The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-15
Joe Gorton's Passenger.

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, happening to glance in at the
window of the little 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, q stranger, 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 a pretty spell, if
not t" 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, "and
your duckpond there don't look over
agreeable just now. Who's good boat
man hereabouts for, if I'm split, I
can't swim"
"Jos Gorton's your man," was the
answer; she couldn't tip over if he
tried, couldn't Joe."
q. "Why don't You wait till tomorrow,
stranger, if you're afraid O the weathera
and them clouds over there do look
kinder pesky," said the landlord of the
Lakeside House, turning practiced
eye on the gray minglipg outlines of
lake and sky.
swell, fact is" said the other, "I'm
acquainted over in Milham, and, if it's
all the same to with a wink
"I'd rather be there than here; so, If
you'll hunt up thisJoe What's his-name.
Ill be obliged"
The .nd."rd. resentins the wink and
the impied insil uatinp. opened the
door and called ont, rather s,uhily, to
some one i'll the next room: Marry,
run do vi to the water aud tell Joe
there pass. pger here"
In another minute the house door
closed, and tall, slight girls figure.
with shawl over her head, might hav.
been seen hurrying down 20 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
feverish brightness in the dilated eyes,
were not all the winds work. She came
close to the young .boatmsn, who raised
himself up, facing her.
"Joe." she said, "there's a passen.
ger waiting mp to the house," she laid
her hand On his arm, and glanced eau
tiously around before adding, in whis-
per "Joe, if once that maa reaches
the other side, it's all up with father"
"What's that, Marcy ?" said the boat
man, looking wonderingly at her.
"I tell you I heard it; he'll bring it
home to him; he says he's come a-pur-
pose. It's fathers chance clean gone if
you take him across"
"Do you mean I should refuse to
take him, Marcy ?" said Joe, slowly.
"What good would that do2" said the
girl, impatiently. "Kelley or some of
'em would take him fast enough; what's
fathers life against fare9 No, it's you
must take him, Joe, and then, if any
thing happens" sinking her voice to a
meaning whisper. "nobody but me and
you's the wiser"
Joe started back.
70 "Marg, what's that you're thinking p
81 emit help it," cried the girl, pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in the
shawl fringe 30 that it snapped; she's
my father, and never was better but
for the drink you knowyourself, 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
I don't ask you to so much as touch a
finger to h m, only, if the boat turns
over, he cant swim. I heard him say
so, and then fathers saved, and nobody
the wiser, for tre best boatmsn that
ever was might have an accident on q
squally evening like this"
"There, there. Marcy, be still, poor
girl, you don't know what you're say
ing" interrupted Joe.
Yes do" she said. passionately;
"never you think that, Joe Gorton. 1
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 I swear, 50 you choos. be-
tween us. Harki" she turned to listen.
II can't stay" She pressed her hand
hard on his shoulder, looking up pite-
ousiy 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 dream.
The clouds we're getting lower and
heavier as the boatman set off with his
passenger.
"Looks as If We should have 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 I got ducking here I
shouldn't find myset. again in hurry" 3"
"Well, I'm as good as they average,
xc,oSop r IslySk haor x,nx1~