The St. Johns herald., 1901-09-14

ue rOQe I0rWdrO ana cdlleu out, III Ie assuring tone:
 Advance, madam-you have nothing , to fear from true soldiersw
 The lady, who was we'll wrapped uI in plain, warm garments, with q hood that quite concealed her features at short distance, now came forward without hesitation, to meet the colonel as if satisfied from his language and appearance she had nothing to fear When near enough for him to distin guish the features that were turned full upon him, he exclaimed, in tone of , surprise:
 "Mrs. Darrah, as I live! Why, what : on earth can have brought you, all , alone and unprotected, into this dan gerous localityT
 Thee knows, friend" she replied, ir the Quaker style, 'I have a son in the American army-who is, like myself an officer under George Washington and mothers heart yearns toward her offspring, even though he has depart ed from the ways of his fathers"
 You were going then to seek him p
 ''I was; but perhaps thee would carry a message for me, and let me turn back to the cityY said the lady, but still with a cautious. hesitatlng air.
 'It will afford me great pleasure to oblige Lydia Darrah in any wayw bowed the gallant colonel.
 Thank thee, friend-thee is very kind. If thee will dismount then and walk with me little way I think I will tell thee what have to say, which Is a secret would not like to have any other persons hear"
 The colonel assented, and, riding back to his men, gave his horse in charge of one of them and ordered them to keep In sight of him; but not to approach near enough to overhear an ordinary conversation. He then returned to the lady and they began their walk down the road, in an opposite direction to that which she had come. For q short time she maintained deep silence, with her face averted, and, as the officer fan cied, with her whole frame trembling with secret emotion.
 Friend Craig" she at length began, with something like sigh, and speak Ing in the rapid, earnest manner of one communicating some startling fact, "thee must hasten at once to George Washington and tell him thee has cer- tain information that, on tomorrow night, large body of British soldiers will secretly march out of the city for the purpose of surprising and captur- ing him and all of his men. Not to mystify thee, friend, and that thee may attach all due importance to this infor- nation, will now inform thee that I, Lydia Darrah. overheard an order read between two high officers to the effect of what have stated. Thee must also know that the man called General Howe has come to abide in the house opposite my husbands, and that for some reason, to us unknown, two men, one of whom is supposed to be called the adjutant general, have come over to William Darrah's several times, and held private conferences in one of the back rooms of our dwelling. Last night these two men came again and one of them told me he wanted all my family to go to bed early, and that when they should get ready to leave, which might be late, they would call me to let them out.
 Well, Friend Craig, sent the whole family early to bed, as requested to do, but myself felt very anxious to know what was going on of SO much import ance, and 30 did what never did be- fore-took of my shoes, walked on tip toe to the door of the room where these men were, put my ear to the key-hole, and listened, and heard what have in- formed thee of"
 God bless you, Lydia Darrah, for a noble womanr' said the colonel, with excited warmth; perhaps you have saved our countrywide knows? For had this plan succeeded, which we will now defeat, and General Washington been taken prisoner, much fear our cause would have been hopeless"
 'I will make haste to finish my story, luG6 luUSl I4Q6 lO OGOIkG NdSu- ington. After hearing what I have said, stole back to my room, trembling at the importance of what had heard. When the men, soon after, knocked on my door for inc to get up and let them out, pretended to be asleep, and they had to knock three times. Then came out, rubbing my eyes, and saw them of. But I slept none that night, for thinking what ought to do; and did not dare to tell my husband for fear the secret might get out wanted to get ! the information to George Washington, and save a great many lives, but for some time could not see my way clear to do It. At last it occurred to me that might go to Frankford for some four, if the man Howe would give me a pass out of town. went over to him and he lave 1t. Then told William and my family that would go alone to Frank ford for the four, which greatly sur prised them and caused much remon- strance. But did go alone, and thee sees, friend, how much I have since strayed from the mill"
 In due time Lydia Darrah returned home with her flour, secretly trembling Al H.