The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-03

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| Fastening to her home, Mercy found
the dame almost prostrated by the
news and fearing that she would do
Nathan more harm than good If she
remained there, Mercy prevailed on her
to go to her sisters home for the day,
while she would stay at the farm and if
| possible divert any suspicion of Ma
than's whereabouts from the British
| soldiers.
Mercy did not know that half of the
fleet had landed on the east side of the
harbor; the half commanded by Cover,
nor Tryon, who was furious at the es-
cape of the spy, Nathan WeatherbeS
The fort was quickly taken. but the lit
tie garrison of nineteen men escaped.
and Fastening to the town Joined
| their brethren in it's defense.
| Meanwhile Tyron entered New Ha-
ven and rightly conjecturing that Ma
than would have made for his home.
he lost no time in going to the farm
in company with his staff leaving the
men to pillage and burn the town as
| they pleased. Mercy saw their ap-
proach and nerved herself for the trial
| Brought up in the stern Puritan faith
she never doubted Gods ability to aid
her in the ordeal if she adhered to the
truth, for never in her brief life of 1S
years had she told a falsehood, and she
| could not do it now; but with her i'm
plcit faith was her determination not
to reveal Nathan's hiding place even
at the cost of her own life. 1t was a
stern place for a young girl, but the
| daughters of the revolution were made
| of stern material.
Resolved to capture Nathan at all
hazards, the governor had closely ques-
| toned his tory allies but could not
| learn that he had been in the neigh
! borhood yet the news had gone out
| that Mercy Weatherbee had warned
the police of their approach, and no
one but Nathan could have informed
her. So reasoned the governor, and as
he approached Mercy he said sternly:
| In the name of King George. girl,
l command you to tell me what you
know regarding the spy Nathan
| Weatherbee, who informed you of our
approach" Mercy started So Ma
than's presence there was known. Her
heart sank within her and she made
no reply.
| Come" repeated the governor,
sternly. tell me where you saw him
Mercy rallied. She locked the COVER
| nor In the face as she answered him
| firmly: II have not seen him."
Then how did you know of our an.
proach?' he asked sneerngly, 'for |
| understand that it was you who warn
| ed the rebels last night"
In times IF danger the senses of the
defencelsss are sharpered," she an
| swered evasively.
| NO parleying, madam" was his stern
| rejoinder, Il know that you received
your Information from him. Once
again l demand that you tell me what
you know concerning him or your life
will ray the penalty"
Mercy's courage rose. again I tell
you that I have not seen him, but
that he warned me. is true"
"Ha! / thought she would tell Now.
| maiden, will you tell how he could
warn you and yet you not see him ?" he
| asked snocringly.
| But yester cen when was return
| ing from the pasture with the COWS
he called me from the top of yonder
elm" pointing to it with her hand.
| "and in sootE the foliage was so thick
that | did not scs him." she went on
| rapidly. But he told me how he had
| escaped and he bade me warn the low
| al people of your approach and / did
| So"
| so l perceive; and then 7 suppose
you escorted him to the house or some
other place of safety" demanded the
| governor.
AS l told you before, I have not seen
! him" she answered earnestly. II ask
ed nm why he dared come here and
told him that he ought to have made
| Tor the patrlot army; and he said that
| he would go there at once for he had
| important news for Washington"
The governor ground his teeth with
rage. And is this all you have to say,
| girl? Do You swear that you did not
secrete him in this house and that you
| did not see him, for by my life, if I
| find that you have lied to me, woman
though you be, you shall die"
Mercy never quailed meath his angry
glance. With a spirit as high as his
own she answered.
| do what you will with me, Gov
Tryon, but l have told you the truth
| Nathan Weatherbee is not secreted in
this house and l never saw him either
l told him to escape to the army if he
could and he promised me that he
would"
| She leaned against the tree as she
| spoke. The governor scrutinized her
closely. He believed that Nathan was
| hidden somewhere on the place, but in
the girls pale face and flashing eye he
| read her determination to die rather
| than reveal farther If she knew Swear
ing that if found he would be hung in
| the dooryard, he gave orders for the
| house and premises to be thoroughly
searched, and if not found, for the SOL
diers to take anything they pleased and
| burn and destroy the rest. Mercy he
ordered to be bound to the tree; with
out word she submitted to the rough
| treatment, her heart too full of anxiety
ON Nathan's account to care what was
done to her. Disappointed and enraged
at not finding the object of the search.
the soldiers under Tryon's orders des-
| troyed the furniture, after taking what
they desired, and departed. leaving the
house, the pride of the Weatherbees
for hundred years, blazing pile, and
Mercy closely bound to the tree
lnfuriated at not finding him, the
| governor gave orders for the town to be
thoroughly searched; for, as one of his
officers suggested, he might be found
with the militia fighting against them.
The broken elm to which Mercy was
bound was near the burning house, but
fortunately the wind blew the sparks
| In another direction. The heat was in
tense; her dress was singed, and the
bark became burning hot; but still the
! tree did not catch fire; If 1t had both