Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-06

"Well, we are friends of his-what
did he say to you when he came along 2"
"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 1 could
help him if l 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
would consist with his safety, and she
wisely judged that her frankness would
serve her kinsman better than her
silence. So she answered her questioner
candidly. "My cousin said he was 60
ing down this way to the river, where he
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
wagon"
"Why didn't you do as he bid you,
then, when I asked you where he had
gone 2" thundered the officer, fiercely.
81 couldn't tell lie, sir" was the
fearful answer.
"Hetty," again began the smooth
tongued Tory, "you are nice child.
Everybody knows you are a girl of
truth. What did your cousin say when
you told him you couldn't tell false
hood?"
"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 it2'
eyes, sir"
"That was brave speech; and SO 1
suppose he thanked you for it, and ran
down the road as quickly as possible"
81 promised not to tell where he
went, sir"
"Oh, yes, I forgot. Well, tell us his
last words, and we won't trouble you any
more"
ellis 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 kinsaan's danger,
should they rigidly interpret the Ian
guage which she had reported, she sob
bed aloud, and hid her face from sight.
Her tormentors did not stay 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 a signal with his boatman that
q white cloth by day, or 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 were in trouble, and put them
on the alert to help him. AS soon,
therefore, as he started from his cousin S
the signal foated from the window to
warn them. And when they saw the
pursuing party dash madly down the
road to the river, and recognized the uni
form of the leader, they pulled swiftly
out to sea. The horsemen reached the
shore only in season to see the boat with
two men in it nearly out of sight; and
supposing their destined prey had es
capped, relinquished the pursuit.
Meanwhile the hunted victim lay safe
and quiet, where the simple shrewdness
of the little cousin had hidden him, un-
til the time came for her return for sup,
per. Then he bade her go as usual tc
her home, telling her to ask her mother
to place the signal lamp, as soon as il
grew dark, in the window, for the boat
man, and to send him there some sup
per, with his valise, which, in the hurry
of departure, he had left behind.
The signal recalled the boat, which
after twilight had ventnred in sight Of
the shore and the farmhouse, and the
Governor quietly made his way to the
river in safety. When he rejoined his
family in secure home, he named his
infant daughter, which had been born il
his absence, "Hetty Marvin" that he
might be daily reminded of the little
cousin whose truth and shrewdness saved
his life.