The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-28
THE MILLER'S MAID,

There is Il little mill, close besid,
the little hamlet of Udorf, near tn,
Rhine shore, between the villages o.
Hersel and Ursel. on the left bank he
low Bonn. The mill is said to hay,
been the scene of the following story
1t was on Sunday morning, "age.
long ago. that the miller of this mill
and his whole family, went forth {,
hear the holy mass ut the nearest
church in the village of Hersel. Tht
mill, which was also his residence
was left in charge of the servant CIR
named liannchcn, or Jenny, Il stout
hearted lass, who had long lived witt
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
preparing dinner for the return of hel
master and his family, when who
should enter I'LL of Il Swidcn but IN
old sweetheart of hers. named Helm
rich Botteler. lie was IN idle, grace
less fellow, whom the miller had for
hidden his house, but when Jenny
liked, with aniablc pcrversity, pecu
liar to her sex, only, perhaps, I'LL the
better because others gave him nc
comtenance. 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 t.
eat ut once, but also found time t.
sit down with him and have Il gossip,
while he dispatched the food she Sc!
before him. AS he ate, however. ht
let fall his knife.
"Pick that up my lass" said he in
joking way, to the good-naturet
girl.
may, Heinrich she replied
"your back should be more supple
than mine, for you have less work t.
make it stiff. | labor all day long
and you do nothing. But never mind
"Twould go hard with me an l re
fused to do more than that for you
bad though You be-
This was spoken half sportivel,
and half in good earnest; and good
hearted us the girl was, and much ~
she liked the scape.grace, she was TOT
honest and industrious herself to Ell
courage or approve idleness and
suspicious course of life in any on
else, however dear to her. Sh
stopped down accordingly to pick ~
the knife. AS she was in the act o
raising, however, the treacherou
william drew dagger from under hi
coat and caught her by the nap o
the neck, gripping her throat iirml
with his fingers to prevent her scream
the while.
"Now lass" he said, swearing on
a bad oath ut the same time, "wher
is thy masters money I'll hav
that or your life; so take your choice.
The terrified girl would fain hav
darleyed with the ruilian, but Il
would hear nothing she would say.
"Master's money or your life, lass!
was all the answer he vouchsafed
her entreaties and abjuration
Choose at once" was the only q
ernativc he offered her; "the gray
or the gold! -
She saw that there was no hope
N, .rcy ut his hands, and, as she 81
u her native resolution awOke in n
hos ,om. Like the generality OF u
oer tier sex, she was timid ut trille
a ., .ratch was subject Of fear To he
81 dr. op of blood made her faint; ;
unv Jonted sound filed her soul wi
feol in the night. But, when her c
ergi. IS were aroused by an adequa
cans e. she proved, ~ her sex hi
aver done, that in courage, in endl
opco IN presence of mind, and in |
sourceyS for every emergency, she
Suruacl ed the bravest and coolt
men.
| CIV oil, well, Heinrich !" she sa
roo;oneo,,l y, "what is to be, must
R,t IL VIZ Ii take the money, sh
even On I'll ong with ye. This will
no home f. u i'o any n'oic. h"' %
vo,r grin % my neck little-do
so,ee1e 90 ! ard; can't stir, you ca
oet the mons y that's clear, you knt
Besides, time PiesSo'' anu " ~
done ut all, it III ''''V uo ''o',. !"'1'
as the household, VIII '''o'''' ~ -
from Hcrsel."
The rullian relax1@d his grip
finally let go his no. va. H.. meL ie"'
were all cOgent with us uupiui ,,;o y,
"COme," she said; quiIM Iu,a,
no delay. The money 10 !" '''"''
bedroom" Y