The Monitor-register., 1897-10-15

"Mrs. DArrah, as | live Why, what
on earth can have brought you, all alone
and unprotected, into this dangerous
locality?"
"Thee knows, friend" she replied, in
the Quaker style, 81 have q son in the
American army-wbo is, like myself, an
off scr under George Washington-and a
mothers heart yearns toward her off
spring, even though he has departed from
the ways of his fathers
"You we're going then to seek hin?"
81 was; but perhaps thee would carry a
message for M. aud let me turn back to
the city ?" said the lady, but still with a
cautious, hesitating air.
1T will sfford me great pleasure to
Oblige Lydia D4rrah in any way u
bowed the gallant colonel
"Ttank thee. friend-thee is very Kind
If thee will di~mouut then and walk with
me a little way think l will tell thee
what | have to say, which is a secret |
would not like to have any other persons
heat"
The colonel assentt d. aud, riding back
to his men, ave his horss in charge Of
one of them and ordered them to keep in
sight of him; but not to approach near
enough to overbear an ordinary CONVEX
sation He then turned to the lady aud
they b'gan their walk down the road, in
an opposite direction to that which she
had come. For a short tin g she remained
in deep silence, with her face averted,
and, as the officer fancied, with her whole
frame trembling with secret emotion.
"Friend Craig" she at length began.
with something like a sigh. and speaking
in the rapid, earnest manner Of one COM
muDicating some startling fact, thee
must hasten at once to George Washing
ton and tell him thee has certain informa-
tion that, on to morrow night, a large
body of British soldiers will secretly
march out of the oity for the purpose of
surprising and capturing him and all his
men. Not to mystify thee, friend, and
that thee may attach all due Importance
to this information, l will now inform
thee that l, Lydia Darrah, overheard an
order read between two high officers to
the effect of what l have stated. Thee
must also know that the man called Gen.
Howe has come to abide in the house
opposite my husbands, and that, for
some reason, to US unknown, two men,
one of whom is supposed to be called the
adjutant general, have come over to
William Dsrrsh's several times, and held
private conferences in one of the back
| rooms of our dwelling. Last night these
two men came again and one of them
| told me he wanted all my family to go
to bed early, aud when they should get
ready to leave, which might be late, they
| would call me to let them out.
We'll, Friend Craig l sent the whole
family early to bed, as requested to do,
but l myself felt anxious to know what
was going on of so much Importance,
| and so l did what | never did before
| took off my shoes, walked on tip toe to
the door of the room where these men
were, put my ear to the keyhole, and
listened aud heard what I have Informed
thee Of"
"God bless ou, Lydia Darrab, for a
| noble woman !" said the colonel, with
excited warmth; ''perhaps you have
saved our Countrywide knows? For had
| this plan succeeded. which we will o
defeat, aud Gen. Washington been taken
prisoner, l much fear our cause would
have been hopeless"
81 will make haste to flush my story,
| for thee must ride fast to Geo rye Wash
| ipgtor. After hearing what | have said,
l stole back to my room, trembling at
| the importance of what | had heard.
When the men, soon after, knocked at
| my door for me to get up and let them
out, l pretended 1 was asleep, and they
had to knock three times. Then l came
out, rubbing my eyes, and saw them of.
| But / slept none that night, for thinking
what l ought to do; and did not dare to
| tell my husband for fear the secret might
get out. l wanted to get the information
| to George Washington, and save a great
many lives, but for some time | could not
| see my way clear to do it. AT last it
| ford for some flour, if the man Howe
woull give me a pass out of town. l
/ went over to him and he gave it. Then
1 told William and my family that l
-r1,lJ on ,o-o - Ero-lrorJ f1r tho
| -four, which greatly surprised them and
caused much remonstranee. But l did
go alone, and thee sees, friend, how much
l have since strayed beyond the MILL"
In due time Lydia Darrsh returned
home with her -four, secretly trembling
at all she had done, and the fear of dis.
awake and beard the heavy, solemn
tramp, tramp, tramp of the British
troops, as they marched past her window
and or out of the city. to surprise. defeat
and capture the army for whose success
she had not only prayed, but had so
lately periled moro than life.
When a few days aft er these same
troops returned, Lydia Darrah dared not
ask the question she was the most anx
ious to have answered, lest her emotions
might betray her. Soon after the adju-
tant-general called upon her and said:
Madam, will you do me the favor to
enter my ROOM, that l may ask you a
few important questions ?"
Lydia Darrah. believing her secret dis
covered, either by CD lnce or betrayal,
turned deadly pale, and aim ,st tainted
with terror; but fortunately the officer
took no notice of her emotions, and soon
recovering herself she determined to
boldly brave out the worst. She there
fore went to his apartment with a firm
step. nor showed any signs of trembling
when she saw him lock the door.
snow, madam" he said, with stern
and stately dignity AS he handed her a
seat and took another facing her, 81 beg
you will answer ma truly, az IL your life