The Forrest City times., 1896-10-09
THE GOVERNORS $ ESCAPE
BY FREDERICK NJ. COLBY.

Mere than hundred years ago, in the sweet springtime of the year. pretty little Hetty Marvin sat in her fathers orchard, tending the bleaching of the household linen.
 On the grass, in the sunshine, by the little brook. Lay the long web of 50 yards or more-the spinning and weaving of which had occupied Mrs. MarvIn dur ing the long months of the previous winter.
 Hetty was not old nor strong enough to help her mother in the heavier work of the kitchen and the dairy, so it. de Volved upon her to superinteDd the bleaching. She was not quite l2, bit or a girl, with bare feet and profusion of soft. dark hair that would not be trained, but persisted in struggling over her pretty face, and yelling half the time a pair of yivacious, although thoughtful, dark eyes.
 Her task was not hard one. When ever the folds of the linen grew dry, Hetty sprinkled them afresh with water. obtained from the brook in her gourd- shell dipper. This was to forward the whitening.
 The rest of the time she sat under the orchard trees, busy with her book or her knitting, or romped with Towser, the big house dog that bore her com pany.
 On this particular May afternoon, Hetty sat under an apple tree, reading Bunyan's "Piigrim's Progress" But, like the notable little housewife that she was, she did not allow the adven- lures of Christian and Hopeful to keep her mind from the task she was oversee ing.
 The afternoon was very beautiful and still. The sun shone warmly upon the green hillsides, where the violet and the saxafrage were blooming in yellow and snowy and purple glory upon the red farmhouse, set in it's frame of lilac bushes all abloom, and upon ]ry and dusty highway-which here came up close to the orchard, and was joined by n well-traveled path that led from the farmhouse through the field, although upon the other side of the house the broad thoroughfare swept up close to the front yard.
 The boughs of the old apple tree shook their green leaves tremulously above the head of the young girl, and the water of the little brook murmured musically in it's channel. as it tumbled over the messy pebbles to join the broad Connecticut, not far distant, whose sup face was visible where it emptied into Long Island sound.
 On the morning of that May day, TIT, looking from her childhood's home, she had seen the reflection of the flames in the eastern sky, that told of British and tory vengeance upon New London.
 The night before, when she and her elder sister were Tn bed, horses hoofs had dashed up to the door. and fugitive had been stealthily let in-no less per sonage than Gov. Griswold himself, who, fleeing for his life, had sought a retreat among his relatives in this se- cluded farmhouse.
 Her cousin was still there, concealed behind her mothers chest of drawers in hole in the wall, for she herself had carried his dinner to him. That his enemies were likely at an any time to track him thither was a fact patent to the Marvin household.
 Hettie had not troubled herself much about this latter danger to the safety Of her kinsman. Perhaps she had not thought enough about the matter fully 10 understand the peril that would ac- crue to her distinguished relative in case such an event happened.
 She was only little girl, after all, and just now more intent upon the es- cape of Christian and Hopeful from Doubling castle than she was in any thing in this practical world, save the whitening of her mothers linen. She was reading where Christian had found the key of promise in his bosom, and was rejoicing over the discovery with Hopeful, when Towser sprang up. with a loud bark.
 Just at that moment man came run hing through the orchard-a man with his hat off, and wearing haunted, anx. ious look on his pale face. At the first glance, the girl recognized Gov. Gris wold.
 He did not see her, in his haste, and sprang by her; but he paused as she called to him.
 Cousin, cousin! what is the matter?'
 "Hetty, the British and Tories are at the house, and I am fleeing for my life. Please keep Towser quiet! They will hang me if they catch me"
 The girl instantly quieted the dog. who, though friendly enough to the family guest, felt it incumbent to take some notice of his hurried steps.
 But how do you mean to escape" she asked, growing somewhat pale at the thought of her gallant cousin being caught and hung by the British.
 "I left boat hidden down on the river. and two of my friends are waiting there for me. If l can get down there before my enemies overtaka me, I shall be saved. Good-by, little cousin! When the dragons come along, tell them have gone up the road after the mail wagon"