The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-10-07

y
cousin, wasn't he?"
'Yes, sir, he was"
"Well, we are friends of his-what
did he say to you when he came
along?"
"He-told me-that he was flying
for his life."
"Just so, Hetty that was very true.
hope he won't have to fly far. Where
was he going to hide? You see could
help him if knew his plans"
Now Hetty was not whit deceived
by this smooth speech. But she was
willing to tell as much of the truch as
would consist with his safety, and wise
ly judged that her frankness would
serve her kinsman better than her 81
lence. So she answered his questions
,candidly. "My cousin said he was go
ing down to the river where he had a
boat, and he wanted me to tell 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 told you,
then, when asked you where he had
gomez" thundered the officer fiercely.
II could not tell lie, SIR" was the
fearful answer.
"Hetty," again began the smooth
tongued Tory, "you are nice child.
Everybody knows you are child 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 be-
tray him to his DEATH"
"And you then promised him that
you wouldn't tell which way he went,
if you were killed for it ?''
eyes, SIR"
"That was brave speech and so 1
suppose he thanked you for it, and ran
down the road as quickly as possible" !"
"I promised not to tell where he
went SIR"
"Oh, yes, forgot. Well, tell us his
last words, 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 fright, and
the sense of her kinsman's danger,
should they rightly interpret the lam
guage which she had reported. she Sob
bed aloud, and hid her face from sight.
Her tormenters did not stay longer
to soothe or question her. They had
got, as they supposed, the information
which they wanted, and pushed rapid
ly down to the river. Now the gov
ernor had arranged signal with his
boatmen that white cloth by day, or
Il light by night, displayed from the
attic window of his hiding place, which
was just visible at the mouth of the
river, should inform them if he was in
and put the alert to help him.
AS soon, therefore, as he started from
his Cousins the signal fioated from the
window to warn them. And when
they saw the pursuing party dash
manly down to the river, and recog-
nized the British uniform of the lead
ers they pulled swiftly out to sea. The
horsemen reached the shore only in
~ oOC Vic ooesO " iOAi WV iAAVh III
it nearly out of sight; and suppOsing
their prey had escaped, relinquished
the pursuit.
Meanwhile the hunted victim lay
safe and quiet, where the simple
of the little cousin had
hidden him, until the time came for
her to return for supper. Then he
bade her go as usual to her home, tell
ing her to ask her mother to place the
signal lamp, as soon as it grew dark, in
the window for the boatmen, and send
him there some supper, with his va
lise, which, in the hurry of his depar-
ture, he had left behind.
The signal recalled the boat, which
after twilight had ventured in sight of
the farmhouse, and the governor
quietly made his way to the river in
safety. When he rejoined his father
in a secure home, he named his infant
which had been born in his
absence, "Hetty Marvin" that he
might be daily reminded of the little
cousin whose truth and shrewdness
saved his fe.-INDIANACHUR