The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-05-21

= 1 promised not TO tell, sir"
But you must, or take this CONSEQUENT
ces."
Il said wouldn't tell, II yoa killed me- y
sobbed the frightened girl.
I'm have IL out of her." exclaimed the
furious officer, with an oath.
:" Let me speak TO her." said his Tcvy
guide. IL know the child. believe. Isn't
your name Hetty Marvin he asked
pleasantly.
"les, Sir"
"And this man that ran by YOU sew
minutes ago was your ms<her's coSsin.
wasn't hey
=" Yes, sir, he was"
"Well, we are friends of his. Whas did
he say to YOU when he came alongs'
" He-told me--that he was dying for
his life."
just so, Hetty; that was very trHe. |
hope he won't have To fly far. Whs-e was
he going TO hideg You sse, eonld help
him II knew his plans"
Now. Hetty was not whit deceived by
this smooth speech. Bot she WAS willing
to tell as much OF the truth as wea'd con-
sist With his safety; and she jagged that
her frankness would serve her kinsman
better than her silence, 80 she answered
her questioner candidly.
my cousin said he was going down TO
the river, where he had boat. and want
ed me TO tell the men that We're chasing
him that he had gone the other way, 10
catch the mail wagon"
why didn't YOU do as he I Id you.
then, when asked where he had gomez
Numbered the officer, fiercely.
81 could not tell lie, SIR" was the
fearful answer.
Hetty," again began the smooth
tongued Tory. "you are nice child.
Every body knows you are girl of truth.
What did yoo cousin say when YOU told
him you could not tell falsehood?"
- 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
were killed for III"
=" Yes, sir"
"That was brave; and | suppose he
thanked you for il. and ran down the road
as quickly as possible"
81 promised not TO tell where he went,
SIR"
sob. yes. forgot. Well. tell us his
last words, and we won't trouble you any
more"
His last words were, Its my only
chance, child. and III get down rs you
say"
And, overcome with fright and the sense
of her kinsman's danger. should they
rightly interpret the language which she
had reported. she sobbed aloud, and hid
her face from sight.
Her tormentors did not stay longer to
soothe or question her. They ali imme-
diately pushed rapidly on down TO the
river.
Now the Governor had arranged a signal
with his boatmen that a white cloth by
day, or light by night. displayed from
the attic-window of his hiding-place. which
was Just visible al the mouth of the river.
should inform them If he were in trouble.
and put them on the alert 10 help him.
As soon. therefore. "a he started from
his cousins. ii floated from the window 10
warn them. And when they saw the pur-
suing party dash madly down the road TO
the river, and recognized the British uni
form of the leaders, they pulled swiftly
out to sea. The horsemen reached the
shore only in season 10 see the boat with
two in it nearly out of sight. and, suppos-
ing their destined prey had escaped. re-
linquished the pursuit.
Meanwhile the victim lay safe and quiet
where the shrewdness of the little cousin
had hidden him. until the time came for
her return for supper. Then he bade her
go as usual to her home. telling her to ask
her mother to place the signal lamp in the
window for the boatmen, and send him
there some supper, with his valise. which,
in the hurry of his departure, he had lett
behind.
The signal recalled the boat, which after
twilight had ventured in sight of the
shore and the farmhouse. and the Gev-
ernor made his way TO the river in safety.
When he rejoined his father in secure
which had been born in his absence,
"Hetty Marvin" that he might be daily
reminded of the little cousin whose truth
and shrewdness had saved his life.