St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-08-09
DOROTHEA HATHAWAY.
How She Averted a National Disasts
Mem York Nail md Errreas

4
thick carpet under foot, so old that its
colors had all faded to a dull, uniform
red low window, with tiny diamond
shaped panes, letting in more gloom
than light small iron bound chest
in dark corner; heavy, smotherin G
hangings were the belongings
of this long, dark hall.
A door opened softly and modern
innovation entered in the shape of a
girl about sixteen years old. A soft
light seemed to dispel the gloom. 1t
could not have been her dress-that
was dark gray.
She moved towards a door, hesitated
a moment and, bending her head, look
ed in at the keyhole. She sees a Ii
brary with books, and more books pill
ed up to the ceiling. At table sits an
old man theoretically pointing out
some spot On map before him to
another man who is bending over it.
"You have two courses before you"
said Master Hathaway. "YOu may go
to Concord, capture our stores, con-
found us-we are bright men, but a
little setback like that takes the wit
out of our heads-then, when we are in
dire confusion, you can fall upon US
and win the day. Or you can act like
gentlemen and fight US face to face like
men. Take your choice"
81 will sec what General Gage says"
returned the visitor. "By night, of
course"
"You fool J" returned Master Hatha-
way, contemptuously. 81 should like
to see you get out of Boston without a
row by daylight - and he began roll
ing up the maps.
Mistress DorOthea promptly fled to
her own room and locked herself in.
"What shall l do 2" she asked of the
pretty maiden she saw in the mirror.
care you going to stand up and
spy p Well, my dear, that is all the
sense l gave you credit for. What
would Priscilla sayq Why need say
anything about Uncle Gaspar7 Why
can't | 60 and tell John Farden to tell
Joseph Warren All il! I've got it now"
and she proceeded to act upon it.
First she opened her door. Then she
drew down the curtains. Then she
groaned. Then she flung herself on
her bed with more groans. Then she
crossed from side to side and groaned
again.
"Dorothea," said quiet voice at the
door, "is thee in pain 2"
A grOan.
Master Hathaway came in and laid
his cool hand upon his niece's fore
head.
"Poor child" he said tenderly, "thee
has one of thy headaches. | will 60
away and let thee Sleep" and he went
away, closing the door softly after him.
| No sooner had his soft steps died
away than Dorothea sprang off the
bed, slipped off her shoes and shot the
bolt in the door. She listened and then
pulled up her curtains and looked out.
1t was towards dusk and in a quarter
of an hour she could leave the house in
safety to see John Farden.
DOrOthea's bosom friend was red
hot rebel, who had inspired Dorothea
with a love for verifying that was not
British. AS Master Hathaway never
expressed an opinion upon the war, his
niece supposed he was neutral or too
much engrossed in his beloved library
to trouble himself concerning it. But
Hathaway's hOusekeeper, had confided
to our heroine that the gentleman up
stairs was a Briton. Dorothea had in
dignantly denied it and gone to see.
When it was sufficiently dark Mis-
tress Hathaway opened her window
and looked out. A large cherry tree
grew close by it, and often had she
eli mbed up and down with Priscilla. She
could descend with her eyes shut she
knew, yet a feeling of some sort de-
tered her. She felt that she was be-
traying her uncle, and the thought was
odious. But she strengthened her
mind with the remembrance of other
Hathaways dead and gone, who had
sacrificed their homes and every thing
held dear to their king, who afterward
hung them for treason.
This seemed to give her great cour-
age, for she sat upon the window-sill
with her feet outside, seized hold of
branch with both hands, gave little
spring and Immediately she was stand
ing in crotch of the tree. Getting
down was an easy matter, and she was
on the ground in a twinkling and off
at a run for Priscilla Farden's. She
would see John Farden in the garden
and tell him that she had heard the
British were coming to seize the stores.
AS she slowly skirted the house she
saw, to her great delight, a light i'm
Priscilla's room. So she flung peb-
BILE against the window and waited. A
shadow crossed the white curtain and
a short interval passed, during which
DorOthea danced with Impotence.
Then the front door opened silently
and a girl rushed out.
81 knew it was you, you dear old
thing" she cried, as she kissed our
heroine. "What does possess you to
come here at this time of the night 7"
81 want to see Lieutenant Farden,"
said Dorothea, quietly.
"He has gone out to dinner" replied
Priscilla, with kindly impetuosity.
"Como in and see me, there's a dear.
He will be back in an hour or two"
But Dorothea had been making her
plans; she must disguise herself and
go to see Joseph Warren.
elias John worn his uniform 7" she
said, quietly.
Priscilla looked at her with surprise.
"NO, it is upstairs. DorOthea, you
aren't going to dressing What for 7
Oh, do tell me Where are you going7"
81 can't tell you," said Dorothea,
calmly. "It is a secret. Yes, will
dress up in Johns uniform"
Priscilla was too much astonished to
speak, SO she led the way upstairs
without word. Silently she laid the
uniform out upon bed. Silently she
tied her friends hair as queue and
showered powder upon it. And then
her admiration broke out as DOrothea
stood before the glass outlining a
shadOwy moustache upon her pretty
lip with burnt cork.
"DorOthea Hathaway" exclaimed
Priscilla, "you are perfectly superb.