Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-09-09

TALES OF FEMssE AEROiSM.'
THE MILLPR's MAID.

Near the hamlet Of Udorf, on the banks OF
/ the Rhine. not far from Bonn, there yet stands
the mill which was The scene Of the following
adventure:
I On Sunday morning. the miller and his
! family set out as usual TO attend service al the
! nearest church in The village OF HcaSal, leav-
ing the mill, 10 which the dwelling house was
attached, in charge Of his servant maid Han
chen, a bold-hearled girl, who had been some
time in his service. The Youngest child, who
was still 100 little 10 go TO church, remained
also under her care.
/ As Ilanchen was busily engaged in pre-
pairing dinner for the family, she was inter
4 rupted by a visit from her admirer, Heinrich
/ Botteler he was an idle, graceesS fellow, and
/ her MASTER who knew his character well, had
1 forbidden him the house, but Fanchen could
not believe all the stories she heard against
! her lover, and was sincerely attached to him.
/ On this occasion she greeted HIM kindly, and
( not only got him something 10 eat at once, but
found time IN the midst of her business 10 SIT
down and have gossip with him, while he
/ did Justice 10 the fate set before hun. As he
was eating he let fall his knife. which he ask
ed her to pick up for him she playfully re-
moHS;rateG, telling him she feared, from all
she heard, he did htlle enough work, and
ought at least wait upon himself; IN the end,
/ however. she stopped down to pick up the
knife, when the treacherous william drew a
dagger from under has coat. aud caught her
! by the nape OF the neck, gripping her throat
! firmly with his fingers to prevent her scream
/ ing then, with an oath, he desired her TO tell
! him where her master kept his money, threat
ening to kill her if Sue did not comply with
/ his demand, The surprised and terrified girl
in vain attempted to parlay with hun; he
still held her tightly in his choking grasp, lea
wing her no other choice but to die or betraY
her master. She saw there was no hope OF
softening him or changing his purpose, aad.
with the full conviction OF his ueachery, all
her native courage woke in her bosom. AZ
fecting, however, 10 yield 10 what was new
I table. she answered hin in a resigned tone,
( that what must be, must; only. il he carried
j off her masters gold. he must take her with
him too for she could never stay 10 hear
( their suspicious and reproaches, enueauug
/ him at the same time 10 relax his grasp of her
throat for she could hardly speak, much less
do what he bid her, while he he'd her so tight,
| AT length he was induced 10 quit his hold, on
I her reminding him that be must lose no time,
or the family would be returning from church.
She then led the way to her masters bedroom,
and showed hun the Golfer where he kept his
money. Here, she sad, reaching 10 MN
an axe which lay in a corner Of the room,
"you can open il with this while run up
stairs to put all my things together, besides
the money | have saved since have been
here"
Completely deceived by her apparent readi-
ness 10 enter into his plans, he allowed her 10
leave the room. only exhouiug her to be as
quick as possible, and was Immediately absorb
ed in his own operations first opening the
box, and then dnposing Of the money about
his person In the mean while Hanchen, in
stead Of going up stairs to her own room,
crept softly along several passages til she
again reached he. masters chamber 1t was
the work OF a moment TO shut and bolt the
door upon him; aud this done, she rushed
out TO the outer door Of the mill to give the
alarm The only being in sight was her
masters little boy, child Ave years old 10
him she called with all her might, run, run
to meet your father as he comes from church /;
tell him we shall all be murdered if he does
not come back The frightened child did
as She bid him, and set or running on the road
she pointed out.