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

IL was from her prisoner, Heinrich, who,
opening the grated window above her head,
shouted oct % some accomplish without 10
catch the child that was running away SO fast
and kill the girl. Hanchen looked around 10
great alarm, but saw no one. The child stIll
rconiinued to run with all his might, and she
hoped shat il was but a false alarm to excite
her fear and overcome her resolution; when
Just as the child reached hollow in the next
field, (the channel of natural drain,) she
saw Il rulfan start up from the bed OF the
drain, aud. snatch'ng up the child in bis arms,
hasten with him towards the mill, IN aecor-
dance with the directions OF MS accunpce.--
In a moment she perceived the foil exteu, OF
her danger, and formed her plan for escaping
it,
Retreating into the mill she double locked
and hotied the door, the only apparent entrance
in 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 al the upper easement, determi-
ned to await patiently her masters return, aud
her consequent delivery from that dangerous
position, or her own death, If indeed nevlta-
bic; Tor she was fully resolved 10 enter into
no terms, and that nothing should induce her
to give up her masters property INTO the rob
bers' hand She had hardly had time Ia Sc
cure herself in her retreat. when the rohan.
holding the screaming child in his arms, and
I brandishing knife in one hand. came UP.
and bid her open the door, or he would break
4 il 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 the colioquy, now
called out to cut the chIld'S thtoat before her
eyes II she still persisted IN her refusal. Poor
I
Elanchen's heart gualled al tins terrible threat;
for n moment her resolution failed, but only
for moment. The death OF the child could
be no gain to them, while her own death was
certain if she admitted the assaiant, and her
master, too, would be robbed She had no
reason either to suppose that her compliance
| would save the life of the child. 1t was to
risk all against nothing, and she resolved to
hold out TO the last. though the william from
without renewedhis threats, saying that If she
would not open the door 10 him he would Kill
the child, and then set fire to the mill over her
head. 81 put my trust in God," was still the
poor girls answer.
In the mean while the ruilian set down the
child for moment 10 look about for combus-
tlbles 10 carry out his threat. In this search
he discovered mode Of entering the mill
unthoughto OF by llanchen. twas large APP.
erlure in the wall communicating with the
great wheel and the other machinery OF the
mill; aud il was point entirely unprotec-
ted. for ii had never been contemplated that
any one would seek to enter by So dangerous
an inlet. Triumphant at this discovery, he
returned 10 lie the hafsda.ssas flsez of tsn ,,ur4
child to prevent It's escape, and then stole back
10 the aperture by which he intended to effect
his entrance. The situation of the building
prevented Hanchen seeing any thing of this,
buta thought had meanw nile struck her. II be-
ing Sunday, when the mill was never al work !;
il, therefore, the sails were set in motion the
whole neighborhood would know that some
thing unusual was the matter, and her master
especially would hasten home 10 know the
meaning OF any hing so strange.
Beng ali her life accustomed TO the machi
merry Of the mill il was the work Of a moment
10 set it all in mo'ion--a brisk breeze. which
sprang up al once, set the sails flying. The
arms of the huge engine whirled round with
fearful rapidly the great wheel slowly re-
volved on its axle; the smaller gear turned,
and creaked, and groaRed according as the
machinery came into action. Ii was at this
moment that the ruiiian intruder had succeed
ed in squeezing himself through the aperture
IN the wall, and getting himself safely lodged
in the interior OF the great drum wheel. Ills
dlsmay, however, was indescnbable when he
began 10 be whired about with its rotation, and
found that all his efforts to put a stop to the
powerful machinery which set it in motion,
or to exricae himself from his perilous situa-
ton was fruitless. In his terror he uttered
shrieks and horrible imprecatonS. Astouish-
ed at the noise, Hanchen ran to the spot, and
saw him caught like a rat in his own trap,
( from which it was no part Of her plan 10 libe-
rate him. She knew he would be more
frightened than hurt if he kept within his ro-
iary prison without any rash attempts to escape,
and that even Il he became insensble he could
not fall out OF il.
In the mean time the wheel went round and
round with its steady, unceasng motion; aud
round and round he went with ii. while sense
remained, beSegng Hauchen with entreaties,
promises, and wild impojent threats. which
were all equally disregarded, till by degrees
feeling and perception tailed him, and he saw
and heard no one. lie fell senseless at the
bottom of the engine, but even then his mani
mate body continued 20 be whirled round as
before; for Hanchen did not dare trust APP
pearances in such william, and would no;
venture TO suspend the working Of the mill, or
stop the mill gear and tackle from running at
their fullest speed.
Al length she heard a loud knocking at
the door, and flew to open il. It was her
master aud his family accompanied By sever
al OF his neighbors, all in tie utmost excite
ment and wonder at seeing the mlllsais in
full swing on a Sunday, and still more so
when they had found the poor child lying
bound upon the grass, who. however, was
too terrified to give them any accounted what
had happened. Hanchen, in a few words,
! told ALL and then her spirit which had sus-
tanned her through such scenes OF terror gave
way under the sense Of safety and relief, and
She fell taintng in their arms, and was with
much difficulty recovered. The machinery
of the mill was at once stopped, aud The man
/ innate tuifah dragged from his dreadful prl-
/ son. Heinrich, too, was brought forth from
the miller's chamber and both were in a short
4 lime sent bound under strong escort TO Bonn,
where they soon after met the reward of their
crmesn
/ The story Of this extraordinary act Of pres
ence OF mind concludes by telling US that
I Hanchen. thus efec,uay cured Of her pen
/ chant for her unworthy sutor, became event
ually the wife of the miller's eldest son, and
thus lived all her life in the scene OF her i'm
mnent danger and happy deliverance,-Loa
don Paper.
~asszu-------
81 say, Pat" said Yankee to an Irishmau
NyaS Il IN hie ssnra .to., ltr.