Daily Republican., 1880-07-23


would have made most timid gills jump
down squealing end run away half otad
with terror.
Nine men-not one lesc--with black
masks on their faces and housebrssk-
ing implements in hand, had entered
the farm yard and were evidently hold
ing q council as to how they could COM
msnce their attack on the house They
stood in q group, and some Of them
pointed to the aperatures in the kitch-
en- shutters, where lights were visible,
as If they were taking note Of the fact
that the farm was not quite abandoned.
Malchen remembered having heard
that the brigsuds had been in'esting
some OF the districts IN an adjoining
province, and she saw II she hesitsted
to act she would be lost. There hung
over the mantle shelf two double.bar-
relied fowling- pieces and horse pistol,
which were always kept loaded.
She ran to the chimney and unlock.
cd the arms, then swiftly climbed on to
the table again. The little lattices
outside the aperatures in the shutters
were open, SO Malchen could thrust out
the barrels of her weapons and fire at
the malefactors. Before doing 30, how
ever, she put a coin in her mouth to
alter the ring Of her voice, and maxi
ing horn on both hands, shouted in a
tone which sounded like mans
"Who goes thsres"
No answer. The burglars stared at
one another ia astonishment, and
were fairly dismayed when they heard
the next exclamation, which conveyed
the idea that the person who had first
spoke was net alone. "Now then, my
men, when give the word, fire sharp
and straight. Fire?"
Two reports instantly followed this
command, 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, "
calculated Malchen in terror, for her
combative ardor absted of sudden
now that so easy victory had been
won. "Oh, dear, what shall doP"
She had taken up the horse pistol,
and glanced out to see if there was
another shot to be fired. There was a
choking sensation at 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 moved
and tried to rise to his knees. Imme.
diately the sentimental Mslchen aimed
her pistol to give him his quietus, but
luckily for himself, the man roared
cut: ooh, Malchen ! Malchen Help!
IT'S Karl"
"Karl !" exclaimed the girl, as hel
voice seemed to expire in her throat,
Whilst her heart turned TO ice. "Karl,
is 1t thou 7"
ayes and J am wounded. I am dy-
ing, :" sobbed the luckless fellow. "And
it's all for thee"
Malchen tottered and might have fall
en- off the table had there been any
one present to catch her in his arms
As II was she scrambled down some
how and made for the door, still hold.
ing her pistol. One moments hesita
ton as she touched the door handle
but she surmounted it and went out.
In another moment she could judge
with her own eyes Of the murderous ef'
feet Of her volley. Three men lay OF
the snow stone dead as for Karl,
slug had sliced off a part of his RICH
ear and cheek, 80 that he bled like
pig, but he was otherwise unhurt.
"Oh, Karl, Karl, how contest thot
hither in such company" exclaimed
Malchen as she tore of her apron II
staunch his wounds.
"Mein Colt, it was for thee I" sniv
elled the unhappy Karl. "These mer
are my friends we had all come for
lark and meant to carry thee off for
hoped thy too obstinate father would
consent of necessity to our marriage
Oh, oh, my ear !"
"Peace, Karl; but, oh, how foolish
Of thee" sighed Malchen. SLOW couldst
thou think that niue men were required
to carry me off 7"
Mein Cot, thought thou vast TO-
mantic.n was all that Karl could say
between two squeaks caused by the an
guish in his ear.
One is sorry 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 heroic that King
Louis sent for her to Munich, and hav-
ing decorated her with the Cross Of
Civil Merit, asked her what he could
do to please:her.
"Pardou my Karl and give him a
dover to marry me, "prayed the maiden
sobbing.
His Majesty pulled a slightly wry
face at the mention of dover, but cour-
tiers were present, so he gave his royal
promise.
"Thou wouldst marry man with one
ear then!" added he laughing.
"Sire, he lost his other for me-" re-
sponded the faithful Malohen, drying
her eyes. -,
"Well, this is a queer story" said
the King, amused. "We will have 1t
made into q librstto, and my friend
Wagner here shall set 1t to music.
The composer Of the future bent his
head as II the happy thought had al
ready occurred to him.