The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-17

kitchen clock, did not disturb her COM
posure. She sat listening for footsteps,
and conned over in her mind what sharp
thing 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 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 actually squeezed but here Malchen
gave slight start, for she heard footsteps,
and fancied that it was neve1-to-be- suffi
GENTLY blamed Karl, whe had played
truant from church, faithful to his impu-
dent promise.
She rose and stood coyly in the mid
die Of the kitchen, her cheeks pink and
her bosom heaving. She thought she
would take to flight as soon as Karl's
heavy tread was heard in the passage;
but she waited two or three minutes with
out hearing the door open, yet there were
steps outside, and, now that her ears were
strained, she heard voices. Her relatives
had not gone an hour, so 1t was not like
~ they could have returned so soon.
Whose, then, could these steps and voices
be? "a.
The kitchen had high window seven
feet above the floor, and it was closed
with shutters. But in the shutters loz-
enge apertures were cut. Malchen climbed
on to the dresser, under the window, and
looked out; what she saw would have
made most timid girls Jump down, squeal-
ing. and run away, half dead with terror
Nine men not one less-with black
masks on their faces and breaking
implements in hand, had entered the
arm-yard, and were evidently holding a
council as how they should commence
their attack on the house. They stood
in 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 quite abandoned
Malchen remembered having heard
that brigands had been infesting some of
the districts in an adjoining Province,
and she saw that if she hesltated to act
she would be lost There hung over the
mantleshelf two double- barreled fowling-
pieces and horse pistol, which were al
ways Kept protection of the farm against
wolves in winter: and for the intimida-
ton of poachers and tramps at other sea-
sons of the year. Malchen had the same
horror of firearms as most other girls f;
but at this moment her blood VOTED at
the idea of leaving the farm to be plum
dered without striking blow for it..
Herr Won Polheim owned a good deal of
silver plate and was accustomed to keep
pretty large sums of money within the
oh
other reflections which rushed through
Malchen's mind was this, that if her IA
Their were robbed of all his cash he would
get into vile humor, which would make
its effects felt at the farm for weeks, and
render the place uninhabitable. Now
Malchen stood in great terror OF her IA
Their when he was angry. ......
She ran to the chimney and unlocked
the arms, then swiftly climbed on the ia
bic again. The little lattices outside the
apertures in the shutters we're open, so
Malchen could thrust out the barrels of
her weapons and fire at the malefactors.
Before doing so, however, she put coin
into her mouth to alter the ring of her
voice, and making horn of both hands,
shouted in tone which sounded like q
AA'A . w liz SOCS tAS1CS
No answer. The burglars stared at
each other in astonishment, and were fair
ly dismayed when they heard the next
exclamation, which conveyed the idea
that the person who had first spoken was
not alone, but had several men under his
orders, ''Now, then, when I give the
word, fire sharp, and aim straight. Fire p
Two reports instantly followed this
command, and then came two others.
When the report cleared away, Malchen,
who looked out with haggard eyes, her
heart humping awfully the while, saw
four men stretched out on the snow, and
saw nothing else. The other five mem
bers Of the band had taken flight. .sThe
guns were loaded with slugs; perhaps I
have killed them ALI" calculated NAL
chen, in terror, for her combative ardor
abated of sudden, now that so easy
victory had been won. ooh, dear, what
shall I do?'.
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. It 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. Immediately the sentiment
tai Malchen aimed her pistol to give him
his quietus; but luckily for himself, the
man roared out: ooh, Malchen! NAL
chen! help! IT'S I-Karl"
"Karl!'' exclaimed the girl, as her.
voice seemed to expire in her throat, while
her heart turned to ice. "Karl, is it
thou2''
Eyes, and am wounded; am DYING"
sobbed the luckless fellow; "and It's all
for thee"
Malchen tottered and might have fall
len off the table had there been any one
present to catch her in his arms. As it
was, she scrambled down somehow and
made for the door, still holding her pis-
toll. One moments hesitation as she
touched the door handle; j but she sur
mounted it and went out. In another
moment she could judge with her own
eyes Of the murderous effects OF her vol
ley. Three men lay on the snow stone