Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-11-25
A Brave Girl.

| Oar heroine lived in Bartlett, N. H.,
and was descendant of the old Craw-
fords. Her father was Crawford, and
followed the profession Of guide among
the mountains. Her name was Bessie
and she was the only daughter remain.
ing at home-a dark-eyed, brown-haired
girl; of slight but compact frame just
entering her nineteenth year. Her moth
er had been dead several years, and up
on her devolved the whole care Of the
household. .., .. ..-a
Ono day late in Summer, Mr.. Craw-
ford went, with party Of travellers,
away to the head-waters of one of the
many mountain streams that empty into
the Saco, and Bessie was left alone
Even the dogs had all gone with the
pleasure-seekers. Near the middle of
the afternoon, while the girl was sitting
by an oyen window of the front room,
engaged in sewing, man came up from
the read, and asked her if she would
give him drink of water. Bessie had
seen this man before, and had not liked
his looks. He was stout, oroad-shoul-
dered, ill-favored fellow, and the bits of
moss and spikes of the pines, upon his
clothes, indicated that he had slept in
| the woods.
But Bessie did not hesitate. She laid
aside her work and went to get the wa
ter. When she came back the man had
entered the room. She did not like this
for she was sure he had come in by the
window; but she handed him the tin
dipper without remark. The man drank
aud set the dipper down upon the table.
Then he turned upon the girl, and drew
oad-bladed knife from his pocket.
Look ye, my young lady," he said,
Il know there's money in this house -
and know that you are alone. Show
me where the money is If you don't, ]
shall kill you and then hunt it up my
self. Pm in earnest and there amt no
time to waste. Don't make fuss, for if
you do you'll feel this knife quick -
Bessie shrank back, and looked into
the mans face, and she could see that
he meant just what he had said.
eff / show you where the money is
will you promise not to do me harm3'
"Show me honest, and won't harm
you"
"Then come with me. But you will
take only the money,-you won't take
my fathers papers?"
"Only the money, girl.
Bessie led the way to small bedroom
on the ground floor, where there was an
old mahogony bureau, the upper drawer
of which she unlocked. The man, when
he saw this, thinking doubtless that
Crawford's gold was within his grasp,
shut up his knife and put it into bis
pocket. The girl opened the drawer, and
quick as thought drew forth large ma
Wy revolvor-on with which she herself
had killed trapped bear-and cooked
it.
"Villain!" she exclaimed, planting
her back against the wall, and aiming
the weapon at his bosom, many wild
beast have l shot with this good pistol,
and I'll now shoot you if you do not IN
stantly leave this house / will give you
not even second Start or fire!
The rufian could read human looks
as we'll as could the maiden, and he could
read very plain in the frm-set lips, and
in the flashing eyes-but more clearly
in the steady hand that held the pistol
that she would not only fire, as she had
promised, but that her aim would be q
sure and fatal one.
And he backed out from the bedroom
= backed into the sitting-room - then
leaped from the open window and disap-
peared. Bessie kept her pistol by her
side until her father and his guests came
home and when she had told her story,
search was made for the ruffin. But he
was not found. Our heorine had 80 tho
roughly frightened him that he never
came that way again.
| A II III <<,I, -.