Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-07-31
JOE CORToS's PASSENGER.

The day WI. drawing towards its close,
chill aud raw. Lake village was almost,
always gus,y. but just now The wind was
having its own way more than usual, and
any passer through the long. bleak street.
happening 10 glance in at the Window of
the little satcr-sidc tavern. might well
have been tempted by bright ire and good
company inside the bar
They were the usual afternoon loafers,
with the exception Of one small. wiry-
looking man. u stranger. who had stopped
TO take n glass Of something hot. and who.
at the moment. was csideutIy the centre
OF ihc general interest
But what is it yoa know. any how,
s'rnnscrT 7 asked one Of the group Come,
now. among friends.
Never YOU mind answered tho ad-
dressed. Il know enough to shu, up John
Sawyer petty spell. it no, To make him
swing aud know how 10 tell it when the
right time comes, don't you be afraid for
that. The days getting on he added
abrub,ly. rising aud turning toward the
window. and your duck pond there don't
look over agreeable just now. Who's n
good boatman hereaLouts for. if I'm
split. cant swim
Joe G@r'on's your man. was the an
swcr: he couldn't tip over if lie tried,
c'u!ln't Joe.
'Why don't YOU wait until TO morrow.
stranger. If you're afcarcd o the Gather?
aud them clouds over there 10 look kind
cr rc>ky.' said the landlord Of the Lake
aide House. turning u prac;iscd eye on
the gray mingling outlines of lake and
sky
We'll. fact is. said the other. Tn ac-
quain,cd over in Milhnm. and. If it's all
the same 20 you'-with a wink-.rd ralh-
er be there than here; so If you'll hunt
up ,his Joe Wha,'s-his-naue. Ill be
obliged
The landlord. resen,ing the wink and
the implied insinnnriou. opened the door
aud called out. rather sulkily. TO somc
one in the next room Marcy. run down
TO the water and tell Joe there's n passen-
ger here
10 another minute the house door closed.
and q tell. slight. girlish figure. with a
shawl oyer it's head, might have been seen
hurrying down TO the watcr-side
Joe Gorton. busy abou, his boat. heard
his name called. and looking up. say. The
gir. Marcy. The sharp wind had blown
out stray locks of her crisp. black hair.
frcm under The red shawl, but the. hectic
10 sl,e cheeks. and the feverish brightness
in the dilated eyes. were not all the winds
work. She came close to the boa,man,
who raised himself up. facing her.
Joe. sac said. there's . passenger
waiting up TO the house. she laid her hand
gu bis arm and glanced cautiously round
before adding in whisper ice. il onec
that man reaches the other side, its al up
with father
What's that. Margy?' asked the boat
man. looking wonderiusly Mt her.
II -tsA -ysa heard it; hell bring j.
home TO him. he says so, he's come a. .pur.
lose. Its fa,Lers chance clean soue, il
you take him across
do you mean should refuse to take
him, Marcy 7 said Joe. slowly.
What good would that do Y said the
girl, imrasienily. Kelley or some of
en- weuld take hin, fas, enough; what's
fathers life against fare? No. i,'s you
must take him. Joe. and then. If anything
happens sinking her voice to mean.
ing whisper. nobody but you aud mes
the wiser
Joe started back.
Marcy. what's that you're thinkinc!'
Il can't help it = cried the girl. pas.
sionately twisting her fingers in the shawl
fringe so that it snapped; he's my faith
er, aud never was better bu: for drink
--yeu know yourself. everybody says SO
and. il you could hear that man up
sshewssN ssNlasghise ssd -bosssias no u, hsac
him. Joe. you'd end i, hard to keep your
haass otf Of him; but don't ask seu TO
do so much as touch finger to him. ouly.
if tho beat tarns over. he can't swim.s L
heard him cay 30. aud then fathers sayed.
aud nebody The wiser. for the best boat
maa ;hst ever ~as might have an accident
on a sqaahy evening Ike tLis.'
There. there. Marcy. 10 s,ill, poor
girl. you don't know what you're ss,ing.'
intrrposed Joe. '-FsE
'-.s.Ycs. I do said, she. passiouaseiy !:
'ncser yon think ,lras. Joe Gor.ou. 1tell
you il lays with you 70. save father OF 10
kill him; ye. aud me too. for il they hang
hfsn TN never live over the day. and that
/ swear. so you choose between us
Hark . she turned to listen. Il cant
stay She psessed her hand hard on his
shoulder, looking up piteeusly in bis fsse.
Joe. ii ever you care for me. save that
POOR old esau And b, for. be coulI, an.