chauce clean
gone if you take him across.
"Do You mean | should refuse To
take him, Marcy :" said joe, slowly.
:" What good would that do2" said
the girl, impatiently. "Kelly or some
of EN- would take him fast enough
what's fathers life against farel No,
it's you must take him, Joe, aud then,
if anything happens, sinking her voice
to meaning whisper, nobody but
you and mes the wiser.
Joe started back.
II can't help it !" cried the girl pas.
sionataly twisting her fingers in the
shawl fringe SO that il snapped "hes
my father, and never was better but
for the dnnk-you know, Yourself.
everybody says so--and, if you could
hear that man up 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
rs touch finger TO him, only, if the
boat turns over he can't swim. heard
him say SO, aud then fathers saved.
ANA nohody's the wiser, for the best
boatman that ever was might have an
accident on a squally evening like this. "
" There, there, Marcy, be still, Door
glrl, You don't know what you're saw.
ing, intcrpused Joe.
" Yes | do, said she passionatoly
=" never you thinl that, Joe Gorton' |
tell You It lays with you 10 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 Won choose
between ms. Hark she turned Ia
listen. " ] can't stay" She pressed
her hand hard on his shoulder. looking
up pltcously in his face. L" Joe, il Won
ever cared for me, save that poor old
man Aud before he could answer she
was gone, leaving him looking after her
like one IN dream.
The cluads were getting lower and
heavier as the boatman set of with his
passenger.
Looks as il We should have a SMELL
ct weather, said the latter. CHANGING
from the leaden sky 30 the leaden
water. Hope you're what they cracked
You mp to Ice, forif got ducklng her.
! shouldn't find myself again in
hurry.
/" Well, I'm as good as they'll aver.