The Red Cloud chief., 1880-09-09
Till MAID.

THE MILLER'S MAID.
THERE is a lonely mill. close beside
the little hamlet of Udorf, near the
Kline shore. between the villages Of
Hersel and Ursel, on the left bank below
Bonn. This mill is said TO have been
the scene of the following story:
1t was on a Sunday morning, ."'ages
lone 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 Hersel. The mill,
which was also his residence, was left
inchargeo of n ~servant-girl named Ham,
chen, or Jenny, a 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 dinner for the return of her
master and his family, when who should
enter all of a sudden but an old sweet
heart of hers, named Heinrich BOtte-
lor. He was an idle, graceless fellow,
whom the miller had forbidden his
house, but whom Jenny liked, with
amiable %perversity peculiar to her sex
only, perhaps, all the better because
others gave him no countenance. She
was glad TO see him, and she told him
SO, too; and although in the midst of
her work, she not only got him some
hing 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
joking way, to the ~good-natured girl
Nay, Heinrich" she replied, ''your
back should be more supple than
m ne, for YOU have less work to make
it stiff. labor all day ong. and VI
do nothing. But never mad! W.
90 hard with me an | refused
more than that for you, bad I'll
be-"
This was spoken half sporti,
half in good earnest; fo5 ii
as the girl was, and mycX ed
the ~scapegrace, she was t5oM Ind
industrious herself to %encoura3 APP
prove of idleness or a suspiciousN Course
If life in any one else, however dear to
her. She stopped down.. accordingly,
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
masters money? I'll have it or your
life; SO take your choices"
The terrified girl would fain ha~epa
leyed with the r%ufiian, but he would
heal nothing she could say.
Masters money or your life, lassn"
was all the answer he vouchsafed to her
entreaties and adjurations. CHOOSE at
once" was the only alternative he Of
fered her; 1.-THE grave or the goldr'
She saw that there was no hope of
mercy at his hands; and, as she saw it,
her native resolution awoke in her bo-
som. Like the generality of her gentle
sex, she was timid at %triies; a scratch
was a subject of fear to her; a drop of
blood caused her to faint; an unwOnted
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 cver done, that
in courage, in endurance, in presence of
mind, and in for every emer-
gency, she far surpassed the bravest and
coolest men.
well, weH, Heinrich!' she said,
resignedly, .swhat is to be must be. But
if YOU take the money, / shall even go
along with We. This will be no home
for me any more. But ease your grip
% of nv neck a little don't squeeze SO
hard; L can't move, o hug me so
tight. And if / can't stir, you can't get
the money; that's clear, you know. Be-
sides, time presses; and if it be done at
all, it must be done quickly, as the
household will shortly be back from
Hersel."
The ruffian relaxed his grip, and,
finally, let go his hold. Herreasons were
all cogent with his cupidity.
Come she said; ''quick! quick
no DELAY. The money is in masters bed
room"
She tripped up stairs gayly 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
AK which Law in the corner of the
room. ..this will wrenchit open atonce;
and while YOU are tying it up, shall
1ust step to nv apartment, and getafew
things ready for our flight, as well as
nv own little saving for the last hve
years" ,
The ruifian was thrown off his guard
nv her openness and her anxiety to ac-
company him. Like all cyclists, he de-
ceiyed himself, when self-deceit was
most certain to be his destruction.
500. lass" was all he said; ''but be
not long. This job will be done in q
twinkling." =.
~;mmediately broke open the chest, and
was soon engaged IN mmagl It's
contents.
AZ he was thus employed, however,
.hsorbed in the contemplation of his
prev, and eagerly occupied In securing
h;s nerson. the brave-hearted girl
stole down stairs on tiptoe: CreeP,ns
softly along the passages, sne speeuily
gained the door of the unseen
by him. and likewise unheara. IL Va
Int the work of a moment ior ner 20
turn the kew in the wards and iock nun
in. This done, she rushed forth 70 me
outer door of the mill, ana CAV INC
alarm. Ely! fly" she shrleked 70 tne
child. her masters little boy an lnisns
five wears old, the only EN- VIM
SIGHT or sound of her. afiy; my 10
father! Hy for your life! Tel nun we
shall all be murdered an ne mol nasee
back! fly! fyw -,.o, :
door. at once obeyed the se eSe sasd a. fast
as his tiny legs could carry him on tae
70 roa di' nv which he knew his parents
w"m1d return from church. Hannchen
chesred onward, and inspired his
NIUE he nov! bless theer' she ex-
badness of her heart;
> claimed: YES in time, / win offer
an hlasa Eshe altar of u blessed
up .apS ,eutzberg by Bonn"
Lazy OF IN lby the stone bench by
ohe SAT q ese her ~over-excited