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


There is a lonely mill close be-
side the little hamlet Of Udorf
near the Rhine shore, between the
villages of Hersel and Ursel, or
the left bank below Bonn. This
mill is said to have been the seen,
of the following story;
1t was on a Sunday morning
ages long ago, that the miller o
this mill and his whole family wen
forth to hear the holy mass at the
nearest church in the village Of
Hersel. The mill which was also
his residence, was left III charge
of servant girl named Hannchen,
or Jennie, n stout-hearted lass, who
had long lived with MIN in that ca
pacity. An infant child, Of an age
unfit for church, was left in her
charge likewise.
The girl was busily employed IN
preparing dinner for the return OF
her master and bis family, when
who should enter all Of a sudden
but an old sweetheart of hers,
named Heinrich Bottelor. He was
an idle, graceless fellow whom the
miller had forbidden his house, but
whom Jennie liked, with amiable
perversity peculiar to her sex, on
ly, perhaps, all the better because
others gave him no countenance.
She was glad to see him, and she
told him so, too; and although in
the midst Of her work, she not only
got him something to eat at once,
but also found time to sit down
with him and have a gossip, while
he dispatched the food she set be-
fore him. As he ate, however, he
let fall his knife.
"Pick that up, my lass" said be,
in a joking way, to the good-na-
tured girl.
NAY Heinrich" she replied,
"your back should be more supple
than mine, for you have less work
to make it stiff. labor all day
long, and you do nothing. But
never mind, 'twould 60 hard with
me an ] refused to do more than
that for you, bad though you be-
This was spoken half in good
earnest; for, kind-hearted as the
girl was, and much as she liked the
scape grace, she was too honest
and industrious herself to encour.
age or approve Of idleness or q
suspicious course of life in any one
else, however dear to her. She
stopped down, accordingly to pick
up the knife. As she was in the
act of rising, however, the treach.
erous villain drew a dagger from
under his coat, and caught her by
the nape of the neck, gripping hel
throat firmly with his fingers tc
prevent her screaming the while"
Now, lass" be said, swearing
out a bad oath at the same time
"where is masters money! II
have it or your life; so take you
choice"
The terrified girl would fail
have parleyed with the ruflian, bu
he would hear nothing she coul,
say.
Masters money or your life
lass :" was all the answer be vouch
safed to her eutreoties and adiu
rations. lyon must choose a
once" was the only alternative b
offered her; 1.-THE grave or tn
gold :"
She saw that there was no hop
of mercy al bis hands and, as sh
saw it, her native resolution awok,
in her bosom. Like the generalit,
of her gentle sex, she was timid a
triees; scratch was a subject 0
fear TO her; a drop OF blood caus
ed her TO faint; an unwonte
sound filled her soul with fear j
the night. But when her energis
we're aroused by any adequat
cause, she proved, as her sex hav
ever done, that in courage, in en-
durance Of mind, and in resource
of every emergency she far snr
passed the bravest and coolies
men.
swell, well, Heinrich she SAID
resignedly, "what is to be mus
be. But if you take the money,
shall even go along with We. Thi
will be no home for me any more
But ease your grip of my neck
little-don't squeeze so hard;
can't move, you hug me so tigh'
And If / can't stir you can't sc
the money; that's clear, you know
Besides, time presses and if It b
done at all, it must be done quick
ly, as the household will shortly b
back from Hersel"
The ruffian relaxed bis grip, aud
finally, let go bis hold. Her rea
sons were all cogeut with bis GU
kressy.