The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-09-18
The Maid of the Mill.

:. tween the villages Of Hersel and Ursel, o
" the left bank, below Bonn. This mill
said to have been the scene of the foIlowin
70 story:
K 1t was on Sunday morning. "ages ago.
10 that the miller of this mill and his Who'll
;. family went forth to hear the holy mass q
the nearest church in the village of Herse
o The mill, which was also his residence
t WAS left in charge Of servan, girl name,
Hanncben. or Jenny, stout hearted lass
i who had long lived with him in that cspsc
ity. An infant child, of an age unfi, 70
church, was left in her charge likewise
The girl was busily employed in preparing
dinner for the return Of her master and hi,
family, when who should enter all Of sud
den but an old sweetheart of hers. named
. Heinrich Bottelor. He was an idle, grace
less fellow, whom the miller had forbidden
lis house, but whom Jenny. with the ami
able perversity OF her sex, still iiked--per
maps all the better because others gave him
no countenance. She was glad to see him,
and she told him so. too and although in
the midst of her work, she not only got him
something to eat at once, but also found
time to sit down with him and have a COS
sip, while he dispatched TIE food she set be-
fore him. AS he ate, however, he let fall,
his knife.
Pick that up. my lass" said he. in a
joking way. to the good natured girl.
"Nsy, Henrich.' she replied, "your
back should be moro supple than mine, for
you have less work to make it stiff l labor
all tho day long. and you do nothing. But
never mind 'twould go hard with me. an
l refused to do more than that for you, bad
though you be-
This was spoken half sportively and half
in good earnest, for, kind hearted as the
girl was, and much as she liked the scape-
grace, she was too honest and industrious
herself TO encourage and approve of idle
ness and suspicious course of life in any
one else, however dear to her. She stoop-
ed down, accordingly, to pick up the knife.
AS she was in the act of rising. however.
the treacherous villain drew q 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 the
while.
"Now. lass" said he, swearing out a bad
oath at the same time, where is your mas
ter's money? I'll have that or your life,
80 take your choice.''
The terrified girl would fain have par
leyed with the ruffian, but he would listen
to nothing she could say.
Masters money or your life, lass J" was
all the answer he vouchssfed to her entres-
ties aud adjurations. Choose at once p
WAS the only alternative he offered to her;
"the grave or the gold y
She saw there was no hope Of mercy at
his hands; and, as she saw it, her native
resolution awoke in her bosom. Like the
generality of her gentler sex. she was timid
at trifles-a scratch was a subject of fear to
her q drop Of blood caused her to faint;
any unwonted sound filled her soul with
fear in the night. But. when her energies
were aroused by any adequate cause. she
proved, as her sex have ever done, that in
courage, in endurance. in presence of mind
and in resources for emergency. she sUrpass-
ed the bravest and coolest men.
"Weli, well, Heinrich she said. resign
edly, "what is to be must be. But il you
take the money, shall even go along with
ye This will be no home for me any more.
But ease your grip OF my neck little
don't squeeze so hard l can't move, you
hug me so tight; and if can't stir, you
can't get the money-thats clear, you
know. Besides, time presses and if it be
done at all, it must be done quickly. the
family will be shortly back from Hersel."
The ruffian relaxed his grip. and finally
let 60 bis hold. Her reasons were all CO.
gent with his cupidity.
Come" she said "quick quick no
dslay-you will End the money in masters
bedroom"
She tripped up stairs, gaily as a lark-he
followed closely at her heels. She led the
way into her masters bedroom, and point
ed ont the Golfer in which the money was
secured.
Here" she said. wrench it open at
once: and while you are tying the money
up, shall just step up stairs to my own
apartment. and get few things ready for
our fight, as we'll as my own little hard sa-
wings for the last FIVE years.
The ruffian was thrown of his guard by
her openness and apparent anxiety to ac-
company him. Like all egotists. he deceiv-
ed himself when self. conceit was most cer-
tain to be his destruction.
$50, lass" was all he said but do
not be long away. This job will be done
in a twinkling."
She disappeared at the words. He i'm
mediately broke open the chest, and was
soon engaged in rummaging its contents
As he was thus employed. however. absorb
ed in the contemplation of his prey, and
eagerly occupied in securing it on his per-
son, the brave hearted girl stole down the
stairs on tiptoe. Creeping softly along the
passages, she speedily gained the door of
the chamber unseen by him, and likewise
unheard. II was but the work of mo-
ment for her to turn the key In the wards
and lock him in. This done. she rushed
forth to the outer door Of the mill, aud gave
the alarm.
ely ay - she shrieked to the child,
her masters little boy. an infant FIVE years
old, the only being within sight or sound of
her. I" Fly, fy to thy father fiy on your
life. Tell him we shall all be murdered an
he haste not back. Fly fy.'
The child. who was at play before the
door. at once obeyed the energetic command
of the brave girl, and sped on as fast as his
tiny legs could carry him on the road by
which he knew his parents would return
from church. Hsnnchen cheered him on
ward, and inspisited his little heart as he
ran.
bless thee. boy-ble.s thee !" she ex
claimed. in the glsdnsss of her heart,
/" An master arrives in time, will offer up