The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-08-13
THE MILLER'S MAID.

ii. Y. hnOsoIOns IN ScribneTS Bic-d-Br0c.
THE MILLER'S MAID.
THERE is lonely mill. close beside
the little hamlet of Udorf, near thu
Rhine shore, between the villages o.
Hersel and Ursel, on the left bank below
Bonn. This mill is said to have beer
the scene of the following story:
1t was on Sunday morning, cages
long ago." that the miller of this mill
and his whole family went forth te
hear the holy mass at the nearest church
IN the village of Hersel. The mill,
which was also his residence, was left
in chargeof 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 sudden but an old sweet
heart of hers, named Heinrich Bottle
Tor. 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
thing to eat at once. but also found
time to sit down with him and have q
gossip, while he dispatched the food she
set before him. Ashe 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, 'syour
back should be more supple than
mine, for you have less work to make
it stiff. labor all day long, and you
do nothing. But never mind! 'twould
20 hard with me an I refused to 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 scapegrace. she was too honest and
Industrious herself to encourage or ap-
prove OF idleness or suspicious course
of 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.
Nov, 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 choice
The terrified girl would fain have par
leyed with the rufian, but he would
hear nothing she could say.
master money or your life. lassr'
was all the answer he v0uchsafed to her |
entreaties and adjurations. "Choose at |
once" was the only alternative he Of
fered her; "the grave or the gold!
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 tribes; scratch
was a subject of fear to her; q drop of
blood caused her to faint; an unw0nted
sound filed 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 for every emer-
gency, she far surpassed the bravest and
coolest men.
sWell, well, Heinrichr' she said,
.'what is to be must be. But
if you take the money. shall even 60
along with ye. This will be no home
for me any more. But ease your grip
of my neck ittle-don't squeeze so
hard; can't move, you hug me SO
tight. And if Ican'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
Herself
The ruffian relaxed his grip, and.
finally, letgo his hold. Herreasons were
all cogent with his cupidity.
ssCome," she said; ''quick! quick!L
no delay. The money is in masters bed
ROOM"
She tripped up stairs gayly as 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 I
TX which lay in the corner OF the