American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-10

red embers of the crumbling pine logs,
and karl's was chief among them. NAL
chen, who was q pretty, sentimental
young lady OF Is, but somewhat eau
hous, as beseems the daughter of a gen.
ueman who can prefix a Won to his
name, asked herself if she liked KarlP
Did she truly feel for him more than she
did for any other MANI Would she
grieve for him II he met with an acct
dente II he left her fathers service? if
he were taken away for military service,
and forced to risk his life In the warsP
After fencing little with her con-
science the damsel decided that she did
not quite know what she ought to think
about karls hut that he was a very bold
and neutrality-suspicious. young
man, she admitted to herself frankly
enough in her quaint German phrase
ology. ..
Malchen, from being romantic, was
bold girl, and felt no fear at being alone
in the big house on 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 monotonous tick-tack of the
kitchen clock did not disturb her COM
posture. She sat listening for footsteps,
and conned over in her mind what sharp
thing she should say to dismis. Karl if
he had the impertinonca to present him
self before her. The worst of it was
n II Dr1x ING IN
might be Indifferent to sharp things,
His boldness really exceeded belief
Why, that very evening in touching her
fiugers he had actually squeezed -
but here Malchen gave slight start, for
she heard footsteps and fancied that it
was the never-to-be-sufficient blamed
Karl, who had played truant from
church, faithful to his impudent prom
Use.
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 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 be?
The kitchen had high window seven
feet above the floor, and it was closed
with shutters. But in the shutters
lozenge 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 squealing and run away half dead
with terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black
masks on their faces and house-breaking
implements in hand, had entered the
farm-yard and were evidently holding
council as to how they should COM
mence 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 quite abandoned.
Malchen remembered having heard
tina. the brigantis had been infesting
some of the districts in an adjoining
province, and she saw that if she hes
itated to act she would be lost. There
hung over the mantelshelf two double
barreled fowling-pieces and a horse
pistol, which were always kept loaded
for the protection of the farm against
wolves in winter and for the intimida-
ton of poachers and tramps at other
seasons of the year. Malchen had the
same horror of fire arms as most other
girls; but at this moment her blood re-
volted at the idea of leaving the farm to
be plundered 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 oaken chest in his bedroom.
Among other reflections which rushed
through Malchen's mind was this, that, |
If her father were robbed of all his cash |
he would get into vile humor, which |
would make its effects felt at the farm |
ior weeks, and render the place unin-
iabitable. Now, Malchen stood in
great terror of her father when he was
angry.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked
he arms, then swiftly climbed on to the
able again. The little lattices outside
he apertures in the shut: ers were open,
70 Malchen could thrust out the barrels
# her weapons and fire at the malefac-
ors. Before doing so, however, she
,ut a coin into her mouth to alter the
ing in her voice, and making horn of
10Th hands, shouted in tone which
ounded like a mans, "Who goes
here?''
No answer. The burglars stared at
ne another in establishment, and were
airly dismayed when they heard the
ext exclamation, which conveyed the
lea that the person who had first
poken was not alone but had several
nen under his orders. Snow then, my
hen, when give the word, fire sharp
nd aim straight. Fire!''
Two reports instantly followed this
ommand and then came two others.
Vhen the smoke had cleared away, ,
Ialchen, who looked out with haggard
yes, her heart humping awfully the