Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-04

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sharp things. His boldness really exceeded
belief. Why, that very evening IN touch
ing her fingers he had actually squeezed
them but here Ma.chen gave slight start, for
she heard footsteps and fancied that 1t was
the sufficiently blamed Karl,
who had played truant from church, faith
full to his impudent promise.
She rose and stood coyly in the middle of
the kitchen, her cheeks pink and her bosom
heaving. She thought she would take to
flight as soon as karl's heavy tread should
resound in the passage; but she waited two
or three minutes without hearing the door
open, yet there were steps outside, and,
now that her ears were strained, she heard
voices. Her relatives had not been gone
an hour, so it was not likely they could
have returned so soon. Whose, then, could
these steps and voices bel
The kitchen had a high window seven
feet above the floor, and il was closed with
shutters. But in the shutters lozenge ap-
ertures were cut. Malchen climbed on to
the dresser under the window and looked
out. What she saw would have made
most timid girls jump up squealing and run
away half dead with terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black
masks on their faces and housebreaking i'm
plements In hand, had entered the farm yard
and were evidently holding council as to
how they should commence their attack on
the house. They stood IN a group, and
some of them pointed to the aDertures in the
kitchen shutters, where light was visible, as
if they were taking note of the fact that
the farm was not quite abanoned.
Malchen remembered having heard that
the brigands had been Infes,ing some of the
districts in an adjoining province, and she
saw that if she hesitated to act she would
be lost. There hung over the mantelsheif
two double-barreied towing pieces and a
horse pistol, which were always kept load
ed.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked the
arms, then swiftly climbed on to the table
again. The little lattices outside the aper-
lures in the shutters were open, so Malchen
could thrust out the barrels of her weapons
and fire at the malefactors. Before doing
81, however, she put coin into her mouth
to alter the ring Of her voice, and making a
horn of both hands, shouted in tone, which
sounded like a mans, ''Who goes there."
No answer. The burglars stared at one
another in astonishment, and were fairly,
dismayed when they heard the next excla-
nation, which conveyed the idea that the
person who had first spoken was not alone
but had several men under his orders.
''NOw then, my men, when give the word
fire sharp and straight. Fire.
Two reports instantly followed this COM
mand and then came two others. When
the smoke had cleared away Malchen, who
looked out with haggard eyes, her heart
humping awfully the while, saw four men
stretched on the snow, and nothing else.
The other five members of the band had
taken TO flight. ''The guns were loaded
with slugs; perhaps have killed them all, y
calculated Malchen in terror; for her COM
bative ardor abated of sudden, now that
so easy a victory had been won. ''Oh, dear,
wha, shall dol''
She mad taken up the horse pistol, and
glanced out to see if there was another shot
to be fired. There was a choking sensation
al her throat, and she began to whimper.
1t was all too dreadful; she could not bear
the sight of those dead men, all killed by
her hand. But one Of them suddenly NOV
ed and tried to rise to his knees. Imme-
diately the sentimental Malchen AIMED her
pistol to give him his quietus; but, luckily
for himself, the pan roared out: Oh, NAL
chen, Malchen, help! 'Tis Karl
''karl." exclaimed the girl, as her voice
seemed TO expire in her throat, whilst her
heart turned TO ice. ''karl. is it thouf'
eyes, and am wounded. Ian dying"
sobbed the luckless fellow. ''And it's all
for thee"
Malchen tottered and might have fallen
off the table had there been any one
present to catch her in his arms As it
was she scrambled down somehow and made
for the door, still holding her pistol. One
moment hesitation as she touched the door
handle: bu; she surmounted it and went
out. In another moment she could judge
with her own eyes of the murderous effects
of her volley. Three men lay on the snow
stone dead; as for Karl, slug had cleaned
sliced off part of his right ear and cheek,
so that he bled like pig, but he was other
wise unhurt.
''Oh, Karl, Karl, how camest thou hith
er in such company" exclaimed Malchen
as she tore off her apron to stanch his
wounds.
'sMeIn Cot, it was for thee," sniveled the
unhappy Karl. ''These men are my friends
we had all come for lark and meant to
carry thee off: for hoped thy too-obsinste
father would consent of necessity TO our
marriage. Oh, oh, my earl'
'sPeace, Karl; but oh, how foolish of
ihee, " sighed Malchen. '.Ilow couldst thou
think that nine men were required to carry
me off"
'.Mein Colt, thought thou vast roman
tic, - was all that Karl could say between
two squeaks caused by the anguish in his
ear.
One is sorroy to say that the tribunals of
Bavaria took a one-eyed view of the affair
and wanted to sentence Karl for burglary;
but the attitude of POOR Malchen had been
so heroical that King Louis sent for her to
Munich, and having decorated her with her
Cross of Civil Merit asked her what he
could do to please her.
'.Pardon my Karl and give him dover
to marry me" prayed the faithful maidcr.
sobbing.
His Majesty pulled slightly wry face at