The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-10-21

standing.
''Hetty," he said, earnestly, "if the
Tories overtake me before can reach
my boat | am lost man. When they
come along here, tell them have taken
the north road"-the road forked near
by--''to catch the mail-wagon," and he
turned to run on.
20 cousin, cousin!" cried Hetty after
him, in an agony of distress. IL cannot
| tell lie, indeed / cannot! Oh, why did
you tell me which way you were 60
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! I hear them! I hear the
horses! Hetty! Hetty! You must do
this for mel"
ss~1 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. Sunless l can deceive them and
throw them off my track, 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 a mounted party
of six Tories, headed by British off,
Ger, drew rein at the fork of the road.
Hetty was quietly sprinkling 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, shave you
seen man running hereabouts?"
"Yes, sir" replied Hetty, trembling
and confused.
which way did he go?"
Il promised not TO tell, sir.''
"What?' Numbered the Englishman.
Il promised not to tell, even if you
killed me-" sobbed the frightened girl.
'I'll have it out of you!" exclaimed
the officer, fiercely, and started to dis
mount.
LET me speak to her." said one of the
Tories. II know the child" Then, turn
ing to Hetty, he asked, pleasantly:
isn't your name Hetty Marvin?"
Eyes, SIR"
"And this man who ran by here few
minutes ago was your mothers cousin,
was he not?"
"Yes, sir, he was.'
wont you tell us what he said to
you? We are his friends"
"He-told-me," Hetty hesitated, s'he
was flying for his life."
Just SO. Now, Hetty, tell me where
he said he was going to hide. / 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 han that
he had taken the north road to meet
the mail-wagon."
"Why did you not say so, then, when
l asked your" Numbered the officer.
II could not tell lie, sir" was the
fearful response, "and told him SOL
'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 lie."
He said that if / betrayed him it
would be has death, and promised him
l would not tell which way he went, if
was killed for it,
THAT was brave speech, my dear.
And then, 1 suppose, he ran down the
east road as quickly as possible?''
Il promised not to tell which way he
went"
$50 you did. / forgot. Now tell ua
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-
ton 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.
n