Evening star., 1935-02-24

Benedict Arnold's! That made two of
you!''
80 he thought. Then they issued an order
that any soldier found with writing on him
would be strung up as spy. had to destroy
every note Id made. They searched me, but
all they found was this little purple heart
told em it was a valentine from Tory
sweetheart
"Me Tory! Don't touch me or I'll fire." :.
He laughed: God, how sweet you are
love you for despising me. You darling! Well,
when daresn't take notes tried to memo
rize everything. said the figures over and
over and over. could draw you maps now
with my eyes shut Then-well. when Arnold
raided Connecticut, had to pretend to fire
on my own people. Then fell sick, terrible
sick. for months. was delirious. A British
doctor told me | was babbling all sorts of
figures. He said he ought to turn me in for
spy. But he thought enough people had
been shot. He let me 60 for the sake of the
girl in the purple dress | d talked about you
a lot. I'm still delirious about you. Well, when
| came out of my fever, | had to find out
everything all over again. Just now, escaped.
I'm on my way to General Washington. Come
Il just will!'
She just did. Her father returned with the
carriage and pair of horses. tied the ser
geant' arms behind him and bundled him in
with Hetty beside him. pistol in hand. They
rode all night. and reached camp just as
Washington himself was riding the rounds on
inspection. Washington recognized the ser
geant. patted him on the back, and said to
his aide:
Colonel Humphreys, take this brave lad
to your tent and write down all he knows"
Then the Commander in Chief smiled at
Hetty: you will reward him we'll, eh,
Miss Hetty?"
She blushed: What can do? But Your Ex-
cellency will make him at least lieutenant9"
Washington drew long face: II wish
could, my child. but Congress has taken out
of my hands all power of promotion"
Isn't there some medal, some ribbon?"
I'VE ought to have, Miss Hetty. But we
haven't - and no money for medals
When at last Hetty's father dragged her
home. the sergeant went to the sentry lines
with her. He was in the Continental uniform
again and she said, tearfully.
Give me that piece of silk"
You're not going to take it away from
me?"
She shook her head, pinned it on his breast
and kissed him, sobbing: "Since your country
won't decorate you, will
That ought to be reward enough" said
voice high overshoulder. They whirled from
each others arms and looked up to the tall
Washington. AS the sergeant's hand darted
to snatch the silk from his blouse, the
Generals hand checked him.
He gave Hetty one of his inimitable bows
and kissed her. As he moved on he was
mumbling: "A purple heart! A purple heart!'
A few days later the sergeants were called
together to write down the General Order,
dated August 7, 1882 and applying only to
non-cOmmissOned officers and privates:
Whenever any singularly meritorious ac-
ton is performed, the author of it shall BE-
permitted to wear on his facings over the
left breast, the figure of a heart in purple
cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or bind
ing! . Men who have merited this last
distinction to be suffered to pass all guards
and sentinels which officers are permitted
to do. The road to glory in patriot army
and free country is thus open to ALL"
1t was the only badge issued during the.
Revolution and only three men are on record
as having won it, all of them sergeants of the
Connecticut Continentals.
Thereafter, when Betty visited the army,
she always dragged her Mortified sergeant
across the sentry line and ordered the SEN
tinel to salute. When he protested that non
CONS did not get salutes, she would quote the
General Order giving purple hearts all the
privileges accorded the cockades and epauets
of officers.