Louisiana capitolian., 1880-02-21
and to-be-easy- -put-down young
man she admitted to herself frankly
enough in her quaint German phrase

enough III neI qudlhV UelulaH phA"so
ology.
Malchen, from being romantic, was
bold girl, and felt no fear at being
alone in the big house OH a winters
evening. The soughing of the wind
through the bare trees outside; the
noise of draughts shaking doors that
were loose on their hinges; the mo-
notonus tick tack of the kitchen clock
did not disturburb her cOmpOsure.
She sat listening for footsteps, and
conned over in her mind what sharp
things she should say to dismiss Karl,
if he had the impertinence to present
himself before her. The worst of it
was that Karl was just such a young
man as might be Indifferent to sharp
things. His boldness really exceeded
his belief. Why, that very evening
in touching her fingers he had actu-
ally squeezed-but here Malchen gave
a start, for she heard footsteps, and
fancied that it was the never-to-be
fcielntly- blamed Karl, who had played
truant from church, faithful to his im-
prudent promise.
She rose and stood coyly in the mid
die of the kitchen, her cheeks pink
and her bosom heaviny. 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 out
side, and, now that her ears were
strained, she heard voices. Her rela-
tives had not gone an hour, so it was
not likely they could have returned
so soon. Whose, then, could these
steps and voices be?
The kitchen had a high window
seven feet above the floor, and it was
closed with shutters. But in the shut
ters lozenge apertures were cut. Mall
chen climbed on to the dresser, under
the window and looked out; what she
saw would have made most timid girls
lump down, squealing and run away,
half dead with terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black
mvsks on their facesand house-break-
inc implements in hand, had entered
the farm yard, and were evidently
holding u council as to how they
should commence their attack on the
house. They stood in a group and
some of them pointed to the apertures
in the kitchen shutters where light
was visible, as if they were taking
note of the fact that the farm was not
abandoned.
Malchen remembered having hearC
that brigands had been infesting SOME
of the districts in an adjoining Pro
vince, and she saw if she hesitated tt
act she would be lost. There hung
over the mantelshelf two double-bar
relied fowling-pieces and a horse-pls
tol, which were always kept loadec
for the protection against wolves
in winter, and for the intimidation o
pOachers and tramps at other seasons
of the wear. Malchen had the SANE
horror of fire arms as most other girls
but at this moment her blood revoltet
at the idea.of leaving the farm to b'
plundered without striking a blow fe
it. Herr Won Pollleim owned a gOot
deal of silver plate and was accus
toned to keep pretty large sums 0
money within the oaken chest in hi
bedroom. Among other reflection
which rushed through Malchen's mine
was this, that if her father were rob
bed of all his cash he would get int
a vile humor, which would make 1t
effects felt at the farm for weeks, ant
render the place uninhabitable. Nov
Malchen was in great terror OF ne
father when he was angry.
; She ran to the chimney and unhook
ed the arms, then swiftly climbed o.
the table again. The little lattice
outside the apertures in the shutter
were open, so Melchen could thru<
out the barrels of her weapons an
fire at the malefactors. Before doin;
so. however, she put a coin into he
mouth. to alter the ring of her voice
and, making a horn of both hands
shouted in a tone which sounded lik
. a mans, "who goes there ?"
!, No answer. The burglars stared q
one another in astonishment and wei
fairly dismayed when they heard tn
| next exclamation, which conveyed tn
idea that the person who had firS
, spoken was not alone, but had sever;
! men under his orders. "Now, thel
f my men, when [ give the word, I'll
sharp and aim straight. Fire ~
; Two reports instantly followed thi
command, and then came two other
y When the smoke had cleared ava.
! Malchen, who looked out with0 ha!
! gard eyes, her heart humping awfu
ly the while, saw four men stretche
: on the snow, and saw nothing els
F.; The other five members Of the ban
t had taken to flight. "rhe guns wei
! loaded with slugs; perhaps | ha,
D killed them !" calculated Malchcn,
0 terror, for her comparative ard'
abated of sudden, now that so eaS
a a victory had been won. ''Oh, dea
D what shall | doY'
G She had taken up the horse-pist'
a and glanced out to see if there WI
Y another shot to be fired There WI
L a choking sensation at her throat, al
h she began to whimper. 1t was all t.
o dreadful. She could not beur Il
e sight of those dead men, all killed |
b her own hand. But one ef them SUI
e denly moved and tried to rise to h
G knees. Immediately the sentiment
e Malchen aimed her pistol to give hi
g his quietus; but, luckily for hims'
e the man roared out:
e ooh, Malchen! Malchen! hell
0 'Tis Karl" !"
o 'Karlw exclaimed the girl, as h
G voice seemed to expire in her thro;
while her heart 4urned to ice. "Ka