The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-01-11
A Brave Girl.

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scendant 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 home-a
dark.eyed, brown-haired girl, OF
slight, but compact frame, just en-
terins her nineteenth year. Her
mother had been dead several
years, and upon her dcvolvcd the
whole care Of the household.
One day lato in Summer, Mr..
Crawford went with a party Of
travellers, away to tho headwa-
ters Of one of the many mountain
streams that empty into Saco, and
Bessie was left alone. Even the
dogs had all gone with the pleas
urc-scekcrs. 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 for a drink of water. Bes-
sic had seen this man before, and
had not liked his looks. lie was
a stout, broad-sh ouldercd, ill-favor-
cd fellow, and the bits Of moss
and spikes Of the pines upon his
clothes indicated that be had slept
in the woods.
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 handed him
the tin dipper without remark
The man drank, and then sat the
dippcr down upon the table. Then
he turned upon the girl and drew
a broad-bladcd knife from his
pocket.
Look ye, my young lady, he
said, Il know there's money in
this house, and l know that you
arc alone. Show mo where the
money is? Ifyou don't | shall Kill
you, and then hunt it up myself.
I'm in earnest, and there aint no
time to waste. Don't make a 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
said.
'IfI show You where the mon
cy is, will you promise not to do
me harm p
Show me, honest, and l won't
harm YOU
Then come with me. But you
will take only the money-you
won't take my fathers papcrs?'
'Olly the money, girl
Bessie led the way to a small
bedroom on the ground floor,
where was an old mahogany bu-
reau, the upper drawer Of which
she unlocked. The man, when he
saw this, thinking, doubtless, that
Crawtord's gold was within his
grasp, shut up his knife and put
il into his pocket. The girl open
ed the drawer, and quick as
thought, drew forth a large navy
rcvolver-onc with which she
herself has killed trapped bear
and cooked it.
William she exclaimed, plant
ing her back against the wall and
aiming the weapon at his bosom,
many Il wild beast have / shot
with this good pistol, and now III
shoot you if you do not instantly
leave this house! l will give you
not even a second. Start, or l
firc!'
The ruffian could read human
looks as well as could the maiden.
and he could read very plainly in
the 6rm-sct lips and in the fash
ing cyes-but more clearly in the
steady hand which held the pis-
she would not only fire,
as she had promised, but her aim
would be a sure and fatal one.
And he backed out from the
bed-room-backed into the sitting
leapcd from the open
window and disappeared.
Bessie kept her pistol by her