Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-13
"It's no use. Unless | can deceive
them am a dead man."

OF cloth. lhey never think OF looking
here for you. Come, get down as swif,
As you can; and Ill cover you. and stand
sprinkling my linen"
"It's my only chance, child. I'll gel
down as you say" And suiting th@tssc
ton to the word. the Governor was soon
hidden under the folds of the cloth.
Angry that their intended prey had
escaped from the house where they had
hoped to secure him, the six mounted
Tories, headed by Baitish officer, dash
ed along the road in swift pursuit. A,
the sight of the girl in the meadow, the
leader Of the party paused.
Child" he said, sternly, shave you
seen man running hereabouts /"
"Yes. sir" said Hetty, trembling and
flushing.
(Which way did he go:"
IL promised not to tell, sir"
"But you must tell or take the conse-
qlences."
II said wouldn't tell. if you killed
me-" sobbed the frightened girl.
"lll have it out of her." exclaimed
the furious officer, with an oath.
Let me speak to her" said his Tory
guide. know the child think. "Isnt t
your name Hetty Marvin he asked
pleasantly.
"Yes, sir.
"And this man that ran by you few
minutes ago was your mothers cousin,
wasn't he -
"ies, sir, he was.
"Well, we are friends of his. What
did you say when he came along ?
"He-lold me that he was flying
for his lite."
Just so, He,ty. That was very true.
| hope he won't have far to fly. Where
was ne going to hide, You see, could
help him. if knew his plans"
Now He,ty wasn't 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 klnsman better than her silence. So
she answered her questioner candidly:
"My cousin said he was going down
this way 10 the river. where he has
boat and he wanted me to tell the men
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" :" thundered the officer fercely.
81 couldn't tell lie, sir" was the
fearful answer.
"Heity," again began the smooth
tongued Tory, you are a nice child.
Everybody knows you are girl Of truth.
What did your cousin say when you told
him you couldn't tell falsehood."
''He said he shouldn't think would
be,ray him to his death"
"And then you promised him that you
wouldn't tell which way he went, if you
were killed for it :"
"Yes, sir"
THAT was a noble speech and so |
suppose he thanked you for it, and ran
down the road as quickly as possible !"
Il promised not to tell where he went,
sir"
"Oh. | forgot. Well, tell US the last
words, and we won'ttrouble you any more.
"Hls last words were, It's my only
chance, child And overcome with
fright and sense OF her kinsmans danger,
should they rightly interpret the Ian
guage which she had reported, she
sobbed aloud, and hid her face from sight.
Her tormenters di d notstay longer to
sooth or question her. They had got, as
they supposed, the Information they
wanted, and pushed rapidly on down to
the river. Now, the Governor had ar
ranged signal with his bcatmen that a
white cloth by day, or red light by
night displayed from the attic window OF
his hiding place, which was just visible
from the mouth of the river should in
form them if he were in trouble, and put
them on the alert to he p him. As soon,
therefore, as he started from his cousin $,
the signal floated from the window to
warn them: and when they saw the pur-
suing party dash madly down the road
to the river. and recognized the British
uniform of the leader, they pulled swift
ly out to sea. The horsemen reached
the shore only to see the boat with the
two men in it nearly out Of sight, and
supposing their destined prey had escaped,
relinquished their pursuit.
Meanwhile the hunted victim lay safe
and quiet, where the simple shrewdness
of the little cousin had hid him, until
the time came for her to return to sup
per. Then, he bade her 20 as usual to
her home, telling her to ask her mother
to place the signal lamp as soon as 1t
grew dark, in the window for the boat
men, and to send him there some sup
per, with his valise, which in the hurry
of his departure he had left behind.
The signal recalled the boat which at
ter twilight had ventured in sight Of the
farm. house, and the Governor quietly
made his way TO the river in activity
When he rejoined his father in secure
home, he named his infant daughter,
which had been born in his absence
"Hetty Marvin that he might be daily
reminded of the little cousin whose truth