The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11

passed in. and seeing Betty. came quick
ly toward her.
What do you here. child" he said
hurriedly. Go quickly. before the Brit
ish reach zig. and tell your father that,
Quaker or no Quaker. ne shall ride TO
Washington on the Brandywine, and tell
him that we. but 100 men. are besieged
by go British cavalry in Chichester meet
ing house with but little powder left
Tell him to make all haste to us.
Turning, he FASTENED into the meet
ing house, now converted into fort
and AS the doors closed behind him Betty
saw black muzzle protruding from every
window.
With trembling fingers the little maid
PICKED up her sampler. and AS the thud
Iof horses hoofs grew louder and loud
Ter. she ran fearfully into the house.
locked and bottled the massive door, and
then flying up the broad stairs. she seated
herself in a little window over looking
the road She had gone into the house
none too soon. Up the road. with their
red coats cleaning and their harness
iangling. was sweeping detachment Of
british cavalry.
4 sheet of flame shot out from the
wall before them. and half a dozen
troopers fell lfeless TO the ground. and
half dozen riderless horses ga!loped
wildly down the road. The leader shout
ed a sharp command and the whole troop
retreatcd in confusion.
Then for the first time Betty thought
of the officers message. and remembered
that the safety of the Americans depend
I'd upon her alone. for her father was
away No neishbor within reach. and
without powder she knew they could not
resist long.
Could she save them? All her stern
Quaker blood rose at the thought, and
stealing softly to the paddock behind
the barn. she saddled her horse and led
her through the bars into the wood
road. which opened into the highway
Just around the bend.
Here she mounted by means Of con-
venient stump, and starting off at a
gallop. had just turned the corner when
a voice shouted 'Halt,' and a shot
whistled past her head. Betty screamed
with terror and bending over brought
down her riding whip with all her
strength upon Daisy. then, turning for
a moment, saw three troopers hurriedly
mounting.
Betty. her curly hair strea ming in the
wind. led by 500 yards.
Betty, at first sure of success. now
knew that unless in some way she
could throw her ,pursuers off her track
she was surely lost. There flashed
across her mind the remembrance of the
old cross-road which. long disused, and
with its entrance hidden by dropping
boughs. led from a point in the upper
road just out of sight of the fork down
across the lower, and through the val
ley of the Brandywine.
Urging her horse forward, she broke
Just in time through the dense growth
which hid the entrance. and sat trem-
bling. hidden behind a dense growth of
tangled vines, while she heard the
troopers thunder by.
Starting off at a gallop. she dashed
around a bend in the road into the midst
Of group of officers riding slowly up
from the valley.
stop. little maiden. before you run rs
down." said one, who seemed to be in
command.
"Oh, sir" said Betty, refining in Daisy.
can thee tell me where l can find Gen.
washington?'
Yes. little Quakeress." said the officer
who had first spoken to her; Il am he.
What do you wieh?''
Betty, too exhausted to be surprised.
poured forth her story in a few broken
sentences. and clearing as If in a dream
the hasty commands for the rescue of
the soldiers in Chichester Meeting house,
fell forward in her saddle, and. for the
first time in her life, tainted. worn out
by her noble ride.
few days later. when recovering
from the shock Of her long and event.
full ride, Betty. awaking from a deep
sleep, found her mother kneeling beside
her little bed. while her father talked
with Gen. Washington himself beside the
fireplace: and 1t was the proudest and
happiest moment of her life when Wash
ington. coming forward and taking her
by the hand, said: you are the bravest
little maid in America. and an honor to
your country" For at risk Of her own
life, she had saved the lives of her
countrymen besieged in the meeting
house.
tCqsrisht b. Hsfper 4 Bru)