The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-09-21
A Brave Girl.

Hampshire, and was descendant OF
the old Crawfords. Her father was a
Crawford, and followed the profession
of a guide among the mountains. Her
name was Bessie, and she was the only |
daughter remaining at 1ome--a dark
eyed, brown haired girl, of slight but
compact frame, just entering her nine
teentl year, Her mother had been
dead several years, and upon her de-
volved tue whole care of the house
hold. ...i.s--.-.r1.
One day, late in Summer, Mr.. Craw-
ford went, with a party of travellers,
away to the head waters of one of the
many mountain streams that empty in
to .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 open window in the front room,
engaged in sewing, a man came up
from the road and asked her if she
would give him drink of water. Bes-
sic had seen this man before-had not
liked his looks. He was stout, broad
shouldered, ill-favored fellow, and the
bits of moss and spikes of the pines
upon his clothes indicated that he had
slept in the woods. ..'.r.- '.aat
But Bessie did not hesitate. She
| laid aside her work and went to get
the water. 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 han
,led him the tin dipper without remark
The man drank, and then set she Dip
per down upon the table. Then he
turned upon the girl, and drew q broad
bladed knife from his pocket. ..
!.Look ye, my young lady," he said
II know there is money i'll this house
and | know that you are alone. Show
me where the money is! 1 shall xii
you, and then hunt it up myself! I'm
in earnest, and there is no time t.
r waste. Don't make a fuss, for if yol
: do, you'll feel this knife quick!'
+ Bessie shrank back, and looked int
the mans face, and she could see tina
. he meant just what he said.
< IF show you where the money is
will you promise not to do me harm !
J. ''Show me, honest, and won
S harm YOU" W4tsa. j..
4 "Thcn come with me. But You vii
y take only the money-you won't TAX
IL my fathers papers" '
II "Only the money, girl" lre zf'.
:. Bessie led the way to 4 small bed
; room on the ground floor, where Their
1T was an old mahogany bureau, the up
If per drawer of which she unlocked
The man, when he saw this, thinkin
. doubtless that Crawford's gold wa
,r within his grasp, shut up his knife an
j, put it into his pocket. The girl opene
ii the drawer, and, quick as though
IN drew forth Il large navy revolyer.-on
~ with which she herself had killed
~ trapped bear--and cooked it,
y "Villian!" she exclaimed, plantin
q. her back against the wall, and amin
= the weapon at his bosom, "many
r. wild beast have l shot with this GOO
70 pistol, and III now shoot you IL you
ID not instantly leave this house! WI
g. o;ro not even u second! Start, or
~ fire."
The ruffian could read human lOol
-. as we'll as he could the maiden, and
a. could read very plainly in the firms
no lips and in the flashing eye-but mo
on clearly in the steady hand which he
sh the pistol-that she would not only ii
ds as she had promised, but her aim won
in be a sure and fatal one.
in And he backed out from the ne
led room-backed into the sitting-roonl
alf then leaped from the open widow a
se- disappeared. ''' r.
lay Bessie kept her pistol by her 81
hts until her father and his guests ca
the home; and when she had told her ste
is search was made for the ruffiian. !
zen he was not found. Our heroine |
h e so Thoroughly frightened him that
fer never came that way again.
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