El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-29

4
the race as simply joke to brighten
the girl now vowed To find her and
take her before the commandant.
We'll ride right to her fathers door
and the one who finds her and brings
her before the officer of the day shall
receive a liberal reward"
Jane Hillard spoke truly when she
said she knew the country around. and
when she saw that the British were in
pursuit of her she decided on n des-
perate move. At n point hidden from
the highway she vaulted her horse over
the hedge. turned down the edge of n
creek, and by the time her disappear
| ance was discovered she was carefully
skirting her way through her fathers
| orchard. In few moments she was
galloping over the grass at the edge of
the driveway and soon arrived at the
| Hillard homestead.
No one was i'm 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
behind her. and when she took the
horse into the sleeping room she quite
filed the space between the enormous
bed and the old fashioned, dimity
draped dressing table.
There" she whispered. unfastening
the saddle girth. The redcoats won't
get us this time. my girl"
In the meantime the officers rode up
ha Ian ha
fully looking for tracks I'm the dust.
and one man knocked ut the kitchen
door so loudly with his riding whip
that Mrs Hillard hastily answered the
summons. coming out OF the cellar.
where she had been assisting the maids
In Swimming the cream
I'VE are looking" said the man. FOR
a maiden who rides about the country
daughter. madam
My laughter stammered Mrs. Hill
lard. What can you possibly want of
herr
I'VE believe" went on the officer,
that she is carrying reasonable mes
sages TO the Continental army"
why. sirs," cried the mother, lyon
are greatly mistaken. Jane is but a
ways of war than yonder lamb
Know you where she is at present.
one OF them asked.
''She left the house an hour ago"
was the reply, land 1 expect her home !
at any moment
well. madam said the first speak |
er. ''if 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
Il will also promise you" returned
Mrs Hillard. that hereafter she shall
do her riding on her own estate. and /
pledge you my honor that she has not
For 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. a little figure stole out
and in few seconds placed in the
hands of the waiting messenger n
packet. which was in the possession
Of General Washington before dawn.
And that day the Continental army
gained n great victory.
Several months afterward General
took dinner with the Hill
ard family, making the journey out OF
to personally thank the
Toung girl who had risked so much !
'or the cause so dear to her heart her
istonished family then hearing of IL
or the first time. The commander i'm
of al In .
ard n letter, which he signed. your
aithful friend. c. Washington"
The billiard mansion is yet standing.
md I'm the best bedroom and on the
threshold of the state parlor are still.
o be seen the hoof marks OF the faith
III horse that carried the messenger ,
when Jane Hillard risked SO much for
he cause OF liberty.-Troy Northern :
lI.L1 i