Year: 1875

seen man running hereabouts y


I" Yes, sir" replied Hetty, trembling
and flushing.


Which way did he go?"


= promised not to tell sir"


But you must or take the conse-
quences."


II said I wouldn't tell if you killed
me, !" sobbed the frightened girl


" I'll have it out of her." said his
Troy guide :" know the child, be-
lieve. Isn't your name Hetty Marvin ~
he asked, pleasantly.


g Yes, sir"


And this man that ran by you n few
moments ago was your mothers cousin,
wasn't he ~


" Yes, sir, he was"


Well, we are friends of his; what
did he say to you when he came along n


I" He--told me-that he was flying
for his life"


"Just so, Hetty; that was very true.
hope he won't have to fly hard Where
was he going to hide You see could
help him if | knew his plans.'


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 wisely judged that her frankness
would serve her kinsman better than her
silence. So she answered her questioner
candidly: Z My cousin said he was
going down this way to the river, where
he had boat and he wanted me to
tell the men Chat were chasing him he
had gone the other way to catch the mail
wagon


+. Why didn't you do as he bid you,
then, when asked you where he had
gone -thundered the officer fiercely.


g could not tell lie, SIR was the
fearful answer


Hetty," again began the smooth
tongued Tory, "you arc nice child
Everybody knows you are a girl of truth
What did your cousin say when you told
him you couldn't tell falsehood p


i" He said he shouldn't think I'd be-
tray him to his death"
e And you then promised him you
wouldn't tell which way he went, if you
were killed for it 2"


Yes, sir"


"That was beave speech and so |
, suppose he thanked you for it. and ran
down the road as quickly as possible"
| promised not to tell where he
went, sir.


ooh, yes, forgot. Well, tell us his
real words, and we won't trouble you
any more"


His last words were Its my only
chance child, and I'll get down as you
say And overcome by fright, and
the sense of her kinsman's danger should
they rigidly interpret the language which
she had reported. she sobbed aloud, and
hid her face from sight.
Her tormcntors did not stay longer to
soothe or question her. They had got,
as they supposed, the information which
they wanted and pushed rapidly on down
to the river. Now the Governor had ar
ranged signal with his boatmcn that a
white cloth by day or light by night
displayed from the attic window of his
hiding place which was just visible at
the mouth of the river, should inform
them if he were in trouble and put them
on the alert to help him. As soon,
therefore, as he started from his cousin $
the signal foated from the window to
warn them. And when they saw the
pursuing party dash madly down the
road to the river and recognized the
British uniform of the leader they pulled
swiftly out to sea. The horsemen
reached the shore just in time to see the
boat with two men in it nearly out Of
sight, and supposing their destined prey
had escaped relinquished the pursuit.


Meanwhile the hunted victim lay safe
and quiet where the simple shrewdness
of the little cousin had hidden him until
the time came for her to return to sup
per. Then he bade her go as usual to
her home, telling her to ask her mother
to place the signal lamp, as it grew dark,
in the window, for the boatmen, and to
send him there some supper with his
valise, which, in the hurry of departure,
he had left behind.


The signal recalled the boat, which,
after twilight, had ventured in sight Of
the shore and the farm house, and the
Governor quietly made his way to the
river in safety. When he rejoined his
family in secure home be named his
infant daughter, which had been born in
bis absence, 'Hetty Marvin" that he
might be daily reminded Of the little
cousin whose truth and shrewdncss saved
his life.