Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-29

clear voice, some plouS hymn which her
kind mistress had taught her.
An hour had scarcely passed by,when
there came knock at tn outer door
1t was q traveller on horseback, who ASK
eel leave TO rest for little kreetef at
first refused ;.but, on the promise Of the
cavalier that ne would only breakfast and
depart, she agreed TO admit him. Tho
stranger wished himself to take his horse
to the stable, and remained long time
examining and admiring tne noble steed
which had arrived the previous evening"
in. manner so unexpected. While
breakfasting, he asked many questions
about the inn and its owners; inquired
whose horse had attracted his attention
SO much and, in Short acted so success
fully that the poor grl, iaaocent of all
deceit, told him her late adventure,
and ended by confesSinS she was all
alone. She felt Immediately . vague
sense of having committed some impru-
dence, for the stran ger. listened to her
with singular attention. and seemed to .
rake greater interest tt an uaerc curiosity
IN What she was saying
The breakfast was prolonged to its ut.
most length 1T last, after few anim-
portant questions, the traveller desired
the servant girftO bring him a bottle Of
WINE. hrettel rose to obey. but, on
reaching the cellar found thai the stran-
ger had followed her, and, turning round,
she saw the giitser Of q pistol handle
through his vest, Her presence of mind
failed her not at this critical moment
When. they had reached the foot Of the
steps, she suddenly e1tinsnished the
light, and stood up close against the
wall the man, uttering imprecations,
advanced few steps, cropping his way.
krettel prctiting by this movement, re-
mounted the steps, agile and noiselsss,
:. closed and firmly boltsd the door upon
the pretended traveller, and then barri-
'caded herself securely ia an upper cham
Der, there TO await her masters arri-
val >s-.-sse-z
Krettel Lad not been many minutes
,ensconced in her retreat when q fresh
: knocking, resoun6ed Al. the inn door, and
: IL IS s,rffssss4, 's fa5iA AN aeaS iSs i,asr
kravcier wao had been there = shczi
time before. FROM their description oil
his appearance, the young. girl imrnedi
ately discovered that the person sought
for was the stranger whom she had
locked in the cellar; nevertheless. sho
thought it most prudent to make ne
admission on the Subject. On her re-
fusin5 their request to open the door, the
two men threatened to scale the wall
! The poor girl tyembled with fear her
courage'was nigh deserting her for she
knew they could easily accomplish their
project by means Of the iron bars fixed
8 4,
| this perplexity Krcttlef looked around
her, and her eye fell upon q muskel
which hung from the wall, relic of her
masters younger days. Sha seized it
and pointing the muzzle out Of the win
dow, cried oct that she would fire on the
first man wls attempted to ascend
The two 1oboers-for that such they wer'
could no longer be deubted-strucl
dunno at the sight of FIRE arms where
expecting TO resistance, they had broush b
no weapons, and cenfounded by such in
trcpidity, went away uttering the mos
fearful mensces, and vowing 70 return il
greater force In spite cf her terror
our heroine remained firm at her post
An hour passed away in this critica
position at last the girl perceived he
] DlhSleF anu his HAeuOS C1iiIUS III otk IA
accompanied by the burgomaster AM
some officers.
The brave Krettel rushed TO the door
and her fear amounting almost to des
pair gave place to the liveIiest JOY. L
the wonder and admi- atlon of all, she r,
t lated what had happened; the 6urgomast'
! especially lavished on her the warne'
: praise for her heroic conduct. The off
GERS. went in search of the robber who
kre.tel had imprisoned with so mut
I; address and presence Of mind. After
q sharp resistance, he was bound and 81
e cured, and soonafter recognized as q
e chief of band of robbers who bad (
7, some time spread terror over the cou
r try. His nen, wandering about witho
/ a captain, were quickly either taken
g dispersed The burgomaster decid
t that the horse. and Ealise, which, CO
/ tained a great number of gold piec
d, should be given to young Krettel, who
s. courage had SO pow werfully contributed
rid the country OF bandits who had
Y, fcsted it for so long a time.
s,
ID