New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-07-28

why, that very evening in touching her
finger he had actually squeezed -
but here Malchen gave slight start,
for she heard footsteps and fancicd
that it was the observation-disclosures
blamed Karl, who had played truant
from church, faithful to his impudcnt
promise.
She rose and stood coyly in the mid
die of the kitchen, her cheeks pink,
and her bosom hcaving. She thought
she would take to flight as soon as
Karrs heavy tread should rcsound 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; 80 it was not
likely they could have returned so
soon. Whose, then, could these steps
and voices be?
The kitchcs had high window
seven feet above the floor, and it was
closed with shutters. But in the shut
ters lozenge apcrturcs were cut. NAL
chen 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 mcn-not one less-witll black
masks on their faces and housed break
ing implements in hand, had entered
the farm-yard and were evidently hold
ing u council as to 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 visi-
BILE, as if they were taking note of the
fact that the farm was not quite aban-
doned.
Malchen remembered having heard
that the brigands had been infesting
some of the districts in an adjoining
province, and she saw that if she hest
tated to act she would be lost There
hung over the mantclshclf two double
barrelcd fowling-pieccs 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. Malchcn had the
same horror of firearms as most other
girls; but at this moment her blood re-
vOltcd at the idea of leaving the farm to
be plundered without striking blow
for it.. Herr Won POlheim owned 4 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 a vile humor, which
would make its effects felt at the farm
for weeks, and render the place unin-
habitable. Now, Malchcn stood in
great terror of her father when he was
angry.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked
the arms, then swiftly climbed on to the
table again. The little latticcs outside
the apertures in the shutters were open,
so Malchcn could thrust out the barrels
of her weapons and fire at the malefac-
tors. Before doing so, however, she
put q coin into her mouth to alter the
ring in her voice, and making horn Of
both hands, shouted in tone which
sounded like a mans, ''Who goes
thcrep'
No answer. The burglars stared at
one another in establishment, and were
fairly 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, my
men, when l give the word, fire sharp
and aim straight. Fircr'
Two reports instantly followed this
command and then came two others.
When the smoke had cleared away,
Malchen, who looked out with haggard
eyes. her heart humping awfully 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 I have killed them all"
calculated Malchcn in terror; for her
combative ardor abated of sudden
now that so easy victory had been
won "Oh, dear, what shall l do?'
She had taken up the horse pistol, and
glanced out to see if there was another
shot to be fred. There was choking
sensation at her throat, and she began
to whimper. 1t 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
sentimental Malchen aimed her pistol to
give him his quietus; but, luckily for
himself, the man roared out: "Oh,
Malchen, Malchen! help! IT'S l.
Karl">
"Karl!' exclaimed the girl, as her
voice seemed to expire in her throat,
whilst her heart turned to ice. "Karl,
is it thou?''
eyes, and I am wounded. 1 am
dying" sobbed the luckless fellow.
"And it's all for thee"
Malchen tottered and might have
fallen 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
pistol. One moments hesitation as she
touched the door-handle; but she sur
mounted it and went out. In another
moment she could Judge with her own
eyes of the murderous effects of her
volley. Three men lay on the snow
stone-dead; as for Karl, a slug had clean
sliced off part of his right ear and
check, SO that he bled like pig, but he
was otherwise unhurt.
"Oh, Karl, Karl, how earnest thou
hither in such company?" exclaimed
Malchen, as she tore of her apron to
stanch his wound.
"Mein Colt, it was for theer' sniveled
the unhappy Karl. s'These men are
my friends; we had all come for a lark
and meant to carry thee off; for / hoped
thy too-obstinate father would consent
of necessity to our marriage. Oh, oh,
my carp
Peace, Karl; but oh. how foolish of
thee" sighed Malchen. How couldst
thou think that nine men were required
to carry me offp''
Mein Colt, i thought thou vast ro-
mantle, was all that Karl could say