The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-10-13


30 cousin, cousin!" cried Hetty after
him, in an agony of distress. Il cannot
tell lie, indeed 1 cannot! Oh, why did
you tell me which way you were go
ing?"
"Hetty, dear child" said the COVER
nor, who had returned and was gently
holding her hands, surely you will not
betray me to my death! Tell them the
north road, and Heaven will bless you"
Heaven never blesses those who
speak falsely, COUSIN" said Hetty, sor
rowfully.
"Hary! 1 hear them! 1 hear the
horses! Hetty! Hetty! You must do
this for mel"
81 will not open my lips to tell them
anything, not even if they kill me for it!
So run quickly, cousin!"
Its of no use," said the governor,
sadly. "Unless I can deceive them and
throw them off my track, 1 am dead
man."
Nearer and nearer came the clatter
of horses hoofs on the hard road.
The governor stood in despair, and lit
tie Hetty wrung her hands.
"Quick!" she said, suddenly. "Under
my linen! Quick, cousin! Quick!"
Its my only chance" he said, and
was soon concealed beneath the folds of
cloth.
Almost Immediately mounted party
of six Tories, headed by a British Off
GER, drew rein at the fork of the road.
Hetty was quietly sprihkling her
linen. The officer caught sight of her
and rode quickly to the end of the path
beside her, followed by his companions.
"Child," he said, sternly, "have you
seen a man running hereabouts?''
Eyes, SIR" replied Hetty, trembling
and confused.
(Which way did he go?"
"I promised not to tell, SIR"
"What?" thundered the Englshman.
81 promised not to tell, even if you
killed me-" sobbed the frightened girl.
"I'll have it out of yeu!" exclaimed
the officer, fercely, and started to dis
mount.
LET me speak to her." said one of the
Tories. Il know the child" Then, turn.
ing to Hetty, he asked, pleasantly.
isn't your name Hetty Marvin?"
"Yes, SIR
"And this man who ran by here few
minutes ago was your mothers cousin,
was he not?"
"Yes, sir, he was"
won't you tell us what he said to
you? We are his friends"
"He-told-me," Hetty hesitated, she
was flying for his life"
"Just so. Now, Hetty, tell me where
he said he was going to hide. l could
help him, perhaps, if knew his plans"
Hetty, not in the least deceived by
this smooth speech, quickly and shrewd-
ly decided that frankness would serve
her kinsman better than silence, so an
swered his question.
my cousin said he was going down
the east road to the river, where he has
boat in waiting, but he wanted me to
tell the men that were chasing him that
he had taken the north road to meet
the mail-wagon."
''Why did you not say so, then, when
1 asked you?" thundered the officer.
Il could not tell lie, sir" was the
fearful response, "and told him So"
''Hetty, my child" again began the
smooth-tongued Tory, Everybody
knows you are truthful. Now tell us
what your cousin. said when you told
him you could not tell le.'
''He said that if 1 betrayed him it
would be his death, and 1 promised him
1 would not tell which way he went, if
l was killed for it,"
THAT was a brave speech, my dear.
And then, suppose, he ran down the
east road as quickly as possible?"
81 promised not TO tell which way he
went"
$50 you did. I forgot. Now tell us
one thing more. What were his last
words?"
His last words were: It's my only
chance" and overcome by fright and
the thought of her cousins danger, Het-
ty sobbed aloud, and hid her face in her
hands.
The pursuers did not wait to soothe
or to question her farther. They had,
as they supposed, obtained the informa
lion they needed. They wheeled their
horses, and dashed off down the east
road to the river.
Near the shore the boat was in wait
ing for the governor, and in it were his
two faithful friends, for they had seen
the signal in the attic window.
But now they caught sight of the
pursuing party as they dashed down the
road, and the British officers uniform
told them who the party were.
The Tories reached the shore in time
to see the boat as it was hurredly rowed
out to sea, and rs there were two men
in it, supposed their intended victim
had escaped, and so they relinquishcd
pursuit.
Meanwhile, Gov. Griswold lay safe
and quiet where Hetty had hidden him,
until the time came for her to return to
the house for supper.
Then he bade her ask her mother to
set the light in the attic window as soon
as it was dark, and to send him some
supper.
That night he made his way to the
shore in safety, found the boat again in
waiting, and after time rejoined his
family in home secure from his ene-
mics.
A little daughter, whom he found had
been born to him during his absence, he
named Hetty Marvin, in grateful re-
membrance of his preserver.-Youth's
Companion.
High Opinion of the Hub.
Col. Bob Ingersoll used to tell story