Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-09-16


IA full conviction of his treachery, all her ma
tive courage woke in her bosom. Affect
ing, however, to yield to what is inevitable,
she answered him, in resigned tone, that
what must be, must only, if he carried off
her masters gold he must take her with
him too; for she could never stay to hear
their suspicious and reproaches, entreating
him at the same time, to relax his grasp of
her throat for she could hardly speak, much
less do what he bid her, while he held her
so tight. At length he was induced to quit
his hold, on her reminding him that he must
lose no time or the family would be return
ing from church. She then led the way to
her masters bedroom, and showed him the
Golfer where he kept his money. Here,
she said, reaching to him an axe, which lay
in the corner Of the room, you can open it
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
readiness to enter into his plans, he allow
ed her to leave the room, only exhorting her
to be quick as possible, and was immediate
ly absorbed in his own operations; first
opening the box, and then disposing of the
money about his person. In the mean while
Hanchen instead of going up stairs to her
own room, crept softly along several passa-
ges till she again reached her masters cham
Der. 1t was the work of moment to shut
and bolt the door upon him; and 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 of five
years old to 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 don't come back The
frightened child did as she bid him, and set
off running on the road she pointed out
Somewhat relieved by seeing that the
child understood her, and would make her
case known, she sat down for moment on
the stone seat before the door, and, full of
conflicting emotions of grief and thankful
ness for her escape, she burst into tears.
But at this moment shrill whistle arous-
ed her attention; it was from her prisoner,
Heinrich, who, opening the grated window
above her head, shouted out to some accom-
plce without, to catch the child that was
running away so fast, and to kill the girl.
Hanchen looked around in great alarm, but
saw no one. The child still continued to
run with all his might, and she hoped that
1t was false alarm to excite her and over
come her resolutions when, just as the child
reached hollow in the next field, (the chan
mel of natural drain,) she saw ruflian
start up from the bed of the drain, and,
snatching up the child in his arms, hasten
ed with him towards the mill, in accordance
with the directions of his accomplice.-In
moment she perceived the full extent of
her danger, and formed her plan for escap-
ing it.
Retreating into the. mill, she double-lock-
ed and bolted The door, the only apparent
entrance into the building, every other
means of obvious access being prevented by
strong iron gratings fixed up against all the
windows, and then took her post at the up
per easement, determined to wait patiently
her masters return, and her consequent de-
livery from that dangerous position, or her
own death, if indeed inevitable-for she was
fully resolved to enter into no terms, and
that nothing should induce her to give up
her masters property into the robbers
hands. She had hardly had time to secure
herself in her retreat, when the ruffian hold
ing the screaming child in his arms and
brandashing knife in one hand, came up,
and babe her open the door or he would
break it down, adding many awful oaths
and threats to which her only answer was
that she put her trust in God. Heinrich,
who from his window was witness of this
coloquy, now called out to cut the child's
throat before her eyes if she still persisted
in her refusal.-Poor Hanchen's heart quail
ed at this horrible threat, but only for mo-
ment. The death of the child could be nc
gain to them, while her own death was Ger.
tam if she admitted the assalant, and hei
master, too, would be robbed. She had ne
reason either to suppose that her compl
ance would save the life of the child. Il
was to risk all against nothing, and she re
solved to hold out to the last, though the
villain from without renewed his threats
saying that if she would not open the doo
to him he would kill the child and then Sc
fire to the mill over her head. i put IN,
trust in God was still the poor girls an
swer.
In the mean while the rufIian set dow
the child for moment to look about TO
combustlbles to carry out his threat. IL
this search he discovered mode of enter
ing the mill unthought of by Hanchen.
was large aperture in the wall communi
eating with the great wheel and the othe
machinery of the mill and it was poin
entirely unprotected, for it had never beef
contemplated that any one would seek Il
enter the mill by so dangerous an inlet
Triumphant at this discovery, he returned
to tie the hands and feet of the poor chill
to prevent its escape, and then stole back t.
the aperture by which he intended to al
feet an entrance. The situation of tn
building prevented Hanch9n from seein
anything of this, but thought had mean
while struck her 1t was Sunday, when tn
mill was never at work; if, therefore, tn
sails were set in motion, the whole neigh
; borhood would know that something unusu
al was the matter, and her master especial
would hasten home to know the meaning c
anything so strange.
{ Being all her life accustomed to the ma
: chinery Of the mill, it was the work of
moment to set it all in motion-a bris
. breeze, which sprung up at once, set tn
: sails flying. The arms of the huge engin
, whirled round with fearful rapidty; tn
J great wheel slowly revoved on its axis
: the smaller gear turned, and creaked, an
! groaned according as the machinery cam
5 into action the mill was in full operation
il was at this moment that the ruflian in