Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-10-30
"But you must or take the conse.

quences."
Il said 1 wouldn't tell if you killed
me-" sobbed the frightened girl.
| III have it out of her" exclaimed
the furious officer with an oath.
Let me speak to her." said his Tory
guide Il know the child, l believe.
Isn't your name Hetty Marvin?' he
asked pleasantly.
Yes, SIR
| "And this man that ran by you few
minutes ago is your mothers cousin,
isn't hep
Yes, sir, he is"
"Well, 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''
Just so, Hetty; that was very true.
hope he won't have to fly far. Where
was he going to hide? You see / could
help him if knew his plans" q
Now, Hetty was not whit deceived
by this smooth speech. But she was
willing to tell as much of the truth as
would be consistent with his safety, and
she Judged that her frankness would
save her kinsman better than her sill
ence, so she answered her questioner
candidly:
My. cousin said he was going down
to the river where he had boat and
wanted me to tell the men that were
chasing him that he had gone the other
way to catch the mail wagon"
why didn't you do as he told you,
then, when l asked you where he had
gomez" thundered the officer fiercely.
Il 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 girl of
truth. What did your cousin say when
you told him you could not tell false
hood?'
HE said he shouldn't think I'd betray
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 l suppose he
thanked you for it and ran down the
road as quickly as possible"
81 promised not to tell where he went,
SIR
"Oh, yes, 1 forgot. Well, tell US his
last words, and we won't trouble you
any more"
His last words were, It's my only
chance, child, and I'll get down as you
say"
And, overcome with fright and the
sense of her kinsman's danger should
they rightly interpret the language
which she. had reported, she sobbed
I aloud and hid her face from sight.
Her tormentors did not stay longer to
soothe or question her. They all imme-
diately pushed rapidly on down to the
river.
Now, the Governor had arranged a
signal with his boatman that white
cloth by day or light by night dis
played from the attic window of his
hiding place, which was just visible al
the mouth of the river, should inform
them if he were in trouble and put then
ON the alert to help him.
AS soon, therefore, as he started from
his Cousins, it fioated from the window
to warn them. And when they saw the
pursuing party dash madly down the
: road to the river and recognized the
7 British uniform of the leaders they
pulled swiftly out to sea. The horse
men reached the shore only in season
: to see the boat with two men in it near
= ly out of sight, and, supposing theil
} destined prey had escaped, relinquishet
the pursuit.
, Meanwhile the victim lay safe ant
S quiet where the shrewdness of the til
? cousin had hidden him until the time
: came for her return for supper. The1
f he bade her go as usual to her home
e telling her to ask her mother to plac'
S the signal lamp as soon as it grew darl
b | in the window for the boatmen ant
e send him some supper, with his valise
+ which, in the hurry of his departure, h
+ had left behind.
d The signal had recalled the boat
l. which after twilight had ventured il
: sight of the shore and farmhouse, ant
the Governor quietly made his way t
@ the river in safety. When he rejoine'
a his father in a secure home he name'
his infant daughter, which hal beel
V born in his absence, Hetty Marvin, tha
l., he might be daily reminded of the littl
, cousin whose truth and shrewdnes
II saved his life.-EXchange.