The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-19
LYDIA DARRAH.

of General Howe, who, at that time, had
full possession of the city.
The house was plain and neat in its
exterior, and well known to be tenanted
by William and Lydia Darrah, members
Of the Society of Friends 1t was the
place chosen by the superior officers for
private conference, whenever it was nec-
essary to hold consultations on subjects
of Importance; and selected, perhaps, on
account of the unobtrusive character CT
its inmates, whose religion inculcated
meekness and forbearance, and forbade
them to practice the arts Of war.
The officer, who seemed quite familiar
with the mansion, knocked at the door.
1t was opened, and in the neatly fur
nished parlor be met the mistress, who
spoke to him, calling him by name. 1t
was the adjutant general, and he ap-
peared in haste to give an order. This
was to desire that the back room up
stairs might be prepared for the recep-
ton that evening of himself and his
friends, who were to meet there and re-
main late. ...
"And be sure, LYDIA" he concluded,
"that your family are all in bed at an
early hour. I shall expect you to attend
to this request. When our guests are
ready to leave the house, I will myself
give you notice, that you may let US out
snd extinguish the fire and candles"
Having delivered this order with an
emphatic manner, which showed he re-
lied much on the prudence and discre-
tion of the person he addressed, the ad-
jutant general departed.
lydia betook herself to getting all
things in readiness. But the words she
had heard, especially the injunction to
retire early, rang in her ears and she
could not divest herself Of the indefin-
able feeling that something Of import
ance was in agitation. While her hands
were busy in the duties that devolved
upon her, her mind was no less actively
at work.
The evening closed in, and the officers
came to the place of meeting. Lydia had
ordered all her family to bed, and her
self admitted the guests, after which she
retired to her own apartment and threw
herself, without undressing, upon the
bed.
But sleep refused to visit her eyelids
Her vague apprehensions gradually as
sumed more definite shape. She became
more and more uneasy, till her nervous
restlessness amounted to absolute terror
Unable longer to resist the impulse
not of curiosity, but surely Of fal
higher feeling-she slid from the bed
and taking off her shoes, passed noiseless.
ly along the entry. Approaching eau.
tiously the apartment in which the
officers were assembled, she applied her
ear to the key-hole. For few moments
she could distinguish but word or two
among the murmur of voices; yet what
she did hear but stimulated her eager
' desire to learn the important secret OF
the conclave. .......
At length there was profound silence,
and voice was heard reading a paper
aloud. 1t was an order for the troops to
quit the city on the night of the fourth,
and march out to secret attack upon
the American army, then encamped at
White Marsh.
Lydia had heard enough. She re-
treated softly to her own room, and laid
herself quietly on the bed. In the deep
stiffness that reigned throughout the
house she could hear the beating of her
own heart-the heart now throbbing
with emotions to which no speech could
give utterance.
Il. 1t seemed to her that but a few mo.
ments had elapsed, when there was a
knocking at her door. She knew we'll
what the signal meant, hut took no heed.
1t was repeated, and more loudly; still
she gave no answer. Again, and yet
more loudly, the knocks were repeated;
and then she rose quickly and opened
the door.
1t was the adjutant general, who came
to inform her that they we're ready to
depart. Lydia let them out, fastened
the house, and extinguished the lights
and fire. Again she returned to her
chamber, and to bed, but repose was a
stranger for the rest of the night. Her
mind was more disquieted than ever.
She thought of the danger that threat.
ened the lives of thousands of her coun-
trymen, and of the ruin that impended
over the whole land. Something must
be done, and that Immediately, to avert
the widespread destruction. Should she
awaken her husband and inform himi
That would be to place him in special
jeopardy by rendering him partaker Of
her secret; and he might, too, be less
wary and prudent than herself. No
come what might, she would encounter
the risk alone.
After a petition for heavenly guild
ance, her resolution was formed; and she
waited with composure, though sleep wa'
impossible, till the dawn of day. Ther
she walked her husband and informed
him that -four was wanted for the us
of the household, and that it was neces
sary for her to 60 to Frankford to pro
cure it. This was no uncommon occur
ance, and her declining the attendance
of the maid-servant excited little sur
prise.
Taking the bag with her, she walket
through the snow, having stopped frs
at headquarters, obtained access to Gen
eral Howe, and secured his written per
mission to pass the British lines.