Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-03-16
The uil1er,s Maid.


Boon, there yet stands the mill, which was
the scene of the following adventure
One Sunday morning, the miller and hi
family set out as usual 10 attend divine scr
wees at the nearest church in the town oi
Heassel leaving the mill. to Which the dwell
ing house was attached, in charge of his ser
want maid Hanchen, boldhearted girl
who had been FOR some time 10 his service
The youngest child, who was yet too little
to go to church, remained also under her
care.
AS Hanchen was husily engaged in pre-.
par'ng dinner for the family, she was inter
rnpted by visit from her admirer, Helm.
rlch Bottler. lie was an idle, gracelcss per-
son, ana her master, who knew his cLarac.
Yer well, had forbidden him the house but
hanchen could not believe many of the
stories she had heard against her lover
and was sincerely attached TO him. On this
occasion she treated him kindly. and not
only got him something to eat at once, bnt
found time in the midst Of her business to
sit down nnd have a gossip with him. while
he did Justice 10 the fare before him.
As he was eating he lei fall the knife
which be asked her TO pick up for him.
She playfully demonstrated, saying she fear.
ed from what she had heard, he did little
enough work and onght at least to wait on
himself. In the end however, she stooped
down to pick up the knife, when the
treachercus villain drew dagger from m.
der his coat, & caught her by the nape of the
neck, gripping her firmly with his fingers to
prevent her screaming then with an OATH
he desired her to tell him where her master
kept his money, threatening to kill her if
she did not comply with bis demands.
The surprised and terrified girl in vain
attempted to parley with him. Tie still
held her tightly in his Choking grasp
ieaVeng her no other choice but TO die or
betray her master. She saw there was no
hope of softening him or altering his pnr
pose, and with entire conviction of his
treachery all her native courage awoke 10
her bosom.
Affecting. however, to yield to what was
inevitable, she answered him in calm tone,
that what must he, must only, if he carr
ed oil her masters gold, he must take
her with him, for she could never stay to
hear their suspicious reproaches, entreat.
ing'him at the same time 10 relax the grasp
X,
much less do what he bid while he held ber
so tight. At last he was induced to quit
his hold, on her reminding him that he must
lose no time, as the family would be return
ing home from church.
She then led the way TO her masters bed
room, and showed the Golfer where be kept
his money
Here" she said, reaching to him an axe
which lay in one corner Of the room, "you
can open it with this, while rnn up stairs
10 put my thinks together, besides the mon.
ey | have saved since / have been here"
Completely deceived by her apparent
readiness to enter into his plans, he per-
mitted her to leave the room, exhorting
her to be as quiet as possible, and was inn
mediately absorbed in his operntion--frst
opening the box, and then disposing of the
money about his person.
In the meanwhile Hanchen, instead of
going up stairs to her own room, crept soft.
ly along several passages, till she again
reached her masters chamber. 1t was but
the work of q moment to shut and bolt the
door upon him and this done she rushed
to the other door of the mill to give the
alarm. The only being in sight was her
masters little boy, boy Of five years old
TO him she called with all her might.
"Run run to meet your father ns he
comes from church tell him we shall be
murdered if he does not come back !"
The frightened child did as she bid him,
and set off running on the road she point
ed Somewhat relieved by seeing that the
child understood aud would make her case
known, she sat down for moment on the |
stone seat before her door, and foil Of con |
acting emotions of grief and thankfulness
for her escape, she burst into tears.
But at this moment shrill whistle arrest
ed her attention. 1t was from her prison
er Heinrich, who opened the grated win
dow above her head shouted to some ac-
complice without to catch the child that
was running away so fast, and to kill the
girl.
Hauchen looked aronnd in great alarm,
but saw no one. The child still continued
to run with all its might, and she hoped it
was but false alarm to excite her and over
come her resolution, when just as the child |
reached a hollow in the next field, (thc |
channel Of natural drain) she saw ruff |.
fan start from the head Of the drain, and |
snatching the child in bis arms, FASTENED |
with him to the mill, in accordance with !
the direction of his accomplce. In mo.
ment she perceived the full extent of her |
danger and formed her plan Of escaping il.
Retreating into the mill, she double-ock
ed barred and bolted the door, the only ap
parent entrance in the bniIding, every other
means of obvious access prevented by strong
iron grating fixed mp against all the win.
dows, and then took her post at the upper
easement, determined to await patiently her
masters return, and the consequent delive-
ry from the dangerous position Of her own
death if inevtable-ror she was fully de.
termined TO enter into no terms and that
nothing should induce her to give up her
masters property into the robbers hands.
Sne had hardly time to secure herself in
her retreat, when the rufiau, holding the
screaming child in his arms, and brandish-
ing knife in one hand, came up and bid
her open the door, or he would break it
down, adding many fearful oaths and threats
to which her only answer was that sho pat
her trust in God
Heinrich, who from his window was