Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-08
The Miller's Maid.

The Miller's Maid.
There is a lonely mill, close beside the
little hamlet of Uiorf, near the Rhine shore,
between the villages of IIersel aud Ursel,
on the left bank below Bonn. The mill is
said to have been the scene of the following
story
It 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
IIersel The mill, which was also his resi-
dence, was left in charge of the servant
girl named Hannchen, 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 prepar-
ing dinner for the return of her master and
his family, when who should enter all of a
sudden but an old sweetheart of hers, named
Heinrich Botteor. He was an idle, grace
less 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 something to eat at once, but also
found time to sit down with him and have
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 jok-
ing way to the good.natured girl.
"Nay, Heinrich" she replied, "your 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 go hard with me an re-
fused 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 approve of idleness and a
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 dagger from un
der his coat and caught her by the nape oi
the neck, gripping her throat firmly with
his fingers to prevent her screaming the
while.
Now, lass" he said, swearing out baC
| Otlu az lut Sdtllt tlllt, Wutlt 10 lhdoNcl
money I'll have that or your life so take
| your choice"
The terrified girl would fain have parleye'
with the ruff III, but he would hear nothing
she could say.
Masters money or your life, lass y wa
all the answer he vouchsafed to her entreat
les aud adjurations. "Choose at once" wa
the only alternative he offered her; "th
grave or the gold I"
She saw that there was no hope of mere
at his hands, and, as she saw it, her nativ
resolution awoke in her bosom. Like til
generality of the gentle sex, she was timi
at trifes a scratch was subject of fear +
her drop of blood caused her to faint a
unwonted sound filled her soul with fear !:
the night. But, when her energies wer
aroused by an adequate cause, she proved
as her sex have ever DONE that, in courage
in endurance, in presence of mind, and
resources for every emergency, she far su
passed the bravest and coolest men.
"Well well, Heinrich l' she said, resigI
edy, "what is to be, must be. But if 20
take the money, shall even go along wit
ye. This will be no home for me any NOR
But ease your gripe of my neck little
don't squeeze so hard | can't move yo
hug Inc so tight And ii | can't stir, yo
can't get the money! that's clear, you kno'
Besides, time presses and if it be done
all, it must be done quickly, as the househo
will shortly be back from Hersel."
The rufiian relaxed his grippe, and finall
|. let 90 his hold. Her reasons were all coge
with his cupidity.
"Come," she said "quick quick IL
/ delay. The money is in masters bedroom
She tripped up stairs, gaily as lark
, followed closely at her heels. She led d
way into her masters bedroom and point'
out the Golfer in which his money W
, secured.
Here" she said, reaching him an
which lay in the corner of the room, tn
| will wrench it open at once, and while "
are tying it up, | shall just step to my apa
ment and get few things ready for o
, dight, as well as my own little saving I
/ the last five years"
The ruiiian was thrown off his guard
her openness aud her anxiety to accompal
; him. Like all egotists, he deceived himse
= when self-decet was most certain to be h
5 destruction.
5 $50, lass" was all he said, "but be II
. long. This job will be done in twinkling
=, She disappeared at the words. He INN
!, diately broke open the chest, and was so
4 engaged in rummaging its contents.
= As he was thus employed, however, a
sorbed in the contemplation of his prey, al
r eagerly occupied in securing it on his p'
Q son, the braye.hearted girl stole down stai
4 on tiptoe. Creeping softly along the pi
r sage, she speedily gained the door
o the chamber, unseen by him aud ill
2 wise unheard. 1t was but the work of
r moment for her to turn the key in the war
= and lock him in. This done, she rushed
s the outer door of the mill, and gave b
), alarm. "Fly fyw she shrieked to t
n child, her masters little boy, an infant fl
; years old, the only being within sight
sound of her. "Fly fly to father fly (
your life Tell him we shall all be mi
dered an he not haste back fly iy~
The child, who was at play before t
Il door, at once obeyed the energetic comma
It of the brave girl, and sped as fast as
e tiny legs could carry him on the road
6 which he knew his parents would retu
r from church. Hannchen cheered him c
IS ward and inspirited his little heart
% he ran.
e BLESS thee, boy bless thee |" she {
e claimed, in the gadness of her heart a
i master arrives in time, | will offer up
r per on the altaI of our blessed Lady OF t
a kreutzberg 10y Bonn.
y She sat down on the stone bench by t
y ulill door TO ease her oyer-excited spirit, a
she wept as she sat, at the thoughts of
a happy deliyerance.
h "fhank God" she exclaimed "tha
T. God for this escape. Oh the deadly villa
. and 80 fond of him, too."
A shrill whistle from the grated wind'
e OF the chamber in which she had shut
. the ruthan Heinrich, caught her ear, a
IS mada her start at once to her feet.
r. "Dlether Diether |" she heard him sho
"eltc he child aud come h ther | 4
il fast, Come hither Bring the boy here a
Q, kill the girl
She glanced hastily up at the caseme