Chapter XII.
Straightening the Lines.
Robert Pearson and John Bishop were so frequently seen together that it was but a short time before gossip had made them its victims, and the women were all agog to know what it meant, and John was always absent from Fifth day meetings and with his wits in the clouds on First day. He was a changed man, it was commonly said, and of course because led astray by the worldly Robert Pearson. Both men heard rumors to this effect, and let them pass unheeded. There was a steady growth in the population, and that was worth considering, and ship-loads of new-comers were soon expected. Such facts made them busy men, and, eminently practical, they foresaw the increased value of their lands and were ready to increase their acreage as opportunity afforded. The creek was the only water-way leading to Philadelphia, and the roads were of little use. Better shipping
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