The Prescott daily news., 1910-02-09


 edge of City Hall park, New York. 1t represents a slender, handsome lad. Nathan Hale standing bound, yet un- conquered; overpowered, yet un- afraid awaiting death at the hang mans hands. The pedestal's letter ing records his last defiance to a harsh fate; his regret at having but one life to give to his country. or the countless thousands who hourly hurry past that statue comparative ly few pause. nowadays, to look at it or to note the faded wreaths that oc- casionally adorn it's base. Still fewer know of the sad. sweet love story which alternately frightened and darkened Hale's short life and urged him to deeds of reckless daring. Here is the story
 Hale was Connecticut boy. His mother died while he was very young. His father. Deacon Richard Hale, then married widow who had one daugh- ter, Alice. pretty and talented girl. who was about Nathan's own age. The
 o-, two young people
 were brought up
 in the same house It was but natural that they should fall in love with each other. It was equally natural that parental opposi- tion should strengthen their love Dea- con Hale had great ambitions for Ma than. The lad was tall, handsome and in nd dnb fn It was arranged that he should pre- pare for the ministry. After he left Yale he taught school at East Had dam, Conn.,, in order to raise funds for his course in the theological sem mary.
 His father was resolved that so promising a career should not be in- jured by early marriage to a penniless girl even when that girl happened to be the deacon's own lovable step- daughter, Alice. So the old gentle man set about his sef-appointed. dis agreeable task of making such a mar riage impossible. In East Haddam dwelt an elderly merchant, Elijah Rip ley, who also wished to marry Alice Deacon Hale commanded his step daughter to accept Ripleys proposal
 Girls in those days obeyed their par ents. To pair of dutiful, obedient children like Nathan and Alice. the deacon's word was law. So Alice. though she loved Nathan devotedly. married Ripley and made the old man a good wife. even though her heart was with the gallant youth she had been forced to give up. Nathan. in despair, threw aside his plans of be- coming clergyman and sought for getfulness by throwing in his for tunes with the revolution. The bat. tie of Concord and Lexington had just been fought (April, 1775), and the American colonies were rushing to arms against their British oppressors. Hale joined the army as a lieutenant The almost foolhardy courage with which he risked his life and the skill he showed as an office led to his quick promotion to captaincy. Life held no hope for him now that he had lost Alice. and he delighted in talk ing risks that would have appalled, less unhappy man.
 Then came a turn in his fortunes. Alice Ripley's husband died There was no longer a barrier between the lovers. For Alice was widow and independent. Nathan himself was 21 Both had thus passed beyond the bounds of Deacon Hale's authority. The path to their happiness was at last clear. They became engaged The date for their marriage is said to have been set. Yet, to win honor in his sweetheart's eyes, Nathan sought to accomplish still braver deeds