St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-10-31
II annotspeak falsely, Cousin John, >

| puE EDe BflIlSn Shan get you II cal
help it. Crawl under my web of cloth
they'll never think of looking there fol
you. Get down as quickly as you can
| cousin, for they are almost here, and
will cover you, and stand sprinkling my
linen" 4}*J ' $40
The governor looked around with the
| keenness of a hunted deer. His ears anC
1 his eyes told him that it would be vair
now to attempt to escape, by flight
and his little Cousins plan pleased
him.. &ea g
Z 1T issamy only chance, and 1 thanl
you" he said. 81 will get down as yor
| say"
I Suiting the action to the word. Gov
| Griswold crept under the great web ol
linen, and Hetty saw that he was care.
| fully covered and then FASTENED to ths
| brook to fill her gourd with water.
| She was. sprinllling the web with her
trembling hands when the British
Dragons rode up, a score of fieree-look.
ing men in gay uniforms, their heavy
sabers clanlsing at every movement
| their horses made. ss
g The sharp eye of the leader noticed
the little girl in the orchard, and, rid.
hing close to- the, wall, he called out,
lstern1y: IT, ESEEs &4ffSks
"Child, has anyone passed here with
in half hour?"
"Yes, sir" answered Hetty, growing
very pale. 81 saw man, running very
fast, go by not ten minutes ago."
(which way did he go?" asked the
officer.
''I promised I wouldn't tell, sir" said
Hetty, sobbing in her fright.
ssBut we are friends of his. and we
wish to give him aid," said the officer,
cunningly. 'Did younot see which way
he went?'
eyes"
And you won't tell us2"
said promised not to tell. and :
won't, even il you kill me!n said
Hetty.
|, And she looked very brave and de-
stermined, though she trembled so that
her teeth chartered. $.s 4.
"Don't you be frightened, child, said
a man, whom Hetty recognized as a tory
of the neighborhood, and who was eyi,
IDENTIFY the guide of the party. rs NOT
your name Hetty Maryin?' q
Eyes, sir" 4
"And now, Hetty, wasn't this man
your cousin, Gov. John Griswo1d, and
~hasn't he been stopping atyour house p,
Eyes, sir,'t replied Hetty.
IL u. i
when he went past-now, didn't he.
Hetty ?"
eyes, sir"
:'What did he say?" inquired the
tory, his eyes flashing with triumph.
'He-he said be was flying for his
life.'
"Just so, Hetty. And he told you his
plans, very likely? Be nice girl and
tell us all he said"
''My cousin told me that he was going
down the river, where some friends
were waiting for him with boat, and
he wanted me to tell the men who were
chasing him that he had gone the other
way to catch the mail wagon
"And you promised to do as he want
ed you TO, eh2 2''s
& sNo, I told him Icould not, for that
would be telling q lie.''
"What did your cousin say to t11at?''
= He asked me i'll wanted to betray
him TO his DEATH"
Sand then you promised that you
wouldn't tell which way he went, .werc
you to be killed for it2 You are very
brave girl, Hetty, and your cousin
ought to be very thankful 10 you. Now
telIus what HIS last words were MS he
ran away, and we won't trouble you
any more"
It seemed to Hetty us if the tory's
eyes were looking directly at the place
in the web under which her cousin lay,
and her courage almost failed her; but
she answered.: = - =
"His last words were: It's my only
chance, child, and will get down as
you say
Then, overpowerel by her alarm for
her l1insman, if they should rightly in
terpret the language she repeated, she
carried her apron to her face and
sobbed aloud. But there was no need.
The dragons had not understood her,
and supposing that they had obtained
correct information, they galloped hur-
riedly down the road toward the river,
while the hunted fugitive lay safe and
quiet in the retreat where the simple
shrewdness of his little cousin had hid
den him. =
The governors friends had been on
I he alert. He had arranged a signal
with. the boatnen that a 1AIitG cloth by
day or light at night, displayed from
the attic of his hiding place, should in
form them If he wanted assistance.
Such a4cloth had been displayed from
the Marvin mansion But when the
ooatmen saw the dragons galloping
madIy down the road, they rowed. out
INTO the sound. The British. conclud-
ing that the boat contained the fugitive,
gave up the pursuit.
Coz. Griswold did not return to the
house. he lay under the linen web
quite cantentedly until night came,
md aHetty went to the house to gether
supper. WhenSit was fully dark, Mrs.
Marvin came out with some food and d |
.alise that contained his valuabIes and |
,apers.
Then o light was placed in the attic
while the fugitive made his
way undiscovered to the river, where he
vas received by his friends, who, seeing
he signal light. had returned to the