The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-07-04
Which way did he go"
Il promised not to tell, SIR

| Il promised not to tell, SIR
But you must, or take the consequence
Il said wouldn't tell if you killed me-
sobbed the frightened girl
Ill have it out of her. exclaimed the furi-
Gus officer, with an oath.
Let me speak to her. said his tory guide |;
Il know the child, l believe. Isn't your
name Hetty Marvin - he asked, pleasantly.
Yes, SIR
And this man who ran by you few min
utes ago, was your mothers cousin, wasn't
hep
'Yes, sir be was.'
We'll, We are friends of his. What did he
say to you when he came along"
'He-he told me-that he was flying for
his Ife.'
Just so, Hetty that was very true. /
hope he won't have to fly far. Where was
he going to try to hide' You see l could
help him if knew his plans
| Now Hetty was not whit deceived bv
this smooth speech. But she was willing to
tell as much of the truth as would consist
with his safety, and she wisely Judged that
her frankness would serve her kinsman better
than her silence. So she answered her ones
TONER candidly: MY cousin said that he was
going down this way to the river, where be
had boat; and he wanted me to tell the
men that were chasing him, that he had
gone the other way to catch the mail wag-
on
why didn't you do as he bid you, then,
when l asked where he had gone ~ thunder
ed the officer, fercely.
4 Il could not tell lie, SIR was the fearful
answer.
'Hetty,' again began the smooth-tongued
tory, you are a nice child. Everybody
knows you are girl of truth. What did
your cousin say when you told him you
couldn't tell falsehood? p
'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 it?'
Yes, SIR
That was brave speech; and SO, / sup
pose, he thanked you for it, and ran down
the road as quickly as possible?'
Ipromised not to tell where he went, sir
'Oh! yes, forgot. We'll, tell US his last
words, and We won't trouble you any more
His last words were, Its my only chance,
child, and I'll get down as you say And
overcome by the fright, and the sense of
her kinsman's danger should they rightfully
interpret the language which she had report
, ed. she sobbed aloud, and hid her face from
sight.
Her tormentors did not stay any longer to
soothe or question her. They had got as
they supposed, the information which they
wanted.and pushed rapidly on down to the
river.
Now, the governor had arranged signal
with LIS boatmen, that white cloth bv day.
or light in the night, displayed from the
attic window of his hiding-place, which was
gust visible at the mouth of the creek, should
inform them if he were in trouble, and nut
them upon the alert to help him. As soon,
therefore, as he started from his cousins the
signal tioated from the window to warn them.
And when they saw the pursuing party
dash madly down toward the river, and rec
ognized the British uniform of the leader.
they pulled swiftly out to sea. The horse
men reached the shore only in season to see
the boat, with two men in if, nearly out of
sight, and supposins their destined prey had
escaped, relinquished the pursuit.
Meanwhile, the hunted victim lay safe and
quiet, where the simple shrewdness of his
> little cousin had hidden him, until the time
came Tor her return TO the house for supper.
Then he bade her go as usual to her home.
telling her to ask her mother to place the
:, signal-lamp. as soon as If grew dark, in the
:, window for the boatmen, and to send him
- there some supper, with his valise, which, in
the hurry of departure, he had left behind.
The signal recalled the boat. which after
twilight had ventured in sight of the shore
and the farmhouse; and the governor quiet
ly made his way to the river in SAFETY
> When he rejoined his father in a secure
home, he named his infant daughter, which
had been born in his absence, .Hetty Mar.
vin,' that he might be daily reminded of the
little cousin whose truth and shrewdness had
saved his life.-Stadesd and .Schoolmate.
NundaYS and the MiniSfarS