Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-06

nave gone up tho road TO catch tn
mail-wagon, which will soon b
along, you know. Then they wi
turn off the other way"
ooh, cousin y said the little gil
in agony of distress. ~ cannot te
a lie; indeed l cannot; why di
you tell me which way you wer
going
"Hetty, dear child, surely yo'
would not betray me to my death
Hark they are coming-I hear tn
click of their horses feet. Oh, Het
ty, tell them l have gone up tn
road instead of down, and Heavel
will bless YOU"
"Heaven neverblesses those wht
speak falsely, cousin +! But 1 vii
not tell them which way you go
even if they kill me, so run as fas
as possible"
otis of no use, unless I can de
ceive them l am a dead man."
"Cousin, cousin, hide under my
web of cloth they'd never thin k O.
looking here for you. Come, gel
down as swift as you can and III
cover you, and stand sprinkling my
linen"
''1t's my only chance, child; I'll
get down as you say" And suit
ing the action to the word, the Gov.
'ernor was soon hidden under the
folds of the cloth.
Angry that their expected prey
had escaped from the house where
they hoped to secure him, the six
mounted Tories dashed along tn e
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 a man running here
abouts ~
'Yes, sir" replied Hetty, tremb.
ling and flushing.
(which way did he got"
"1 promised not to tell, SIR"
"But you must or take the conse-
quences."
III said l wouldn't tell if you kill
ed me-" sobbed the frightened girl.
"rll have it out of her." exclaim-
ed the furions officer with an oath.
"Let me speak to her." said his
Tory guide; 81 know the child, l
believe. Isn't your name Hetty
Marvin ?" he asked pleasantly.
"Yes, sir"
"And this man that ran by you a
'ew minutes ago was your mothers
cousin, wasn't hep
eyes, 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 fly
ng for his life"
"Just so, Hetty; that was very
rue. | hope he won't have to fly
ar. Where was he going to hide ?
'ou see l could help him if 1 knew
lis plans."
Now Hetty was not a whit de-
'eived by this smooth speech. But
he was willing to tell as much of
he truth as would consist with his
afety, and she wisely Judged that
Ter frankness would serve her kins-
nan better than her silence. So
he answered her questioner candid.
y. "My cousin said he was going
Iown this way to the river, where he
lad a boat; and he wanted me to
ell the men that were chasing him
hat he had gone the other way to
atch the mail wagon"
"Why didn't you do as he bid
ou, then, when l asked you where
le had gone 2" thundered the officer
ercely.
81 couldn't tell a lie, sir" was the
earful answer.
"Hetty," again began the smooth
ongue Tory, ''you are nice child.
every body knows you are girl of
ruth. What did your cousin say
7hen you told him you couldn't tell
falsehOod :"
"He said he shouldn't think I'd
,etray him to his DEATH"
"And you then promised him that
ou wouldn't tell which way he
vent, if you were killed for it 2"
eyes, sir"
"That was a brave speech and
0 suppose he thanked you for it,
nd ran down the road as quickly
$ possible"
III promised not to tell where he
'ent, sir"
"Oh. YES. I forgot. Well. tell us