Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-09-15

pun III iuSb III oONt iVPiiS'
the dauntless girl "never shall y,
set foot Within these walls whilst
have life to prevent we"
The rufhan laid the infant for ;
moment on the sward as he sough
about for combustibles wherewitl
TO execute his latter threat. IL
this search he espied, perhaps the
only possible iclandestined aper'
ture in the wall, communicating
with the great wheel and the Other
machinery of the mill, and was
point entirely unprotected, for the
reason that the simple occupants
had never supposed it feasible for
any one to seek admission through
such dangerous inlet. Elated
with this discovery, the ruflian re-
turned to the infant, and, tying
the hands and feet of the little in
nocent, threw it on the ground
even as IA butcher will fling lamb
destined for the slaughter, to await
his time for Staying. He then stole
back to the aperture, by which he
hoped to effect an entrance. All
this was unseen by the dauntless
girl within.
In the meantime her mind was
buised with thousand cogitations.
She clearly perceived that no
means would be left untried to eff
feet an entrance, and she knew
that on the exclusion of her foe
depended her existence. The
thought struck her.
at is Sunday" said she to her.
self; "the mill never works on the
Sabbath, suppose | set it agoing
now 1t can be seen far off, and
happy my master, or some of his
neighbors, wondering at the sight,
may hast hither to know the cause.
\ lucky thought" she exclaimed,
its God that has sent it to me "
No sooner said than done. Be-
ing all her life accustomed to mill
gear, it was but the work of mo-
ment for her to set the machinery
in motion. A brisk breeze which
sprang up, as it were, by the
special interposition of Providence,
at once set the sails flying. The
arms of the huge engine whirled
around with fearful rapidity; the
great wheel slowly revolved on its
axle; the smaller gear turned and
creaked and groaned, according
as they came into action, and the
mill was in full operation.
1t was the very instant that the
ruilian Diether had succeeded in
squeezing himself through the
aperture in the wall and getting
safely lodged in the interior of the
great drum wheel. His dismay,
however, was indiscribable when
he began to be whirled about with
its rotations, and found that all his
efforts to put a stop to the power
ful machinery set it in mo-
ton, or to extricate himself from
his perilous situation, were fruit
less. His cries were almost appall-
ing his shrieks were truly fearful
his curses and imprecations were
horrible TO hear. Hannchen hast
ened to the spot, and saw him
caught, like a reptile, as he was,
in his own trap. 1t need not be
added that she did not liberate
him. She knew that he would be
more frightened than hurt, if he
kept within his rotary prison and
she knew, also, that, unless he at
tempted to escape, there was no
danger of his falling out Of it, even
though he were insensible ard in
animate all the while. In the
meantime, the wheel went round
aud round with the ruffian along
with it, steadily and unceasing, too.
In vain did he promise the stout
hearted girl to work her no harm
in vain did he implore her pity on
his helpless condition; in vain did
be pray to all the powers of Heav-
en-, and adjure all the powers OF
He'll to his aid. She would not
hear nor heed him +; and, unheard,
UNDECIDED of them likewise, NUT
tering curses, he was whirled round
and round in the untiring wheel,
until at last feeling and perception
failed him, and be saw no more.
He fell senseless on the bottom OF
the engine, but even then his mani
mate body continued to be whirled
round and round as before the
brave girl not daring to trust to
appearance of such a william, and
being, therefore, afraid to suspend
the working of the machinery or
stop the mill-gear and tackle from
running at their fullest speed.
y loud knocking at tue door was
shortly after heard, aud she hasten
ed thither. 1t was her master and
ms family accompanied by several
of their neighbors. The unaccus-
toned appearance of the milI-sail
/ in full swing on the Sabbath had,
as she anticipated, attracted their
attention, and they had FASTENED
home from church for the purpose
Of ascertaining the cause of the
phenomenon. The father bore his
little boy in his arms he had cut the
cord wherewith the child was tied,
hut he was unable to give any ac-
Al 4