The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-11-14
The Maid of the Mill.

There is Il lonely mill close beside
the little hamlet Of CdOlf. near the
Rhine shore. between the village OF
HeTsel and UrSel, on the left bank he
low Bonn. This mill is said To have
been the scene Of the following story:
II was on Sunday morning. ages
long ago" that the miller Of this mill,
and his whole family, went forth to
hear the holy mass at the nearest
church. in the village of IIershel. The
mill. which was also his residence. was
left in charge Of a servant girl, named
Hannchen. or Jenny, stout-hearted
lass, who had long lived with him in
that capacity. An infant child, OF an
age unfit for church, WAS left in her
charge likewise.
The girl was busily employed in pre-
pairing for dinner for the return Of her
master and his family. when who
should enter all of a sudden, bat an
old sweetheart of hers, named Helm
rich BOttelOr. lie was IN idle. grace
less fellow, whom the miller had for
hidden his house, but whom Jenny,
with the amiable peryersity peculiar to
her sex, only liked, perhaps, all the bet
ter because others gave him no cOun-
tenance. She was glad TO see him, and
she told him so, too: and. although in
the middle of her work, she not only
got him something to eat at once, but
also found time to sit down with him
and have a gossip, while he dispatched
the food she set before him. As he
ate. however, he let fall his knife.
Pick that up, my lass, said he, in a
joking WY, to the gOOd-natured girl.
"Nay, Heinrich she replied, your
back should be more sUpp.e than mine,
for YOU have less work To make il stiff.
I labor all day long, and yOu do moth
ing. But, never mind, 'twOuld go hard
with me an | refused 10 do more than
that for you, bad though you be-
This was spoken half spOrtively, and
half in good earnest; for, kind-hearted
as the girl was, and much as she liked
the scapegTace, she was too honest and
industrious herself to encourage and
approve of idlenesS and a suspicious
course of life in any one else, however
dear TO her. She stopped down, accOr-
dinghy, to pick up the knife. As she
was in the act of rising, however, the
treacherOus villain drew a dagger from
under his coat, and caught her by the
nape of the neck, gripping her throat
firmly with his fingers to prevent her
screaming the while.
Now, lass" he said, swearing out a
bad oath at the same time, "Where IS
your masters money? I'll have that
or yOur life; so take your choice"
The terrified girl would fain have
parleyed with the ruffian, but he would
hear nothing she could say.
Masters money or your life, LASS
was all the answer he YOuchSafed TO
her entreaties and adjuratiOns. Choose
at once, was the only alternative he
offered her; "the grave or the gOldr'
She saw that there was no hope of
mercy at his hands; ard, as she saw it,
her native resolution awOke in her
bosom. Like the generality of her sex,
she was timid at tritleS; a scratch was
a subject of fear to her; Il drop of
blood caused her To faint: an unwOnt-
ed sound filled her soul with fear in the
night. But when her energies were
aroused by any adequate cause, she
proved, as her sex have ever done, that
in courage. in endurance, in presence
of mind. and in resources Of emer-
gency, she far surpassed the bravesl
men,
We'll, well, Heinrich" she said, re-
signedly, "what is 10 he. must be. But
if yOu take the money, | shall even go
along with We. This will be 10 home
for me any more. But ease your grip
of my neck little; don't squeeze so
hard: J can't move. YOU hug me so
tight: and if | can't stir, You cannot
get the mOney-that'S clear, yOu know.
Besides, time presses; and if it be done
at all. il must be done quickly. as the
family viii shortly he back from Her
sell"
The ruilfan relaxed his gripc, and
finally let 90 his hold. Her reasons
were all cOgent with his cupidity.
Come" she said; quick, quick. no
delay; the money Is in masters bed
room
She tripped up stairs. g9ily as a lark;
he followed closely at her heels. She
led the way into her masters bedroom.
and pointed out the Golfer in which his
money was secured.
Here she said. reaching him an axe
which Law in a corner of the room.
this will wrench il open at once: and
while You are tying it up. L shall juSt
step up stairs 10 my own apartment.
and get few things ready for our
flight, rs well rs my own little savings
for the last five wears.
The ruffian was thrown off his guard
by her OpenneSs and apparent anxiety
TO accompany him. Like all egOtiStS,
ne deceived himself. when self deceit
was most. certain To he his deSuuc-
tiOn.
"Go lass, was all he said: ~but he
not long. This job will be done in 4
twinkling7
She disappeared at the words. lie
Immediately broke open the chest. and
was soon engaged in rUmmaging its
contents.
As he was thus employed. however,
/ absorbed IL the contemplation of his
I prey. and eagerly occupied in securing
II on his person. the brave-bearted girl
/ stole down the stairs on tiptoe. Creep
I ing softly along the passages. She
| speedily gained the door of the cham
her unseen byn him. and likewise nm
heard. 1t was but the work Of a no
ment for her to turn the key in the
wards and lock him in. This done she
rushed forth TO the outer door Of the
mill and gave the alarm.
Fly. fivr she ShTieked to the child,
| her masters little boy, an infant five
years old, the only being within sight
or sound of her. aFly. fiy to thy IA
ther, fly on your life Tell him we
shall all he murdered he haste not
back. Fly, fly"
The child, who was at play before
| the door, at once Obeyed the energetic
command Of the brave girl, and sped rs
/ fast as his tiny legs could carry him on
the road by which he knew his parents
would return from church. Hannchen
| cheered him onward, and inspirited his
little heart as he ran.
BLESS thee, boy-bleSS theer'-she
exclaimed in the gladnesS of her heart
IAN master arrives in time I will offer