St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-11-11
work, and ought at least to wait upon
himself. In the end, however, she stoop-

work, and ought at least to wait upon
himself. In the end, however, she stoop-
ed down to pick up the knife, when the
treacherous william drew a dagger from
under his coat, and caught her BY the
nape Of the neck, gripping her throat
firmly with his fingers to prevent her
screaming then, with an oath, he desir-
ed her to tell him where her master kept
his money, threatening to kill her if she
did not comply with his demand. The
surprised and terrified girl in vain .atempt-
led to parley with him he still held her
tightly in his choking grasp, leaving her
no other choice but todie, Of betray her
master. She saw there was no hope Of
softening him, or changing his purpose,
and, with the full conviction Of his treach-
cry, all her native courage woke, in her
bosom. Affecting, however, to yield to
what was inevitable, she answered him, in
q signed 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 bear their suspicious
and reproaches; entreating him, at the
same time, to relax his grasp Of her throat,
tor 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 returning 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 corner of the room,
you can open it with this, while I run up
stairs to put all my things together, be-
sides the money / have saved since I
have been here s...-
Completely deceived by her apparent
readiness to enter into his plans, he allow
ed her to leave the room, only exhorting
her to be as quick as possible, and was
Immediately absorbed in his own opera
tons, first opening the box, and then
dispos!ng Of the money about his person.
Ia the mean while, Hanchen, instead Of
going up stairs to her own room, crept
softly along several passages, till she
again reached her masters chamber. It
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,a child
|cf five years old; to him she called, with
al! 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 OF running on the
road she pointed out.
! Somewhat relieved by seeing that The
child understood her, and would make hel
case known, she sank down for moment
on the stone seat before the door, aud, full
OF conflicting emotions Of grief and thank.
fitness for her escape; she burst into tears
But, at this moment, shrill whistle
Faroused her attention it was from he1
prisoner, Heinrich, who, opening Che era:
ted window above her head, shouted to
some accomplice without, to catch. the
child that was running away so fast, and
to kill the girl. Hanchen looked round
in great alarm, but saw no one. The
child still continued to run with all his
might, and she hoped that it was but a
false alarm, to excite her fear and over.
come her resolution when, just as the
child reached hollow in the next field
(the channel Of a natural drain,) she saw
rufian start up from the bed Of the
drain, and snatching up the child in his
arms, hasten with him towards the mill
in accordance with the directions of his
accomplice. In a moment she perceived
the full extent Of her danger, and formed
her plan for escaping it.
"Retreating into the mill, she double
locked and bolted the door, the only appa.
rent entrance into the building, every
other means Of obvious access being pre-.
vented by strong iron gratings fixed UP
against all the Windows,-and then took
her post at the upper easement, deterlnin.
ed to await patiently her masters return
and her consequent delivery from that
dangerous position, or her own death, if
indeed, inevitable for she was fully re-
solved to enter into no terms, and thai
nothing should induce her to give up he1
masters property into the robbers hands
She had hardly had time to secure her
self in her retreat, when the rufian
holding the screaming childein This arms
and brandishing knife in one hand
came up, and bid hersopen the door, or he
would !. break re X i down, adding many awfu
oaths and threats; to which her only
answer was, that she put her trust in God
Heinrich, who from his window was wit
ness Of this colloquy, now called out t.
] cut the child throat before her eyes, i
j she still persisted in her refusal. Poo
Hanchen's heart quailed at this horrible
threat; for a moment her resolution fail
ed, but only for a moment. The death 0
! the child could be no gain to them, Will
!