The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-07-16
A BRAVE GIRL.

Our heroine lived in Bartlett, New
Hampshire, and was descendant of tho
old Crawfords. Her father was Craw-
ford, and followed the profession of
guide among the mountains. Her name
was Bessie, and she was the only daugh>
ter remaining at home-a dark.-eyed,
brown-haired girl. of slight, but compact
frame, just entering her nineteenth year.
Her mother had been dead several years
and upon her devolved the whole care Of
the house.
One day, late in summer, Mr.. zCraw-
ford went with a party Of travellers, away
10 the headwaters of one Of the many
mountain streams that empty into Saco,
and Bessie was left alone. Even the
dogs had all gone with the pleasure seek
ers. Near the middle of the afternoon
! while the girl was sitting by an open win
dow in the front room, engaged in sew
ing, a man Cal me up from the road and
asked her if she would give him drinK
of water. Bessie had seen the man be-
fore, and had not liked his looks. He
was stout. broad shouldered, ill-favor-
ed fellow, and the bits OF moss and spikes
of the pines on his clothes indicated that
he had slept in the woods.
LUZ oCSoiC uiu uot uc6IIAtcs OuS Jaiu
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 ty the
window; but she handed him the tin
dipper without remark. The man drank,
and then set the dipper down upon the
table. Then he turned upon the girl
and drew broad b'aded knife from his
pocket.
Look ye, my young lady he said, I
know there's money in this house; and
know that you are alone. Show me
where the money is! If you don't l
shall kill you and then hunt it up my
self I'm in earnest. and there amt no
time to waste. Don't make a fuss, for if
you do you'll feel this knife quick.
Bessie snrank back, and looked into
the mans face, and she could see that
he meant what he had said.
If show you where the money is,
will you promise not to do me harm?
Show me, honest, and I won't harm
you.'
Then come with me-. But you will
take only the money-you won't take
ny fathers papers,
Only the money, girl
Bessie led the way to small beds
room on the ground floor, where there
was an old mahogany burSau, the upper
drawer of which she unlocked. The
man, when he saw this, thinking. doubt
less. that Crawford's gold was within
his grasp. shut up his knife and put it
into his pocket The girl opened the
drawer, and, quich as thought, drew
6rth large navy revolver-one with
which she herself had killed trapped
bear-and cooked it!
VILLAIN! she exclaimed, planting her
back against the wall, aud aiming the
weapon At his bosom, many . wild
beast have shot with this good pistol,
and Ill now shoot you if you do not in
stantly leave this housei' l will give
you not even . second! Start, or I
fire!'
The ruffian could read human looks
as we'll as could the maiden. and he
could read very plainly iu the firm>set
lips and in the flashing eyes-but more
clearly in the steady hand VIII ich held
the pistol-that she would not only fire
as she had promised, but her aim would
be sure and fatal one.
And he backed out from the bed room
backed into the sitting-room-then
leaped from the open window and disap.
peared.
Bessie kept her pistol by her side un-
til her father and his guests came home.
and when she had told her story, search
was made for the rufian. But he was
not found. Our heroine had so thor
oughly frightened him that he never
came that way again.