Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-23
EVENING STAR.
A STARTLING INCIDENT.

NV ooLOHy Sho duO ufs
family, set out as usual to attend service at
the nearest church in the village Of Heasel,
leaving the mill, to which the dwelling house
was attached, in charge of his servant maid
Hanchin, bold hearted girl, who had been
some time in his service.
The youngest child, who was still too little
to go to church. remained at home under her
care. AS Hanchin was busily engaged pre-
pairing dinner for the family, she was inter
rupted By visit from her admirer, Heinrich
Bottolin. lie was an idle, grsceless fellow,
and bis master, who knew his character well,
had forbidden him the house but Hanchin
could not believe all the stories she had heard
agsinst her lover, and was sincerely attached
to bin. On this occasion she greeted him
kindly, and not only got him something to eat
at once, but found time in the midst OF her
business to sit down and have a little gossip
with him, while he did justice 10 the fare set
before him AS he was eating he let fall his
knife, which he asked her to pick up for him.
She playfully demonstrated, telling him she
feared, from all she heard, he did little work
enough, and ought at least to wait upon him
self In the end, however, she stopped down
to pick up the knife, when the treacherous
villain drew dagger from under his coat
and caught her by the nape of the neck, grip
ing her throat firmly with his fingers to pre-
vent her from screaming then, with an oath,
be desired her to tell him where her master
kept his money, threatening to kill her if she
did not comply with his demand. The sur
prised and terrified girl in vain attempted to
parley with him; he still held her tightly in his
grasp, leaving her no chGic but to die or be-
tray her master. She saw there was NO hope
OF sotteniDg him or changing his purpose, and
with full conviction of his treachery, all her
native courage woke in her bosom. Affecting,
however, to yield TO what was inevitable, she
answered him in resigned tone, that what
must be, must; only, II he carried Of heT mas
tcr's gold, he must take her too, fOf she could
not stay to hear their suspicious and TsrToacb-
e. entreatirs him at the same time to relax
his grasp Of her neck, for she could scarcely
speak, IGuch less do what he hid her, while be
held her so tight.
At length he was induced to quit his hold
on her Tcmi0iiLS him that ne must lose no
time, or the family would be returning from
church.
She then led the way to her master. bed
room, and showed him the Golfer where be
kept his money
Here" she said, reaching him an ak
which lay in corner of the room, you can
opeL it with this, while 1 run up stairs to put
all ny things together, besides the money
have saved since 1 have been here"
Completely deceived by her apparent readi-
ness to enter into his plans, be allowed her'to
leave the room, only exhorting her to be quick
as possible, and was Immediately absorbed in
his own operations first opening the box, and
then disposiDg of the money about his person.
In the meantime Hsnchin, instead Of going
mp stairs to her own room, crept softly along
masters chamber 1t was the work of a mo
ment to bolt and shut the door upon him, and
this done, she rushed TO the outer door of the
mill to give the alarm. The only being in
sight was her masters boy, a child Of i've
years old; to him she called with all her
might, Run run to meet your father as be
comes from church tell him we shall be all
murdered if he does not come back"
The frightened child did as she bid him,
and set of running On the road she pointed
out.
Somewhat relieved by saeing that the child
understood her, and would make her case
known, she sat down for q moment On the
stone step before the door. and, full Of con-
hicting emotions Of grief and thankfulness
she burst into tears. But at this moment a
shTill whistle aroused her attention il was
from her prisoner Heinrich, who, opening the
grated window above her head, shouted to
some acc0mplice without to catch the child
that was running away so fast, and kill the
girl. Hanchin looked around in great alarm,
but saw no one. The child still continued to
run with all his might. and she hoped il was
false alarm to excite her and overcome her
resolution: when, just as the child reached
hollow In the next field, Ohe channel Of q ma
ural drain,) she saw a rutiian start up from
the bed of the drain, and snatching up the
child in bis arms, hasten with him towards
the mill, in accordance with the direction Of
his accomplish.
In a moment she perceived the full extent
of her danger, and formed her plan for es-
Gaping it. RetreatiDg to the mill, she double
locked the door and bOlted it, being the only
apparent entrance into the building, every
other Means Of obvious access being prevented
by strong iron grating fixed up against all the
windows, and then took her post at the upper
easement, determined to await patiently her
masters return, and her consequent delivery
from that dangerous position, or her own
death, if indeed inevitable, for she was really
and 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 time to secure herself in her
retreat, when the rufian, holding the scream
ing child in his hands, and, brandishing a
knife IN one hand, came up and bid her open
the door or he would break it down, adding
many awful Oaths and threats; to which her
only answer was she put her trust in God
Heinrich, who was witness Of this colloquy,
now called out to cut the child s throat before
her eyes if she still persisted in her refusal.
Poor Hanchin'S heart failed at this horrible
threat, but only for moment The death OF
the child could be no gain to them, while her
own ueah was certain III Sne 2QmllteQ lueu,
and her master too would be robbed. She
had no reason either to suppose that her COM
pliance would save the life Of the child.
1t was to risk all against nothing, and she
resolved to hold out to tho last, though the
villain from without renewed bis threats, say
ing that if she would not open the door to him
he you'd kill the child and then set fire to the
mill over her head. put my trust In TOD,
was sety the Moor girls answer. In the mean
while tie ruffan set down the child for mo-
ment TO look about for cOmbustibles to carry
ont his threat. in this search he discovered
a mode Of entering the mill unthought of by
Hanchin.
IL was a large aperture in the wall commu-
nicating with the great wheel and the other
machinery Of the mill, and it VAS point IN
protected for it had not been contemplated
that any one would seek to enter by go dan
gerous an inlet. Triumphant at this discovery
be returned to tie the hands and feet of the
poor child, to prevent its escape, and then
stole back to the aperture by which he intend
ed to effect an entrance