Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-22


surely thrOG him oul the tavern stand. These
cried shame, and asked each other if John Cor
don was not rich enough to give Lefty her little
property, and if he was not old enough to give
up to younger men. Ii was strange then how
many had seen and foretold all these things TO
themselves long ago how many knew ltwould
be So and were not surprised in the least and
how many were ready with the charitable hope
that it would be Lesson to John Gordon, and
lead him to see that there was an instability In
wealth, and nothing really true but their advice.
week rolled by, and John Gordon left his
room, with his broken limb IN spllnts hanging
by a sling. lie had altered people said, IN that
week TO be at least ten years older. Ills face
was drawn and boggard, and the rosy, healthy
hue had gone out Of his cheeks. HIS eyes were
dim, and there was no loud hearty laugh ring
! ing through the house as in the old days. The
loungers and gossps watched the Old man as
be went vacantly about the place with something
like awe. They watched him ar he wa5 eln-
frOnted 10 bis own bar, that spot which only
one short week before was his stronghold by
another face as pale and haggard as his own,
who asked for justice on behalf oil Martha Field,
and was refused Then this man, who was none
other than David BigelOw, stood up before the
landlord and the curious crowd, and told how
Martha Field was guiltless and that John Cor
don knew it, when in his base anger and desire
b. remove the means of Communication between
bis daughter and Philip Conger, he sent an in-
nocent girl, who should have been as dear to
him as child, to q criminal prison. John Cor
don trembled with the rage he was obliged to
suppress, and DAVID Bigelow went on. Yes!
he knew that the money which no had marked
as trap was taken by his daughter Lefty, as
she had perfect right TO do Tor was not the
house and all within it-ny, and all lp PROFITS,
even to the last penny, even the lands he had
bought with those profts-heB Yes And
he, John Gordon, knew this, and more lilo
knew that Lefty Gordon had taken this money
as she would take any other thing that was her
own, and had given It to Martha Field to pur-
chase such articles as her father wroDgfully de-
MED her-paper pens, and ink, that she might
write to the man TO whom she had beIrothed
herself, and such things aa were neoe ssary to
have when sic asd from the home where she
was prisoner.
This he said and no more, That Martha Field
mad refused to say anything on the night OF her
arrest, knowing that Lefty would step forward
for her protection at the proper time that II
was Letty's intention to have left her home with
Philip CoDger within few days OF the one on
which Martha was arrested but why the flight
should have occurred on that evening, so pTema-
turely, was an unexplained mystery. One thing
was certain, that when Lstty Gordon left home
she did not, nor did she now know Of the arrest
of Martha Field, or she would come forward at
any..risk ahd show her entire Innocence.
The old man sneered al Dayid's story. There
was law, be said, and justice for all. II the girl
was innocsnt let her show il, and all would be
right. She had chosen silence when she was
examined before the squire now let her wait
until her trial. There was law and justice for
all ana protection for him. too, and he would
have it. John Gordon accompanied the last
declaration by blow upon the table with his
clenched uulnlured hand, that brought back to
the listeners sVme memory of the week before,
when it would have been dangerous to have pro-
yoked his wrath. David Blgelow drew himself
up to bis fall height, and speaking as calmly
to the manned man before him as though his
addres. we're the commonest topic, he told him
that from that time forth no appeal should be
made to him again Tor mercy; that he would
no forth, auu If Lefty Gordon was alive he
would find her and bring her there to do Mar
tha Field Justice, and to confound his yillany
From that lime forward John Gordon could look
upon him as his deadly enemy, and remember
that, rs he mad denied mercy, 30 would it be de-
nisd to him. David Bigelow strode out OF the
room, while the old man glared hercely at the
eroup, who nurmured their admiration OF the
carpenter, aud one by one followed him out,
David Blgelow had left the village, none knew
exactly where, but tue surmise was that be had
gone to London. Days and weeks slipped by,
and nothing was heard OF him. Martha Fi1ld
was still prisoner awaiting trial. Jshn Cor
don was gaming strength in bis arm, the bone
was knitting finely, the doctor said, but he was
not gaining strength in " The village Tavern. y
The nelehbors came less, and gos.ped lsss. The
story crept about. Even those who drove up
from She city knew something about IT, Thsre
was one thing they could ali see, which was
that John Gordon's face was pale, and the
strength Of his welcome gone, The day for
Martha Field's trial came. There was great
sympathy for her through all the county. Her
story was believed, but there was no evidence
The prosecution made its case very clearly and
distinctly. The loss Of the money was proved,
the marking, the tracing OF the marked money
70 the village shops whore 1t had been passed by
Martha. There was no defense, the very able
counsel, who had volunteered for her, said he
could only make the statement on behalf oi the
prisoner and then he gave Martha's story OF
how she became possessed OF the marked money.
There was o dead silence in the courtroom as
he closed u beautiful appeal for mercy for the
prisoner. In It's midst came loud groan, and
IN moment after sbuflng of feet, and soye
raj persons were strsinlug to lift a man who
had slipped from one Of the benches, an lay
, PROSTATE upon the door. 1t was John Gordon
the strong man. Weak enough now ho was
, ns they stroye to raise him " his ieeL lii
eyes were wide open, and looking eagerly to-
wards the judge.
" AcQuit her he said. am sorry
know she tells the truth"
Pat that man back upon the stand, - the
D Judge says, stefny.
4 The man was put back upon the stand, bu
. he had nothing To say, oaly that his heart ha'
I soltened and be could see truth IN the sto.y tn
q prisoner told now, when he would not Sue 1t be
T fore And 50 they carried him away to hi
{ cart, and drove him home.
/ As thoy bore the old broken-down man on
4 by one door, there were eyes met Marthas iron
a the other that made her heart leap. Each o
e that Jury said, when speaking oil the case alter
i, wards, that they would have acquitted the prs
J. oner through sympathy, without any eyldenc
for the deiens. When the oyes Of David Big
s Glow and Lefty Condor met Marthas she kneN
II that she wanted no sympathy now to send he
. out upon tho world with stain upon her nam
for ever. The truth had come, and whom Lett
Y Gordon now Mrs Philip Conger, threw he
n arms about the prisoners neck and kissed her
i. while she cried and laughed by turns, eyeryhod
n knew the story as well as though II had bee
II told. As form the evidence must be glvei
10 and before the tears had dried upon Lefty
4, cheeks the verdict was rendered,
a - Not GulltV ~