, 1873-08-17
JOE GORTON'S PASSENGER.
Kate T'ntnam 0soood In Apulettnss Journal. {


Tho day was drawing toward ts cloHoi chill anu
raw. Lalto Village was nlmoHt always g,1aty, bne,
Just now, the wind was having ita own way moro
tl1an usual, anI any paHaor through tho long,
bleah street, happening to glance In at tho will
dow of tic littlo wator-Bl1o tayo1l, might woll
lavo boon temptoi1 by tho bright fire md good
company insldo tho bar.
Thoy woro tho usual afternoon 1onfors. with
tho exception of ono small, wiry-looking yl,nn,
stranger, who Ind stopped to tako glass OF
aomothing hot, and who, ut tho moment, was
evidently tho contro OF tho gcnoral iutoroat.
- But w!ias IN 1t you know, anyhow, et,angor7"
asked ono Of tho group. II Como, NOW, among
frlortis."
"Never You mind" answered tho man ai-
trosaod; II know enough to shut up Jol,l, aaw-
yer protty apcll, II not to mako him Bwing aud
l know how to toll 1t when tho right timo comes.
DON'T you be afraid for that. Tho days gotting
OH" ho added, abruptly, riaing and turning to-
ward tho window, "anl your duok-pond there
don't look oyor agreeable iuBt now. Who's a
good boattnnu horoahouta3 for, II I'm split,
! can't awtn."
"Joc Gorton's your man." was tho answor;
"he couldn't tip ovor II he triel couldn't Joo."
"Why don't you wait till tomorrow, stranger,
il YOU'RE nfoard O. tho weather and thom clouds
| over thoro do look hndor pouky," said tho land
lord Of tho Lakoalo House, turning praoticod
eye OIL tue gray, con,mlnglng outlines Of lake
| and B1y.
"Woll, faot H." Haid tho othor, tim nc
| quainted ovor in biilham, md, if It's all the
samo to oa,"-with u winl,-"Id rather bo
thoro than hero 30, It you'll hunt up this Joe
what's-his-na,no, I'll DO ob1igod."
The landlord, resonting tho wink and tlle im-
pliod inainuation, opened tho door and called
| ont rather Brlk}v Tn Rnmn me in Tim ncyt
roor,. nnfar1,, r,,n ;,ossr - H. .,o,or nj, nj,
1e ~. ss. .uu uo"n ~ 'no ""'ef Aua 'eu
! 'oc Ehefos q passenger hofo'
| In anothor minute tho honno door closed, and
t h. sa v, o nn"t ~ .o osur
..as A1'eA' ~ '~.N' $''"A ~ 'no "''o1'
e'ao'
Joc Gorton, busy about his boat. heard his
| name called. and, looking up, saw the girl,
louks Of lor Crisp blnck hair from under tho rod
shawl, but tho hectic in the chookst and tho
foyorish brIghtncss In tho dintea eyes, wore not
all the winds work. She ca1no close to tho
ZSrns Soa. 0''s''a"' who raised h''n"'s up facing
"Joe," she enia, n tthoroa passenger waiting
up to tho house; sllo laid hor hand On his arm.
and glanced cautiously around before adding, in
otlor side, it's all up with father"
| HWbat'a that. Mnrry?" mid tho bontnan.
! looking wonllorinely ut l,or.
~ tell you hoard it; ho'n bring It homo
| fathers eha;3ce clcau CONC if you take lin
noroas.n '>'>''
..Do you menu ehould refuso to tako lin,
Margy7" 1uid loo, slowly.
patiently. HKeloy or some Of 'on woS,ld tnko
finn, mt enough: what's fathers lifo against a
faro2 No. it's 7tou ml,et tnlo him. Too, md
then, if anytltinS happens" sinking her voico to
tho 1,'" wisors'" ""'4''p~'' ' Wv 'N'' "''>N A'''
Joo sfartod bact,.
uMarcy. what's TINT You're thinking ?"
II ca1't help i'll" crled the girl, pasaionatc1y,
It auapSol: Hho's NV father, md noTor was | \
bottor but for the drink,--yor know yourself.
everybody says Ho.-nud if you could hour that
| man IN there laughing nntl boasting ho'l hang
Lin! Joe, you'd find It hard to kcop your hands
/ OF Of him but dou't ask you so much as to
touch a finger to him, only, il the boat turn,
over, no can't s,ci,1,, I lenrd him say 80, and
then fathers Bnyed, and nobody tho Visor, Tor
tho best boatman thu. ever was might have MI
accident on squally evening like this"
| don't know what you'ro SAYING" interDoBol Joe.
" Yog do" Bnid eho, pasHionatoly; "neyor
you think .l,at, Joo Gorton. tell YOU it lays
with YOU to save father Or to kill him. Yes. aud
mo too. for il tloy hing him III mover 1.-Two over
tho day, TINT swear, 80 you choose between us.
IIark!" she turned to listen. ~ can't stay."
| She preaHed her hand hard on his shoulder,
looking up pitoouBy into his face. "Joe, il YOU
ever carod for me, saye that poor old nlan l'
And before no could anawer Hlo was gono, loav-
ing him looking after hor lilto QUO il1 i dream.
Tho clouds were getting lowor anl hoayior as
tho boatman sol of with his passenger.
"Looha as If wo should hnyo q spoil OF
weather." said tho latter, glaucng from the
1eaden sky to tho loalon water. "Hopo you'ro
what thoy cracked you up to be. for if l got a
ducking Loro shouldn't lind mysolt agnin in q
hurry"
"Well, I'm as good Us they'll average, Irccl,-
on, miutcr-I didn't hear your namo," snid Joo,
lookng up inquiriugly.
| "Pefor Groom il my namo, and one I aftl'
ashamed Of it'll bo pretty well known in these
parts by this day week, I'm thinking" aud tic
man smiiod B,nilo not plcusaut to AGO.
"1low's that 7" said Joe, anxious to botray nc
previous knowledge.
"Ivo come to give evidence in trial tllat'a
coming off in your county town." answered
Groom motioniiig toward The Nliiham shore,
"Iyo travelled nigh 500 mlca on purpose to dc
it, and I'd travel 500 moro 1t twas NODDED"
els it the Sawyer trial you mean 7" asked joe
ct