The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-05

ed that between John Gordon and old
Brown there was something that would
bring trouble to Philip Conger or David
Bigelow. They had heard the landlord
declare his intention of driving them
both out of the village, and of turning
Martha Fielb into the road to seek a
home where she would. Perhaps he
would not go so far; but every one who
knew John Gordon knew that he would
not stop half in his efforts to reach any
end upon which he started. Of late he
had talked much about ingratitude-
about those he had fed turning from
him-about conspiracy-about nursing
vipers in his bosom that turned and
stung him and for long time these
pickers.up of unconsidered domestic tri.
fes were divided in opinion as to wheth.
er the old man made allusion TO his
daughter or to Martha Fiele. They
were soon satisfied when they perceived
that he ceased to speak to Martha un-
less forced by necessity to do SO. and
then only with an expression that be.
trayed his unwillingness. Martha laugh
ed at the threats Of John Gordon to ex-
pei her from his house. She knew
that she was essential to the success of
"The Village Tavern" and that if its
landlord did not understand when he
had good and faithful, servitor, she
knew enough that would, and to these
she would go. Martha Field set him at
defiance, and still continued, with the
aid of David Bigelow, to carry the let
ters of the lovers.
1t was one evening in the early au-
tum, following day that John Gordon
and old Brown had been engaged in
numberless consultations. The plot
seemed to thicken, and those who had
been peeriug about until they knew
more Of the matter than the actors them
selves, said that it was near its catas
trophe. The habitual redness had de
serted John Gordon's face it was pale
instead-very pale for John Gordon.
He stepped more quickly that night
than was his custom from the bar to the
parlor, and so up stairs to where Lefty
and Martha sat. Those who spoke Of it
afterward said that many things passed
that evening that were strange, but
were not thought of in that way until
the next day. They said that soon after
dark rover in a skiff, looking very
like the one Philip Conger was some.
times seen in, came slowly up the river,
and lay for some minutes under the
great willow that grew at the foot of the
garden and one Of these gossips living
on the opposite side, says he saw this
single rover leave his skiff and stand
under the willow, where in few mo-
ments he was Joined by one in light
dress that stood together for short
space, and parted-the skiff aud its sin
gle rover returning the same way thai
it came. Another, equally as veritable
two hours later, saw carriage and hor
ses, entirely unknown in that part of the
country, travelling at great speed OF
tho road towards London, and declared
this carriage to contain lady and gen
tleman, who with corroborating circum
stances, were belivsd to be Philip Con
ger and Lefty Gordon.
Those who were nearer home saw
that same evening cart drawn up il
front of" The Village Tavern" with ole
Brown as its driver. They saw him and
John Gordon go together to the vacan
parlor, where, after talk. Marths
Field was sent for. Within few min
utes the more inquiring, who pressed
out of the bar.room for that purpose
saw Martha Field, John Gordon, ant
old Brown drive away together from
The Village Tavern" Martha without
bonnet or shawl, and with calm, scOrn
full look John Gordon with white face
aud pale, tight-shut lips and old Brown
with cOmplacent expression of face
that would leave the impression Sith al
who did not know him, that be had
just performed one of the most benevo
lent and praiseworthy of a,tiOus.
The next day the village was startled
from its sleep with the intelligence thai
Philip Conger had carried away Lett,
Gordon, and they were believed to be
in London that Martha Field, at al