West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-02-07

] Alter
fencing a little with her conscience the dam
sci decided that she did not quite know
/ what she ought TO think about Karl: but
that he was very bold and not -to-be-easily-
! put down young man she admitted To her
( self frankly enough in her quaint German
! phrseology
She sat listening for footsteps, and conned
over in her mind what sharp things she
should say To dismiss Karl il he had the
impertinence TO present himself before her
! The worst of IL was that Karl was lust such
young man rs might be Indifferent to
sharp things. His boldness really exceeded
belief. Why, that very evening m touch
ing her fingers he had actually squeezed
them but here Maichen gavea slight start. for
she heard footsteps and fancied that II was
the never-to-be- sufficiently blamed Karl.
who had played truant from church. faith
inl to his impudent promise.
She rose and stood coyly in the middle of
the kitchen. her cheeks pink and her bosom
heaving. She thought she would take to
hight 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 outside, and.
now that her ears were strained, she heard
voices. Her relatives had not been gone
an hour so it was not likely they could
have returned so soon. Whose, then, could
these steps and voices bel
The kitchen had high window seven
ieet above the floor, and il was closed with
shutters. But in the shutters lozenye an
ertures were cut Malchen climbed ON to
the dresser under the window and looked
out. What she saw would have made
most timid girls jump up squealing and run
away half dead with terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black
masks ON their faces and HOUSEKEEPING i'm
plements III hand, had entered the farm-vard
and Were evidently holding council as to
how they should commence their attack on
the house They stood III "A group, and
some OF them pointed to the apertures i'm the
kitchen skaters, where light was visible. as
II they were taking note OF the fact that
the farm was not quite abanoned.
Malchen remembered having heard that
the brigands had been Infesting some of the
districts in an adjoining province, and she
saw that If she hcsitated To act she would
be lost There hung over the mantelshelf
two double-barreled fowing pieces and A
horse pistol, which were ALWAYS kent load
cd.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked the
arms, then swiftly climbed on TO the table
again The little lattlces outside the aper.
lures in the shutters were open, 50 Malcheu
could thrust out the barrels Of her weapons
and fire at the malefactOrs Before doing
so, however, she put a com into her mouth
to alter the ring of her voice, and making a
horn of both hands, shouted in tone, which
sounded like a mans, "Who goes there"
No answer. The burglars stared at one
another in astonshment, and were fairly,
dsmayed when they heard the next excla-
nation, which conveyed the idea that the
person who had first spoken was not alone
but had several men under his orders.
''Now then, my men, when give the word
hAV oldi y anu hlidiSul. II ire
Two reports instantly followed this com
mand and then came two others When
the smoke had cleared away Malchcn who
looked out with haggard eyes, her heart
humping awfuly 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 com
bative ardor abated of a sudden, now that
80 easy victory had been won. "Oh, dear
what shall do7"
She had taken up the horse pistol, and
! glanced out 10 sec If there was another shot
to be fired. There was choking scnsatiou
at her throat, and she began to whmper.
IL was all too dreadful; she could not bear
the sight Of those dead men, all killed by
her hand But one Of them suddenly NOV
ed and tried TO rise 10 his knees. Imme.
diately the sentimental Malchen aimed her
pistol to give him his quctus but, luckily
for himself the man rOared out: Oh NAL
chen, Malchen! help! 'Tis Karl.
"Karll" exclaimed the girl, as her voice
seemed to expire in her throat, whilst her
heart turned to ice. "Karl, is it thoul"
eyes, and am wounded. am dying, q
sobbed the luckless fellow "And it's all
for thee"
Malchcn tottered and might have fallen
of the table had there been any one
present TO catch her in his arms As il
was she scrambled down somehow and made
for the door, still holding her pistol. One
moments hesitation as she touched the door
handle; but she surmountcd II and went
out In another moment she could Judge
with her own eyes Of the murdcrous effects
of her volley. Three men lay on tbe snow
stone dead as for Karl, a slug had cleaned
sliced of a part Of his right ear and check
80 that he bled like pig, bat he was other
wise unhurt.
ooh, Karl, Karl. how camcst thou hith
er in such company exclaimed Malchor
as she tore of her apron to stanch hi
wounds