El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-17
Isn't your name Hetty Marvin b
asked pleasantly.

Isn't your name detty NarSnS ne
asked pleasantly.
Yes, sir"
"And this man hat ran by you a
few minutes g is your mothers
cousin, isn't heE"
Yes. sir; he is"
We'll. we are friends Of his. What
| did he say to you when he came
along:"
..He-told me-that he was fleeing for
his life"
lust so. Hetty; that was very true
I hope he won't nav to fly far. Where
was he going to hide? You see 1 could
help him if l knew his plans"
Now. Hetty was not n whit deceived
by this smooth speech. But h was
willing to tell as much of the truth as
! would consist with his safety, and b
Judged that her would serve
her kinsman better han her silence, so
She answered her questioner candidly:
My cousin said he was going down
to the river where he had n boat and
wanted me to tell the men that were
chasing him that he had zone the
other way to catch the mail wagon"
why didn't you do as he told you.
then. when 1 asked you where he had
gomez Numbered the officer fiercely.
81 could not tell a lie, sir" was the
fearful answer.
"Hetty." again began the smooth
tongued Tory, you are a nice child.
Everybody knows you are n girl of
truth. What did your cousin say when
you TOLD him you could not tell a
falsehood?'
HE said he shouldn't think I'd be-
tray him to his DEATH"
"And you promised him that you
wouldn't tell which way he went if you
were killed for it?"
Yes, sir"
That was brave; and I suppose he
thanked you for it and ran down the
road as quickly as possible?'
II promised not to tell where he
went, sir"
"Oh, yes, I forgot. Well, tell us his
last words. and we wont trouble you
any more"
His last words were, It's my only
chance, child. and I'll get down rs you
say"
And, overcome with fright and the
sense of her kinsman's danger hou
they rightly interpret the language
which she had reported, she sobbed
aloud and hid her face from sight.
Her tormentors did not stay longer
to soothe or question her. They all
Immediately pushed rapidly on down
to the river.
Now, the governor had arranged a
signal with his boatmen that n white
cloth by day or n light by night dis
played from the attic window of his
hiding place. which was just visible at
the mouth of the river, should inform
them if ne were in trouble and put
them oil the alert to help him.
AS soon, therefore, as he started
from his cousins, it floated from the
window to warn them. And when
they saw the pursuing party dash mad
ly down the road to the river and rec
ognized the British uniform of the
leaders they pulled swiftly out to sea.
The horSemen cached the shore only
in season to see the boat with two men
in it nearly out OF sight, and, supposing
their destined prey had escaped, relin-
pushed the pursuit.
Meanwhile the victim lay safe and
quiet where the Shrewdness of the lit
tie cousin had hidden him unit the
time came for her return for supper.
Then he bad her go as usual to her
home. telling her to ask her mother to
place the signal lamp as soon as it
grew dark in the window for the boat
men and send him some supper,
with his valise. which. in the hurry of
his departure. he had left behind.
The signal recalled the boat, which
after twilight had ventured in sight of
the shore and the farmhouse, and the
quietly made his way to the
river in safety. When he rejoined his
father in a secure home, he named his
infant daughter. which had been born
in his absence, Hetty Marvin, that he
might be daily reminded of the little
cousin whose truth and shrewdness
saved his life.-Exchange.