Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-01-27
Heffy Marvin.

L. where his cousin, Mrs. Marvin,
hid him for some days in a secluded
farmhouse. But at length the subtle
| foe discovered his retreat, and one
sunny afternoon in Nav he was routed
from his hiding-place by the tidings
| that band of hOrsemen were approach
ing TO capture him.
His only chance of escape was to
reach the mouth of little creek which
emptied itself into the Connecticut
river, just above the entrance of the
latter into Long Island Sound. There
| he had boat stationed. with two faith
full attendants hidden beneath the high
banks of the creek. The distance from
| the farmhouse to the boat was two
miles by the usual Travelled road. But
a little sheep-path across the farmers
orchards would bring him to the road,
only a mile from the boat and save a
/ quarters length of his fearful run for
/ life.
Just where the narrow path from the
orchard opened into the road, Hetty
Marvin sat with her dog TOwser, tend
| ing the bleaching of the household
linen. The long web of forty yards or
more, which was diligently spun and
woven during the long winter months
was whitened in May, and thus made
ready for use. The business of bleach
ing was well ecOnOmized, being usu-
ally done by the younger daughters of
the family, who were not old enough TO
spin, or strong enough for the heavier
work of the kitchen or the dairy.
The roll of linen was taken by the
farmer or his stout "help" to a grassy
plat, beside spring or meadow brook.
There it was thoroughly wetted and
spread upon the green turf, to take the
best heat of the sun by day and the dew
at night. The little maiden who tended
it, would sit near it.
Thus sat Hetty Marvin, the young
daughter OF Governor GriswOld's
cousin. when her hunted friend sprang
past her, into the road, to escape from
his pursuers. Hetty was timId child
of about twelve years; yet thoughtful
and wise beyond any of her elders.
She was frightened by the headlOng
haste with which the Governor rushed
across the meadow. But she quickly
comprehended the scene, and instantly
quieted her faithful TOwser, who,
though a friend of the family guest,
thought it becoming to bark loudly at
his hurried steps.
Her wise forethOught arrested the
Governors notice, and suggested a
scheme to delude his pursuers.
"Hetty,r he said, earnestly, 81 am fly
ing for my life and unless | can reach
my boat before am overtaken, | am a
lost man. Iou see the road forks here.
But You must tell those who are chasing
me, that | have gone up the road to
catch the mail wagon, which will soon
be along, you know. Then they Will
turn off the other way."
"Oh, cousinr' said the little girl, in
an agony of distress. 81 cannot tell a
lie; indeed | cannot; why did you tell
me which way you were goingF
"Hetty, dear cillid, surely you would
not betray me to my death, Hark
they are coming-I hear the click of
their horses feet. o, Hetty, tell them
1 have gone UP the road instead of
DOWN; and Heaven will bless you"
Heaven 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"
Its of no use; unless | can deceive
them, | am dead man."
Cousin, cousin, hide under my web
of cloth they'd never think of looking
here for you. Come, get down as swift
as you can; and III cover you, and
stand sprinkling my linen"
ats my only chance, child; I'll 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
At sight of the girl in the meadow, the
leader of the party paused.
Child" he said, sternly, "have you
seen man running away hereabouts r
"Yes, sir" replied Hetty, trembling
and flushing.
(Which way did he gO?'
81 promised not to tell, sir"
"But you must, or take the conse-
quences."
Il said | wouldn't tell, if you killed
me- sobbed the frightened girl.
"l'll have it out of her." exclaimed
the furious officer with an oath.
"Let me speak to her. SAID his Tory
guide; IL know the child, | believe.
Isn't your name Hetty Marvin?' he
asked pleasantly.
y eS, Slr.'
"And this man that ran by you few
minutes ago, was your mothers cousin,
wasn't he !"
"Yes, sir, he was"
"Nyell, we are friends of his-what
did he say tOyou when he came alongF
"He-he told me-that lie was flying
for his life"
Just so, Hetty; that was very true.
I d. f.r har
was he going to hidef you see L could
help him if knew his plans"
Now Hetty was not a whit deceived
by 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 81
lence. So she answered her questioneT
candidly. my cousin said he was
going down this way 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 bid you,
then, when | asked you where he had
gone r. thundered the officer, fiercely
81 could not tell lie, sir" was the
fearful answer.
"Hetty," again began the smootn-
tongued Tory, you are nice child.
: Every ybody 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 be-
tray him to his DEATH"
''And you then promised him that you
wouldn't tell which way he went, if you
were killed tor itf'
''Ies, sir"
"That was brave speech; and so
suppose he thanked you for it, and ran
, down the road as quickly as possible"
81 promised mott to tell where he went,
sir
"Oh, 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 Ill get down as you
say And overcome by fright, and
the sense of her kinsman's danger
should they rightly interpret the Ian
guage which she had reported, she
sohhed aloud. and hid her face from