Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-09-15


forward at any risk and show her entire,
innocence. "e
The old man sneered at David's story.
There was law, he said, and Justice for
all. If the girl was innocent, let her
show it, and all would be right. She
had chosen silence when she was exam
ined before the squire now let her wait
until her trial. There was law and JUS.
tice for all, and protection for him, too,
and he would have it. John Gordon ac-
companied the last declaration by blow
upon the table with his clenched, unin-
jured hand, that brought back to the lis
teners some memory of the week before,
when il would have been dangerous to
have provoked his wrath. David Bige.
low drew himself up to bis full height.
and speaking as calmly to the MANNED
man before him as though his address
were the commonest topic, he told him
that from that time forth no appeal sho'd
be made to him for mercy; that he would
60 forth, and if Lefty Gordon was alive
he would find her and bring her there to
do Martha Field justice, and to confound
his villainy. From that time forward
John Gordon could look upon him as his
deadly enemy, and remember that, as he
had denied mercy, so would it be denied
to him. David Bigelow strobe out Of
the room, while the old man glared
fercely at the group, who murmured
their admiration of the carpenter, and
one by one followed him out. 'Ho1eG 70
David Bigelow had left the village,
none knew exactly where, but the sur
mise was that he had gone TO London
Days and weeks slipped by, and nothing
was heard from him. Martha Field was
still prisoner awaiting trial. John Cor
don was gaining strength in his arm, the
bone was knitting finely, the doctor said,
but he was not gaining strength in the
''Village Tavern" The neighbors came
less, and gossiped less. The story creps
about. Even those who drove up from
the city knew something about it,
There was one thing they could sM sec,
which was that John Gordon's face was
pale, and the strength OF his welcome
gone. The day for Martha Fields trial
came. There was great sympathy for
her through all the country. 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 tra-
cling of the marked money to the village
shops where it had been passed by Mar.
tha. There was no defence, the very
able counsel, who had volunteered for
her, said be could only make the state
ment on behalf of the prisoner and
then he gave Martha's story Of how she
became possessed of the marked money.
There was a dead silence in the court
room as he closed a beautiful appeal for
mercy for the prisoner. In its midst
came loud groan, and in a moment af-
ter shuffling of feet, and several persons
we're straining to lift man who had slip
ped from one of the benches, and lay
PROSTATE upon the floor. 1t was John
Gordon, the strong man. Weak enough
now be was, as they strove to raise him
10 his feet. His eyes were wide open,
and looking eagerly toward the judge.
"Acquit her /" he said. Il am sorry.
| know she tells the truth" W W
"Put that man back upon the stand,p
he judge says, sternly. as1
The man was put back upon the stand,
but he had nothing to say, only that his
heart had softened and be could see truth
10 the story the prisoner told now, when
ne would not see it before. And so they
carried him away to bis cart, and drove
lim home. m sG'ni0I
AS they bore the old broken down
nan cut by one door, there were eyes
net Martba's from the other that made
ler heart leap. Each of that jury said,
when speaking of the case afterwards,
hat they would have acquitted the pris-
,ner through sympathy, without any evil
lence for the defence. When the eyes
If David Bigelow and Lefty Gordon met
Martha's she knew that she wanted no
now to send her out upon the
world with stain upon her name forever.
The truth had come, and when Lefty
Gordon, now Mrs. Philip Conger, threw
Ter arms about the prisoners neck and
Kissed her, while she cried and laughed
~ turns, everybody knew the story as
veil as though it had been told. Asa
orm the evidence must be given, and be-
ore The tears had dried upon Letty's
,heeks the verdict was rendered. =