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


riage there came to John Gordon this one child.
On the day that little Lefty could count eight
years Mrs. Lefty Gordon, senior, was called to
another and better world, leaving little Lefty
heiress of all the goods chattes, and reil estate
of which she died possessed, the last item being
"The Village Tavern" with its furniture and
belongings comfortable little setting out
which, with true Scotch thrift, her good father
had settled upon her the day she was married /,
and from which John Gordon had garneTed some
solid wealth, which lay stretched out in various
farms in the country round.
Lefty Gordon had great blue eyes, very blue
very large, and sparkling with suppressed mis-
chief Lefty Gordon had light brown hair that
danced about her head, laughing all combs to
s.Orn, and almost repudiating ribbon. She
had the whtest skin, and the whltest teeth, and
the oh this sounds too much like an auc-
tioneers summary. | shall end il by saying
that she was just the nerriest, sweetest, and
most enticing little fairy had ever seen, and
am not alone in 80 believing. There were a few
OF tie favored guests Of " Tho Village Tavern
who could occasionally Gee Lefty Gordon but
10 the mass who came and went like shadows,
Lefty was herself shadow. They had heard
Of the landlords beautiful daughter once in
long while some one more fortunate than the
Iest would catch a glimpse OF the little maiden,
but IRON whence she came, Or whittier she went,
the glmps.r could never tell They drank the
health quietly Of the mysterious beauty Of whom
they heard 50 much, Of whom they knew that
che breathld the same atmosphere as themselves,
and yet 10 them was a sealed book. This was
the treasure that John Gordon watched aud
guarded--she who, already an heiress IN her
own right, was to inherit al the acres that no
had been adding year by year from the overflow
Of q" The Village Tavern L:tty was not Only
the admiration Of the gay groups who came
from the city, bot she was the ambition OF eve
ry rustic beau, who looked with eoyetous eyes
upon the fair face aud the broad acres OF The
landlords daughter. They looked, but they
looked in vain Tor John Gordon had long re.
solved that whoever came Woolng to hls Lefty
should be 10 common man, but should out
double her in wealth
Lefty Gordon was not the only fair attraction
that brought the gallants ~ " The Village
Tavern" There was another bright face, anoIh'
er comely shape, in the person OF Martha Field.
Martha and Lefty were ol an age-both eighteen.
Martha was an orphan, and had been taken
when a child by the late Mrs Lefty Gordon to
4" care for" Martha was the right hand OF
% The Village Tavern - she was here, there,
and everywhere, as John Gordon expressed it.
It extra company came, and aid was wanted in
the kitchen Martha was able and willing
Whether Martha hand was wanted IN the bed
rooms, in the parors to wait on the guests, 10
attend in the bar, 1t was always the same-she
was there. Whatever she did was well done
Many smart farmer son, who came as sultor
to the mistress, made desperate effort to amend
the hopelessness Of the case by falling in love
with the maid, only to fad out that his fate
was the same in either quarter. Martha Field
mad already disposed Of the little beating heart
that lay beneath her trim, wel-ttting bodice
She had given it, subject to certain conditions,
into the keeping of David Bigelow, smart and
promising carpenter, who, by some special are
lurking under his tongue, lad managed to secure
the little girl to himself 10 the face Of the most
startling opposition. Under these circumstances
there can DO no wonder that Martha should be
given to reading rOmances, and sympathlzlng
generally with lovers, particularly with those
in Distress There were some who said that
when Martha Field was married, John Gordon
would come down warm with trfe for
the couple to start with but those who knew
the landlord better declared that as long as
breath was 10 John Gordou's body he would nOl
rart with pound of all he had SO carefully
boarded, and now So strictly watched. In proof
of this they pointed to Lefty and Martha, upon
whom he never lavished penny, putting of
their desires for snowy dress, SO inherent In the
sex, by telling them that their faces would make
their fortunes without ribbons and silk.
This was John Gordons household, save only
aunt Judy, who regned supreme IN the kitchen
department One bright day in June, when the
leaves Huttered with more than ordinary glad
ness and the sun glanced over the waters OF the
river, lending its light to the clear, gravelly
bottom till it showed the lazy fish in their very
homes, the Paterson stage ratified through the
village, and dropped one passenger at " Tne
Village Tavern" He was a tail, darkroom.
plexoned man, somewhere about thirty, with
auiet, assured manner, that told the crowd OF
oilers who stood always ready 10 stare at the
stage passengers, if they were capable OF reoeiv-
ing any impression, that the newcomer was one
NOT easily stared down, aud well accustomed to
all the attentions that could be thrust upon hin.
lie told John Gordon, who stood ready 10 re-
ceiye him, that his name was Philip Uonger,
and try his hand at the fish. John was pleased
at the announcement, aud told his guest so !;
more pleased as he noticed that the young man $
luggage bespoke that money was plentiful; and
still more pleased when ke found that his liberal
orders did full justice to his looks. Philip Con-
ger Rshed until the venerable old trout ana pick
erel tremblel in their wStesy beds. He shot
with such success that hs awakened the Jeal-
ousy OF the stereotyped sportsmen OF the place.
lie walked he rode, and drove, and 50 the week
PASSED away, and yet no remained guest OF
" The Village Tayern.n Another week, and
Philip Conger was still there but be no long
or fshed, no longer hunted, his walks and rides
were shorter, and the house bad more attraction .
Ia a few wor5s, he had seen Lefty Gordon, and
spoken with her, aad from that moment all
things that carried him away from where he
could feel that she wss near had lost their
charm. And stranger still than this, Lefty,
who had basn invisible to all other eyes, now
went fitting uneasily about the house. Ii
PAilip sat upon tho settle, there were large
chances that he would see her within the hour
If he walked roamiugly about the garden, Lot
ty had bouquet to make up, somc berries &
NICK. or something 10 do which he always could
take hand in. Those about the village VIII,
always see everything told John Gordon occA
sionaily that Lefty was ut that moment undel
the charge OF the stranger, being padded leis
urely along the river bank 10 skill, or has
been ,otn Ut some pas, lime walking with th
stranger 10 some near lane, or sitting in some
half secluded place earnestly talking. The.
could see that the landlords face grew darl
whenever such intelligence was brought him
aud those who were most about the house coulS
observe that he no longer treated his gucs, will
the same attention as formerly, there was
lack Of that welcome and greeting that Johl
Gordon had always flr well paying guests an
then the gO.sips oFctold a storm, They sai