The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-07-25
Selected Storp.
How DOr0thea Hathaway Ayerted a
National Catastrophe.

A long, dark hall. The portraits of
two old persons that frowned down
from the walls, as though resenting the
modern innovations below; soft, thick
carpet under foot, so old that its colors
had all faded to dull, uniform red;
low window, with tiny diamond-shaped
panes, letting in more gloom than light;
a small iron-bound chest in a dark
corner; heavy, smothering hangings-
these were the belongings of this long,
dark hall.
A door opened softly and a modern
innovation entered in the shape of
girl about sixteen years old. A soft
light seemed to dispel the gloom. 1t
could not have been her dress-that
was dark gray. Her brown hair curled
waywardly around sweet, roguish-
looking face. Her straight eyebrows
were drawn down into dark frown.
She seemed rather ashamed of what
she was going to do.
She moved towards door, hesitated
moment and, bending her head, looked
in at the keyhole. She sees library
with books, and more books piled 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 little
setback like that takes the wit out of
our heads-then, while we are in dire
confusion, you can fall upon us and win
h. ~, at l;lya
and fight us face to face like men.
Take your choice"
Z" will see what General Gage says"
returned the visitor. BY night, of
course"
You fool" returned Master Hatha-
way, contemptuously. i should like
to see you get out of Boston without a
row by daylight!' and he began rolling
up the maps.
Mistress Dorothea promptly fled to
her own room and locked herself in.
What shall / do?" she asked of
the pretty maiden she saw in the mirror.
Are you going to stand up and scream
Ny Uncle Gaspar is British spy?'
Well, my dear, that is all the sense |
gave you credit for. What would Pris-
ella say? Why need l say anything
about Uncle Gaspar? Why can't l 90
and tell John Farden to tell Joseph
Warren? All! I've got it now" and
she proceeded to act upon 1t.
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.
d" Dorothea," said quiet voice at
the door, g is thee in pain?"
A groan.
Master Hathaway came in and laid
his cool hand upon his niece's forehead
"Poor child" he said, tenderly,
"thee has one of thy headaches. l
will go 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 everything that was not British.
AS Master Hathaway never expressed
an opinion upon the war, his niece sup
posed he was neutral or too much en-
crossed in his beloved library to trouble
himself concerning it. But Hannah
her old nurse and Master Hathaway's
housekeeper, had confided to our hero
inc that the gentleman upstairs was a
Briton. Dorothea had Indignantly de-
MED 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
climbed up and down with Priscilla.
She could descend with her eyes shut
she knew, yet a feeling of some sort
deferred her. She felt that she was
betraying her uncle, and the thought
was odiOus. But she strengthened hel
mind with the remembrance of other
Hathaways dead and gone, who haC
sacrificed their homes and everything
held dear to their king, who afterwarC
hung them for treason.
This seemed to give her great cour
age, for she sat upon the window-sill
WIN iSi iSNN OubSiuS, SClIOu hOld va {
branch with both hands, gave a little
spring and Immediately she was stand
ing in a crotch of the tree. Getting
down was an easy matter, and she was
on the ground in twinkling and off al
run for Priscilla Farden's. She would
see John Farden in the garden and tel
him that she had heard the British
were coming to seize the stores.
AS she slowly skirted the house sh,
saw, to her great delight, a light il
Priscilla's room. So she flung pebble
against the window and waited. 4
shadow crossed the white curtain and
short interval passed, during whicl
Dorothea danced with Impotence
Then the front-door opened SILENT,
and girl rushed out.
81 knew it was you, you dear oil
thing" she cried, as she kissed on
heroine. What does possess you t.
come here at this time of the night?"
" l want to see Lieutenant Farden,
hoa