Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-08-20


ooh, cousin, said the little girl, in an ag-
ony Of distress, "a cannot tel! lie; indeed,
1 cannot; why did you tell me which way
yon were goingI ...-
"Hetty, my child, surely yOu would not
betay me to my death Hark they are
coming; l hear the click Of their horses feet.
OH IIetty, tellShem I have gone up the road
instead of down; and heaven viii bless you.
.'ITeaven never blesses those who speak
falsely, cousin. But will not tell them which
way you go, even if they kill me; so run as
quickly as possible"
"Ir's of no use; unless I can deceive them,
| am dead man"
"Cousin, cousin, hide under my web Of
cloth; they'd never think of looking here tor
you. Come, get down as swift as you can,
and I'll cover you and stand sprinkling my
Hncn.' -l.rs
ats my only chance, child; III get down
as you say" And suiting the action to the
word, the governor was soon hidden under
the ample folds Of the cloth.
Angry that their expected prey had escaped
from the house where they hoped to secure
him. the six mounted tories, headed by a
British officer, dashed along the road in swift
pursuit. Atsight ofthe little gill in the mead
ow, the leader of the party paused.
"Child," he said sternly, have you seen a
man running away hereab1uts ?"
'' Yes sir" replied Hetty, trembling and
flushing.
WAialr way did he goY
g. promi ed not to tell, sill"
4" But v..u must. or take the consequences
g. said wouldn't tel if you killed me,
sol.b-d the hjghtcnel girl
"Ill have it ont Of her" exclaimed the iu-
rious officer, with an oath.
"Let me speak to her said his tory guide /;
Il know tie child I believe. Isn't your
name Hetty Marvin p he asked pleasantly.
Yes sir"
"Aud thi. man who ran BY you few min
utes ago, was your mothers cousin, WASH
he ?"
Yes. sir; he was"
"Wel, we are friends Of his, What did he
say t. you when he came along?'
"He-hc told me-that he was flying for
his lie"
Just so Uctty; that was very true. I
hope he won't have to fly far. Where was
lie going to try to hide? You see, 1 could
help him # knew his plans"
Now Hetty was not whit deceived by
this smooth speech. But she was willing to
tell as much of the truth as could consist with
his safety, and she wisely judged that her
lransness would serve her kinsmau better than
her silence. So she answered her qucstioner
candidly: any cousin said that he was go
ing down this way to the river where he had
boat; and he wanted me to tel the men
that were chasing him, that he had gone the
other way to catch the mail wagon"
"Why didn't You do as he BID you, then,
when I asked where he had gone p thunder
ed the officer fercely.
I could not tell lie, sir, was the fearful
answer.
"Hetiy,' again begain the smooth-tongued
tory, you are a nice child. Everybody
knows you are a girl of truth. What did your
cousin say when you told him you couldn't
tell a falsehood ?"
&" He said he shouldn't think I'd betray him
to his death"
And then you promised him that you
wouldn't tell which way he went, if you was
killed for it2"
Yes sir"
"That was a brave speech; and so I sup
pose, he thanked you for ii, and ran down the
road as quickly as possible? 2"
promised not to tell where he went, sir.
Oil yes, forgot Well, tell US his last
words, and we won't trouble you any more.
" His last words were: It's my only chance
child, and I'll get down as you say" And
overcome by the fright, and the sense Of her
kinsmaus danger should they rightfully inter.
pret the language which she had reported, she
sobbed aloud and hid her face from sight.
Her tormenters did not stay any longer tc
soothe or question her. They had got, as they
supposed, the information which they wanted
and pushed rapidly on down the river. Now
the governor had arranged with his boatmen
that a white cloth by day, or a light in tn,
night, displayed from the attic window Of hi
hiding-place, which was just visible at tht
mouth Of the creek, should inform them il hc
were in trouble. and put them upon the aler
to help him. As soon, therefore, as he started
from his cousins the signal foated from tn,
window to warn them. And when they saw
the pursuing party dash mady down toward
the river, and recognized the British uniform
ot the leader, they swiftly pulled out to se9
The horsemen reached the shore only in sea
son to see the boat, with two men in it nearl,
out Of sight, and suPPosiug their destined pre-.
had escaped, reliuquished the pursuit.
Meanwhile, the hunted victim lay safe an
quiet, where the simple shrewdness Of his lit
tie cousin had hidden him, until the time cam
for her return to the house for supper. The,
he bade her 60 as usual TO her home, telHn