River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-17
Anew Hampshire Heroine.

My heroine lived in Bartlett, and she
was defendant of the old Crawfords.
Her father was Crawford and follow
ed the profession of guide among the
mountains. Her name was Bessie, and
she was the only daughter remaining
at home-a dark eyed, brown-haired
girl; slight, but compact frame; just en-
tering her nineteenth year. Her
mother being dead several years
upon her devolved the whole care Of
the household.
One day late in the summer, Mr..
Crawford went, with large party OF
travellers, away to the headwaters OF
one of the many mountain streams
that empty into the Saco, and Bessie
was left alone. Even the dogs had all
gone with the pleasure seekers. Toward
the middle of the afternoon, while the
girl was sitting by the open window OF
the front room, engaged in sewing, a
man came UP from the road. and asked
her if she would give him a drink of
water. Bessie had seen this man be-
fore, and had not liked his looks. He
| ed fellow, and the bits of moss, and
spikes of the pines, upon his clothes
indicated that he had slept in the woods
But Bessie did not hesitate. She
laid aside her work and went to get the
water When she came back the man
had entered the room. She did not
like this, for she was sure that he came
in by the window; but she handed him
the tin dipper without remark. The
man drank, and then set the dippel
upon the table. Then he turned upor
the girl, and drew broad bladed knife
from his pocket.
"Look We, my young lady," he said
~ know there's money in this house
and [ know you are alone. Show mt
where the money is! If you don't
shall kill you, and then hunt it up my
sell! Pam in earnest, and there ain
no time to waste. Don't make no fuss
for if you do you'll feel this knife yer.
quick!'
Bessie shrank back, and looked int
the mans face; and she could see tina
he meant just what he said.
eff | show you where the money
will you promise not to harm me2"
''Show me where it is, and / won
harRa yon-" :.
'Then come with me.-But you will
not take my fathers papers?"
"Only the money, girl"
Bessie led the way to a small bed
room on the ground floor, where there
was an old,mahogany bureau, the upper
drawer of which she unlocked. The
man, when he saw this, thinking doubt
less, that Crawford's gold was within
his grasp, shut up his knife, and put i
into his pocket. The girl opened tht
drawer, and, quick as thought, drew
forth large navy revolver-one witt
which she herself had killed trapped
bear-and cooked it.
"Villian!" she exclaimed, planting
herself back against the wall, and also
aiming the weapon at his bosom, "many
a wild beast have | shot with this gooC
pistol, and I'll now shoot you if you dc
not instantly leave this house! l will
give you not even a second! Start or
| frew
The ruffian could read human looks a;
well as could the maiden, and he coulC
read very plainly in firm set lips, anc
flashing eyes-but more clearly in the
steady hand that held the pistol-tha
she would not only fire, as she haC
promised, but that her aim would be 8
sure and also fatal one.
And he backed out from the bedroom
backed into the sitting room-th Ell
leaped from the open window, and dis
appeared.
Bessie kept her pistol by her side un
til her father and his guests came home
and when she had told her story, search
was made for the ruffian. But he was
not found Our heroine mad so thorough
ly frightened him that he never came
that way again.