St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-12-02
4 BFdce Girl.

Il bIUct orr.
Our heroine lived III Bartlett, n. II.
and was descendant OF the old CrawfOrds
Her father was Crawford, and follow
ed the profession Of guide among til,
mountains. Her name was Bessie, an,
she " IS the only daughter remainin. oi
iome-a dark-cyed hr"wn-haired girl
Of sight. but compact frame; just enter
ing her nineteenth year. Her mother
mad been dead several years, and upon
her devolved the whole care of ih,
| household.
One day laic in summer, Mr. Craw.
ford went with "A party of travellers. away
! To the head-wate of one of the mlnN
mountain streams that empty into til,
Saco, and Bessie was left alone Evel
the dogs hal all gone with the pl a>ure,
seekers. Near the middle OF the after.
noon, while the girl was sitting by "a.
open window OF the front room, engaged
IN Swing, man came up from tho
| roid. and asked her If she would civ,
him Il drink OF water. Bessie had seer
| this man before, and had not liked hi
/ lO"NS. He was a stout. broad-shOulder
ed, ill-favored fellow, and the bits o
moss and spikes of the pines, upon hi,
clothes Indicated that he had slept il
the woods.
| But Bessie did not hesitate. Sh,
laid aside her work and went to get til,
water. When she came back the MAJ
mad entered the room. She did no
ike this for she was sure he had come ii
iy the window ; but she handed him /,
I'm dipper without remarh. 1he mat
drank and set the diPper down upon the
table. Then he turned upon the girl
and drew a broad-bIaded knife from hi,
pocket.
''Look ye, my young lady he said,
Il know there's money III THIS h use -
and know that you are alone. Show
me where the money Is. Ii you don't,
shall kill you and then hunt it up my.
self. I'm in earnest and there amt nc
time to waste. Don't make fuss, tol
il you do you'll feel this knife quick
Bessie <hramk back, and looked into
the mans face, and she coulI see tha
he meant just what he said.
at | show you where the money i,
vii, you promise not t. do me harm p
''Show me honest, aad l won't narm
YOU
Then come with me But you vii
take only the money,-you won't ,ak,
my fathers paper, ,"
"Only the money, girl"
Bessie led tie way t. d small b, drocr
Oh the around floor, whore there was a
old mah"gony Lurcau, tie upper ir;wa
of which she unlocked. The mal
when he saw this, thinking doub,lyr
that Crawford's gold wa, within his gra-I
shut up his knife aud put it into b
pocket. The girl opened the drawe
and quick as thought drew forth a lar
navy revolvcr-one with which she he
self had killed q trapped bear-ar
cooked ii.
"NiIi"in." she exclaimed, plantir
her hack against the wall, and aimig
the weapon AT his bosom. many vi
beast have | shot with Ills good pi>t
and I'll now shoot you ii YOU do not Ii
stantly leave tins house, l will give yo
not even Il second Start or | fire
The ruifian could red human lool
rs well as could the maiden, and /
could read very plain IN the firm SET lip
and III the flashing eye--but more clea
iy in the steady hand That held ii
piStol-that she would not only fire,
she had promised, but that her ali
would be sure and fatal one.
And he b scked out from the bed-roor
backed into the sittirg-roum-ih"
leapcd from the open window and disaE
peared. Bessie kept her pistol by ho
side until her father and his guests cam
homc and when she lad told her story
search was made for the ruilian. But Ii
wa> not fouEd. Our heorine had :
thoroughly frightened him that he nevC
c..mc that way again.