The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-09-09
A COURAGEOUS GIRL.

OUR heroine lived in BARTLETT
New Hampshire. and was q descen
dant Of the old Crawfords. He,
fsther was Cra. ford, and follow
ed the profession OF guide among
the mountains
| Hes name wss Bessie, and she
was theonly daughter remaining
at home. a dark ey Ell, hrown-hair.
Cd girl, Of slight but compac,
frame, jns:entering her nineteenth
year. Her mother had been dead
several years, and upon her de-
volved the whole care Of the house
hold.
One day, late in summer, Mr.,
crawford went with q party oi
travellers swsy to the head dw.ters
OF one Of the many mountain
streams thst empty into tue Saco.
and Bessie was left alone. Even
fths does had gone with the plea
sure seekers.
Near the middle Of the after
noon. while the girl was citing by
the open window, man came up
from the road and asked her to
give him q drink OF water.
Bessie had seen the man before
and did not like his looks. He
was q short. broad-shouldered. ill.
favored fellow, and the bits of
moss and spikes of the pines upon
his clothing indicated that he 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 dipper
on the table. Then he turned
upon the girl and drew a broad
bl"ded knife from his pocket.
Look ye, here my yourg lady,
ne said, i know there's money in
this house, and ! know you are
alone. Show me where the money
is! If you don't l shall kill you,
and then hunt it up myself. 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 shrank hack and looked
into the mans face and cou Id see
fnst he meant just what he said.
If l show you the drawer where
the money is, will you promise not
to do me harm ?
SHOW mo honest. and l won't
harm you
Then come With me- -ss
Bessie led the way to a small bed
room on the ground floor, where
there was an old mahogany bureau
the upper drawer OF which she
unlocked The man, when hc saw
this, thinking doubtless, that Craw
lords gold "ss within his grasp,
shut up his knife and put it into
his pocket.
The girl opened the drawer, and
quick as thought, drew forth a
large navy revolver. one with
which she herself had killed a trap
ped bear and cooked it.
William = she exclaimed planting
her back against the wall, and aim
ing the weapon at his bosom, many
q wild beast have l shot with this
good pistol, and I'll shoot you i.
you don't instantly leave this
house! l will give YOU not even a
second. Start, or firev
The ruflian could read human
looks as we'll as the maiden and
he could read very plainly in the
firm-set lips and in tie flashing
eyes-but more clearly in the
steady hand which held the pistol
that she would no. only fire, as
she had promised, but her aim
would be sure and fatal one.
And he backed out from the he'd
room, backed into the sitting room
hen leaped from the window and !
disappeared.
Bessie kept her pistol by her
site n"'il her IA her and his guests
cine hGlrC search was made for
the iuiii i,sr, But he was Lot To he !
found. Our heroine had so thor.
ougbly fr2'.tent d him that lie nev
er came that way again.
The Richmcnd Radical has in.
1ulged 10 some entirely unprvoked