Year: 1865

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carry the correspondence between Lefty
Gordon and Philip Conger, and David
Biglow the worker who, at the bidding Of
Martha, performed the postman. With
out actually knowing this John Gordon
suspected, and with him suspicion gener-
ated active measures. David Biglow
was at once forbidden the house and the
full weight of bis displeasure rained down
upon the head of Martha.


For weeks things remained in this un-
certain state. Whatever measures John
Gordon intended to take were locked
within his own breast. There was mys>
terry in progress through which none
could fathom, and to which Lefty Gordon
bent her ear seriously and tremblingly
when Martha Field brought her the gos-
sip she had heard stirring. John Gordon
had been known to have several private
interviews with old Brown, the village
constable. The old man had been seen
looking around the village suspiciously,
as if smelling out some trouble. He
spent great deal of time at the tavern
in talks with the landlord, or sitting
watching everybody and everything un-
der his lowered brows. The gossips
were busy again. They declared that
between John Gordon and old Brown
there was something that would bring
trouble to Philip Conger or David Bige-
low. They had heard the landlord de-
clare his intention Of driving them both
out of the village, and of turning Martha
Field into the road to seek home where
she would. Perhaps he would not 60 so
far; but every one who knew John Cor
don knew that be would not stop half way
in his efforts to reach an end upon which
he started. OF late be had talked much



about ingratitude-about those be 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 triAes were divided in opinion
whether the old man made allusion to his
daughter OF to Martha Field. They
were soon satisfied when they perceived
that he ceased to speak with Martha un-
less forced by necessity TO do so, and then
only with an expression that betrayed
his unwilingness. Martha laughed at
the threats Of John Gordon to expel her
from his house. She knew that she was
essential to the success of "Tbe Village
Tavern" and that if its landlord did not
understand when he had good and faith
ful servitor, she knew enough that would,
and to these she would 60. Martha
Field set him at defiance, and still con-
tnued, with the aid of David Bigelow, to
carry the letters Of the lovers.


1t was one evening in early autumn,
following day that John Gordon and
old Brown had been engaged in number
less consultations. The plot seemed to



thicken, and those who had been peering
about until they knew more of the mat
ter than the actors themselves said that
it was near its catastrophe. The habit
ual redness had deserted John Gordon's
face it was pale instead-very pale for
John Gordon. He stepped more quick
ly 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 afterwards said that
many things passed that evening that
we're strange, but were not thought OF in
that way until the next day. They said
that soon after dark a rover, in skiff
looking very like the one Philip Conger
was sometimes seen in, came slowly up
the river, and lay for some minutes un-
der the great willow that grew at tbe foot
of the garden aud 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 they stood together for short
space and parted-the skiff and its single |
rover returning the same way that it
came. Another, equally as veritable, two
hours later, saw carriage and horses,
entirely unknown in that part of;he coun-
try, travelling at great speed on the road
toward London, and declared this carriage |
to contain lady and gentleman, who
with corroborating circumstances, were
believed to be Philip Conger and Lefty |
Gordon. ........


Those who we're nearer home saw, that
same evening, cart drawn up in front of
"The Village Tavern" with old Brown
as driver. They saw him and John Cor
don 60 together to the vacant parlor,


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