Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-28
Joe GOrt0n's Passenger.

The day 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, 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, stranger, who, at the
moment, was evidently the center of the
general interest.
"But what is it you know, anyhow,
stranger 2" asked one of the group.
"Come, now, among friends"
"Never you miud," 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 day s
getting on" he added, abruptly, rising
and turning toward the window, "and
your duckpond there don't look over
agreeable just now. Who's a good boat
man hereabouts for, if Tn split, I
can'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 tomorrow,
stranger, if you're afraid O. the weather
and them clouds over there do look
kinder pesky," said the landlord of the
Lakeside House, turning a practiced
eye on the gray mingling outlines of
lake and sky.
"Well, fact is" said the other, I'm
acquainted over in Milham, and, if it's
all the same to you with wink
"Pd rather be there than here; so, if
you'll hunt up this Joe What his name,
Ill be obliged"
The landlord, resentine the wink and
the implied insinuation, opened the
door and called out, rather sulkily, to
some one in the next room: "Margy,
lun down to the water and tell Joe
there's passenger here"
In another minute the house door
closed, and tall, slight girls figure,
with shawl over her 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
feverish brightness in the dilated eyes,
were not all the winds work. She came
close to the young boatman, who raised
himself up, facing her.
"Joe," she said, "there's passen.
ger waiting up to the house," she laid
her hand on his arm, and glanced eau.
tiously around before adding, in whis.
per: '.Joe, if once that man reaches
the other side, it's all up with fasher."
"What's that, Marcy ?" said the boat
man, looking wonderingly at her.
Il tell you heard it; he'll bring il
home to him; he says he's come a-pur
pose. It's fathers chance clean gone il
you take him across"
"Do you mean | should refuse to
take him, Marcy 2" said Joe, slowly.
"What good would that do2" said The
girl, impatiently. Kelley or some o
'em wonld take him fast enough; what
inUhOI o lltO afhiltob u idioP NOt IL yOt
must take him, Joe, and then, if any
thing happens" sinking her voice to {
meaning whisper. "nobody but me ant
you's the wiser"
Joe started back.
Marg, what's that you're thinking p
81 can't help it" cried the girl, pas
sionately, twisting her fingers in tn,
shawl fringe SO that it snapped; she
my father, and never was better bu
for the drink you know yourself, every
body says so-and, if you could hea
that man up there laughing and boast
ing he'll hang him, Joe, you'd find
hard to keep your hands off of him; bu
/ don't ask you to so much as touch
finger to HIM, only, if the boat turn
over, he can't swim. I heard him sa
30, and then fathers saved, and nobod
the wiser, for TIE best boatman tina
ever was might have an accident on
squally evening like this"
"There, there, Marcy, be still, poo