One day the stranger, after dining, asked Mr. Adams for his bill, which he paid in British gold.  He then gave directions to have a small trunk, the only baggage he had with him, sent to the house of Captain Allen.

The landlord raised his eyebrows, of course; looked very much surprised, and even ventured a curious question.  But the stranger repelled all inquisition touching his movements.  And so he left the “White Swan,” after sojourning there for nearly a week, and the landlord never saw him again.

The news which came on the following day, created no little sensation in S——.  Jacob Perkins, who lived near Captain Allen’s, and often worked for him, told the story.  His relation was to this effect:  About ten o’clock at night, Mrs. Allen sent for him, and he waited on her accordingly.  He found her dressed as for a journey, but alone.

“Take a seat, Jacob,” she said.  “I wish to have some talk with you.”  The man noticed something unusual in her talk and manner.

“Jacob,” she resumed, after a pause, bending towards Mr. Perkins, “can I trust you in a matter requiring both service and secrecy?  I have done some kind things for you and yours; I now wish you to return the favor.”

As she spoke, she drew out a purse, and let him see something of its golden contents.

“Say on, Mrs. Allen.  You may trust me.  If you ask anything short of a crime, it shall be done.  Yes, you have been kind to me and mine, and now I will repay you, if in my power to do so.”

Jacob Perkins was in earnest.  But, whether gratitude, or that apparition of golden sovereigns, had most influence upon him, cannot at this remote period be said.

“Can you get a pair of horses and a carriage, or light wagon, to-night?”

“I can,” replied Jacob.

“And so as not to excite undue curiosity?”

“I think so.”

“Very well.  Next, will you drive that team all night?”

And Mrs. Allen played with the purse of gold, and let the coins it contained strike each other with a musical chink, very pleasant to the ear of Jacob Perkins.

“You shall be paid handsomely for your trouble,” added the lady, as she fixed her beautiful blue eyes upon Jacob with an earnest, almost pleading look.

“I hope there is nothing wrong,” said Jacob, as some troublesome suspicions began turning themselves over in his mind.

“Nothing wrong, as God is my witness!” And Mrs. Allen lifted her pale face reverently upwards.

“Forgive me, madam; I might have known that,” said Jacob.  “And now, if you will give me your orders, they shall be obeyed to the letter.”

“Thank you, my kind friend,” returned Mrs. Allen.  “The service you are now about to render me, cannot be estimated in the usual way.  To me, it will be far beyond all price.”

She was agitated, and paused to recover herself.  Then she resumed, with her usual calmness of manner—­