Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-16

I the highway she vaulted her horse over
the hedge, turned down the edge OF
creek and by the time her disappear
nnce was discovered she was carefully
skirting her way through her fathers
orchard. In n few moments she was
gslloping over the grass at the edge of
the driveway and soon arrived at the
Hillard homestead.
No one was in sight, and the girl
hastily sprang from the saddle. opened
the door and. leading her horse into
the kitchen, securely fastened the great
bar across the entrance. With great
caution she led the mare through the
living room, down the wide hall and
the length of the state parlor into a
little bedroom. She closed every door
behind her, and when she took the
horse into the sleeping room she quite
filled the space between the enormous
bed and the old fashioned, dimity
draped dressing table.
''rhere!" she whispered, unfastening
che saddle girth. "The redcoats won't
get us this time, my girl"
In the meantime the officers rode up
the lane to the Hillard mansion, care
fully looking for tracks in the dust,
and one man knocked at the kitchen
door so loudly with his riding whip
| that Mrs. Hillard hastily answered the
summons, coming out Of the cellar,
whore she had been assisting the maids
| in skimming the cream.
"We are looking" said the man, "for
| niI ,,yt. riI 81, hn f,r,
on bay mare. She is, believe, your
daughter. madam"
"My daughterw stammered Mrs. Hill
lard. "What can you possibly want Of
herr"
eve believe went on the officer,
"that she Is carrying reasonable mes
sages to the Continental army"
"Why sirs,' cried the mother, you
arc greatly mistaken. Jane Is but a
child, and she Knows no more Of the
ways of war than yonder lamb"
'Know you where she Is at present p
ono Of the-.a asked.
"She left the house an hour ago"
was the reply, "and expect her home
at any moment"
"Well, madam" said the first speak
cr, "jf you will assure me that she is
doing no mischief and promise me that
she holds no communication with the
Continentals, we will! bid you good
afternoon"
"I will also promise you." returned
Mrs. Hillard, that hereafter she shall
do her riding on her own estnte, and
pledge you my honor that she has not
nor shall she hold any communication
with the Continental army"
There was great CONSERVATION In the
household when Jane led her horse
from out the best bedroom and told
the story Of her fight and her manner
of escape.
Late that night, when all the house
hold was asleep, little figure stole out
and in q few seconds placed in the
] hands of the waiting messenger q
packet, which was in the possession
of General Washington before dawn
, And that day the Continental army
, gained great victory.
J Several months afterward Genera
, Washington took dinner with the Hill
lard family, making the journey out oi
, Philadelphia to personally thank thu
young girl who had risked so mucf
for the cause so dear to her heart, he
, astonished family then hearing of 1
for the first time. The commander IL
chief Of the army also wrote Jane Hill
, lard letter, which he signed, You
! faithful friend, G. Washington"
. The Hillard mansion is yet standing
, aud In the best bedroom and on th,
!, threshold of the state parlor are still
Q to be seen the hoof marks of the faith
t full horse that carried the messenge
v when Jane Hillard risked so much 70
3 the cause of liberty. Northern
: Budget